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Conemaugh River Lake1665 Auen
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Authorized by the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938, Conemaugh River Lake is one of 16 flood control projects in the Pittsburgh District. Conemaugh Dam provides flood protection for the lower Conemaugh Valley, the Kiskiminetas Valley, the lower Allegheny Valley and the upper Ohio River Valley. When rainfall, melting snow or stream flows indicate the possibility of flooding, run-off is retained behind the Conemaugh Dam. Water is stored until it can be released without increasing flood conditions downstream of the dam.
Since its completion in 1952, Conemaugh has prevented over $2 billion in flood damage. In September 2004 when Hurricane Ivan struck the area, Conemaugh Dam alone prevented of $375 million in flood damage. Conemaugh Dam is able to reduce flood levels at The Point in Pittsburgh by four feet.
Lake & Dam
Statistics
Location: On the Conemaugh River, between Blairsville and Saltsburg, Pa., 7.5 miles upriver from the junction where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek unite to form the Kiskiminetas River. |
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Project area, acres |
8,954 |
Drainage area above dam, square miles |
1,351 |
Construction cost |
$30,288,000 |
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Dam |
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Type of structure: Concrete gravity |
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Height above river bottom, feet |
137 |
Length, feet |
1,265 |
Width at base, feet |
128 |
Volume of concrete, cubic yards |
355,500 |
Outlet Works: Discharge is regulated by the control tower containing 13-5.67’ x 10’ sluice gates and 14-30’ x 30’ crest gates. |
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Lake |
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Length at normal pool, miles |
7.6 |
Area, acres: |
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Maximum (reservoir full) |
6,820 |
Normal (summer pool) |
800 |
Elevation, feet above sea level: |
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Maximum (reservoir full) |
976 |
Target Summer Pool |
903 |
River bottom |
850 |
Maps
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Recreation
An abundance of cultural resources and recreational opportunities coupled with a great river revival and trail has certainly made Conemaugh River Lake the place to be for outdoor fun!
At the dam site, visitors will find a Visitor Information Center, two pavilions, a day use area, large playground facility, softball field, basketball court, horseshoe pits and volleyball court – all within close proximity to each other. Pavilions, a popular choice for special events such as birthdays and reunions, can be reserved for a fee by contacting the Park Office or by submitting a Pavilion Reservation Request form.
The Visitors
Information Center, adjacent to the Conemaugh Dam, contains exhibits on
the Corps’ mission and notable floods, a historic pictorial of the
construction of the Conemaugh Dam and educational information about the
industry, transportation and rich history of the Conemaugh Valley.
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Canoeists and fishing enthusiasts will be pleased to know that opportunities abound due to a dramatic river revival, which has created a rich natural environment. |
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Canoe launches at the Dam Outflow Area, Blairsville and Blacklick,
as well as a carry-in only launch at Aultmans Run, provide access to the
Conemaugh River and backwaters, a popular choice for outdoor adventure.
A particularly well-liked float is the four-hour adventure from the
Conemaugh Dam to Saltsburg. Lake fishermen have an excellent prospect
of landing largemouth bass, pan fish or the occasional musky or northern
pike. The outflow below the dam has a variety of fish populations
including walleye, perch, several bass species, trout, carp, catfish and
a selection of pan fish.
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Bow Ridge Recreation Area is designated as a physically challenged accessible hunting area and is wheelchair accessible. Hunting and fishing access permit information can be obtained at the Park Office. |
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Adjacent to the dam, the Bow Ridge Recreation Area offers trails excellent for hiking and observing nature by foot or bicycle. Tunnelview Historic Site, directly downstream of the dam, provides a self-guided historic walk along a section of the restored Main Line Canal that once connected Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (1834-1854). The trail is maintained by the Indiana County Parks Department.
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The West Penn Trail embraces portions of the Pennsylvania 1907 railroad grade and provides spectacular panoramic views from the five-arch stone bridges located at each river crossing. |
The West Penn Trail, operated by the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, provides a scenic historic passage through the project by generally retracing the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal and Portage Railroad. Interpretive signs along the trail point out interesting parts of the historical legacy. Over three miles of the trail is level and accessible by wheelchair at the Livermore and Westinghouse trail heads. Information brochures are available at the Park Office.
The Woodchuck Nature Trail provides a 45-minute walk through the diverse Western Pennsylvania forest where one can observe native plants species or just take a peaceful walk. Plan an evening visit to the observation booth to watch wildlife as they feed.
To help preserve their quality, all trails on the project are open only to foot and bicycle traffic. Motorized vehicles and horses are strictly prohibited.
Up river from the dam, almost 7,000 acres of the reservoir land is leased and managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for wildlife management and hunting. Deer, pheasant, turkeys, grouse, squirrel, doves and even the occasional black bear thrive in hunting areas such as Virginia Farms, Aultmans Run and Stewart's Run. The Game Commission also maintains a public shooting range near Virginia Farms. Hunters can access the many remote areas of the project from the West Penn Trail.
Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a lover of history or just want to spend a day relaxing, Conemaugh River Lake is the place to be for having fun and creating fond memories.
The arrival of the cold weather is no reason to hibernate. Conemaugh Dam has a wide variety of outdoor enjoyable recreational activities. Visitors may hit the West Penn Trail to get some exercise while enjoying the winter on cross country skis. One can explore the winter woods on snowshoes and discover which animals are active during the winter season. Bird watchers and nature watchers take pleasure watching bird migration or the eagles and ospreys that can be spotted all year long. Upriver from the dam, almost 7,000 acres of the reservoir land can be accessed for hunting. Deer, pheasant, grouse, and squirrel thrive in areas such as Virginia Farms, Aultman's Run, and Stewart’s Run. Hunters can access the many remote areas of the project from the West Penn Trail. For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission web site.
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy has completed the 580’ Q-Span trail bridge over the Conemaugh River near the Westinghouse Specialty Metals Plant. This trail bridge and the one-mile trail out to Newport Road links the West Penn with the Hoodlebug and Ghost Town trails to the east.
If you find history interesting, there are the old Mainline Canal and Pennsylvania Railroad features that can be viewed at the park.
Pavilion Reservations
Looking for a place to have an outdoor gathering? Two pavilions
are available for the family outings or group gathering. There are
plenty of picnic tables and grills for those who just want to relax and
unwind. Pavilion
reservations are now being accepted for the Social Hall and Livermore
Pavilions. The cost to rent a pavilion is $45 per day. Pavilions can
be reserved in person at the Park Office or by mail using a Conemaugh River Lake Pavilion Reservation Request Form
Tours
Tours of the
Conemaugh Dam can be arranged by contacting the Park Office at (724)
459-7240. Rangers conduct tours that include learning the purpose and
functions of the dam, overlooking the rushing discharge of the outflow
from atop the dam and venturing 30 feet below the bottom of the river to
observe the exotic stalagmites that develop there. Another highlight of
the tour is observing the actual high water marks of the historic 1972
and 1977 Johnstown Floods, as well as the 1936 St. Patrick's Day Flood.
Dam tours must be scheduled at least one week in advance and tourists
over 18 years of age must provide photo identification.
Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Hoodlebug Trail
The Borough of Blairsville, Pa. has proposed construction of the
Hoodlebug Trail which will follow the historic Pennsylvania Main Line
Canal and Portage Railroad route. An Environmental Assessment for the
proposed trail was prepared by the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy for
Blairsville Borough. After careful review and evaluation of the
environmental effects of the proposed trail, the Pittsburgh District
prepared a FONSI for the segment of the trial that
is on federal land at Conemaugh River Lake.
Volunteers
Volunteers are always needed and are encouraged to participate in public stewardship. Scouts, school s, organized groups, or individuals are an important part of enhancing the outdoor experience on public lands. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) events are being scheduled for the fall, now is a perfect time to learn more about the public lands in your neighborhood. Contact our office to volunteer to share your skills or learn new ones while preserving our environment for future generations.
Facilities &
Activities
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Blairsville |
Bow
Ridge |
Dam
Site |
Virginia |
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Accessible Facilities |
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Ball Field |
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X |
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Canoe Launch Ramp |
X |
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Drinking Water |
X |
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Hunting |
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X |
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X |
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Information Center |
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X |
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Interpretive Trail |
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X |
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Picnicking |
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X |
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Picnic Shelters |
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X |
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Playground |
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X |
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Restroom |
X |
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X |
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Links of Interest
- Rules & Regulations at Corps of Engineers Water Resources Development Projects
- Conemaugh's Corps Lake Visitor's Gateway
- The Reel Report
- West Penn Trail
- Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
- Order America the Beautiful Passes by Mail
- And for the kids, the Freddie the Fish Coloring Book!
| Berlin Lake | Conemaugh River Lake | ||
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Sightseeing |
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Updated: 09-Feb-2012