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Current River Conditions
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Navigation Reports
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Yough
Weekend Recreation Outlook
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Conemaugh-Kiski Weekend Recreation Outlook
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Links
of Interest
Known
as the Headwaters District, the Pittsburgh District is comprised of the Ohio River drainage basin above New Martinsville,
West Virginia. The District covers an area of approximately 67,000 square
kilometers (26,000 square miles), including portions of Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Ohio, New York and Maryland. Major river systems within the Pittsburgh
District include the upper Ohio,
the Allegheny, the Monongahela and the Beaver. The District manages 16
flood control and multipurpose reservoirs with a combined capacity of over
3.8 billion cubic meters (3 million acre feet) and 23 navigation locks and
dams on 530 kilometers (330 miles) of navigable waterways. In addition, the
District operates Lake
Milton for the
state of Ohio.
Pittsburgh Districts’ Water Management Branch provides accurate and
timely information on conditions at Corps of Engineers reservoirs, as well
as levels along rivers and streams within the Pittsburgh District.
Current River Conditions – Stage, Flow and
Water Quality Reports
Data are obtained by satellite telemetry from
field gaging stations and Hydro Lab units, and are NOT CHECKED OR
VERIFIED before being posted.
Stage
and Flow Data by River Basin
Other Information
Navigation Reports
Yough Weekend Recreation Outlook
Updated: October 9, 2008
(Yough Weekend Recreation Outlook is
generally updated every Thursday during recreation season.)
Current Status
For the current and
forecasted reservoir pool levels and release data see the Daily
Reservoir Report and Forecast. Lake recreation users can call
(814) 395-3166 for the current recorded information message on daily pool
and outflow levels, safety, recreation, special events and fishing. River
recreation users can get the current and forecast river stage and flow data
on the National Weather Service AHPS page as well as the Yough
and Cheat Basins
report. You can also call Ohiopyle
State Park at (724)
329-8591 to hear a recorded message giving the daily stage reading.
On October 9, 2008, Ohiopyle stage was 1.85’
and falling slowly. Youghiogheny dam
is releasing around 820 cfs. The weather
forecast is calling for sunny sky with
temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s. The Ohiopyle gage should be near 1.80’.
Long Term Outlook
Drawdown of
Youghiogheny River Lake below the summer pool level of 1439 began on August
15, much later than the typical start of drawdown that occurs in early
July. On October 9, the pool was 1410.8’
and falling about 0.7’ per day.
We will continue as always to maintain downstream
flow schedules and this will provide acceptable conditions for whitewater
rafting without the need for special weekend releases.
As always, we are operating Youghiogheny
River Lake in accordance with its
authorized project purposes of flood control, low flow augmentation for
water quality and water supply. Operations (gate changes) can only be made
for project purposes for which storage has been allocated. Other project
purposes (i.e., fish and wildlife enhancement and recreation) are
accommodated to the extent feasible. We continue to attempt to operate the
project considering the needs of recreation users both on the lake and the
river.
Conemaugh-Kiski Weekend Recreation
Outlook
Updated: October 9, 2008
(Kiski Weekend Recreation Outlook, developed as part of a three-year
test/study of the effects of small changes in weekend water releases from
Conemaugh and Loyalhanna Dams for downstream recreation, is generally
updated every Thursday during recreation season.)
Current Status
For the current river stage and flow data, see
the Lower
Allegheny River Basin report. Data collection for the 3-year study
period for these special recreational releases was completed in October
2005. We are in the process of
evaluating the impacts and benefits of these releases and prepare a report.
The report is expected to be completed by the end of the year. For the
current and forecast pool and outflow data, see the Daily
Reservoir Report and Forecast. Our primary
reference for canoeing information is Roy Weil and Mary Shaw’s Canoeing Guide to Western Pennsylvania
and Northern West Virginia. It
indicates levels that are recommended limits for safe canoeing on the
Conemaugh and Kiski.
On October 9,
2008, Conemaugh
River Lake
was at elevation 905.3 and falling.
Normal pool range is between elevation 902 and 905. Conemaugh Dam is
currently releasing 560 cfs. With
dry existing dry conditions, there is no plan to provide for recreational
releases this weekend. We expect to
reduce the flow further in order to hold pool. The weather
forecast is calling for sunny sky with
temperature in the mid to upper 70’s.
The results
of the study indicated that Loyalhanna
Lake has little
capability to provide adequate downstream recreation opportunities.
Long Term Outlook
Both Conemaugh River Lake and Loyalhanna Lake are "flood control
only" projects, thus there is no storage allocated in either lake for
low flow augmentation, recreation enhancement or any other purpose. All
other potential benefits can only be accommodated if there is no
significant impact on their authorized purpose of flood control. That said,
during the summer recreation season, we attempt to time our operations to
enhance recreational opportunities on the Kiski River,
to the extent practicable. Your comments on this initiative are welcome.
As always, we are operating Conemaugh and Loyalhanna Lakes
in accordance to their authorized project purpose of flood control.
Operations (gate changes) can only be made for project purposes for which
storage has been allocated. Any other project purposes (i.e., recreation)
are accommodated to the extent feasible.
Links of Interest
Corps of Engineers
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Great Lakes and Ohio River Division - Pittsburgh is one of the seven districts
that comprise the Great Lakes
and Ohio River Division. There is also a division Water Management web page, which
provides Navigation Reports of interest
to commercial navigation on the Ohio River
system.
Federal Government
- National Weather Service is the official source for
weather, river and flood forecasts. The Corps of Engineers does
not produce or provide forecasts for the public.
State
Agencies
Questions
about our Water Management program or conditions at Corps of Engineers
reservoirs, as well as levels along rivers and streams within the
Pittsburgh District, can be addressed to our Reservoir
Control Center
at (412) 395-7300.
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