1. It is a flood control lake, the fish are not a primary concern. They drain it to make room for the fall rain and the spring snow melt.
2. It takes them as long as it take to get it to winter pool level, that will depend on the amount of rain we have coming.
3. they keep it down till the spring snow melt off fills her up
4. the fish can escape any time they want as there isnt really any thing holding them in. They escape all the time, but normally the escape rate is higher during a gate opperation.
By the way, they have alot more to drain, found this by searching the internet
"Woodcock Creek Lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 and has been in full operation since February, 1974. This reservoir project is part of the flood control system operated by the Corps of Engineers for French Creek, Allegheny and Upper Ohio Rivers.
The pool elevation is generally held near 1181.0 from early May until mid-August. If hydrometeorological conditions permit this elevation will be held until as late as the end of October. However, low flow augmentation for water quality releases generally forces a drawdown beginning in early August. A forced drawdown during November and December lowers the pool to 1165.5 by early January. This elevation is held until mid-March, when a gradual filling is allowed to occur so summer pool can be achieved. Periods of heavy rainfall and/or snowmelt will cause rapid and often significant rises"