Description - Conemaugh Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an adjoining earth embankment on the right side. The overall length of the dam is 1,265 feet, with the concrete section measuring 1,096 feet. The concrete abutment rises 137 feet above the stream bed and has an average width of 128 feet at the base. The dam is located on the Conemaugh River about 7.5 miles upstream of Saltsburg, where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek join to form the Kiskiminetas River. Project purposes include flood control, water quality, hydropower generation, and recreation. An endowment of historic resources, added to recreational opportunities, attracts visitors from Pittsburgh area. Primary sites of historical interest include traces of The Pennsylvania Mainland Canal and sections of the 1864 and 1907 railroads. The Pennsylvania Game Commission leases 7,000 acres of land around the lake for wildlife management and hunting. Nature, hunting and fishing areas are accessible to physically challenged persons, by permit. Public boating on the lake is limited due to lack of accessibility, however, a canoe launch is provided below the dam and a cartop launch site is now available at the Blairsville bridge next to Water St. above the dam. At the dam site area, visitors can enjoy a picnic area with two pavilions (which may be reserved) and tables, a playground, visitor information center, nature and hiking trails. Also nearby are a baseball field, horseshoe courts, a scenic dam overlook and the Thunder Mountain Lenape Nation center. Corps rangers conduct tours through the dam that take visitors 30 feet below the bottom of the river.
Attractions
- Conemaugh Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an adjoining earth embankment on the right side. The overall length of the dam is 1,265 feet, with the concrete section measuring 1,096 feet. The concrete abutment rises 137 feet above the stream bed and has an average width of 128 feet at the base. The dam is located on the Conemaugh River about 7.5 miles upstream of Saltsburg, where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek join to form the Kiskiminetas River. Conemaugh River Lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 and has been in full operation since November, 1953. This reservoir project is part of the flood control system operated by the Corps of Engineers for the Allegheny and Upper Ohio Rivers. The pool elevation is generally maintained between elevations 900.0 and 905.0 ft above NGVD throughout the year, in order to provide adequate storage during periods of excessive runoff. However, periods of heavy rainfall and/or snowmelt will cause rapid and often significant rises.
Project Purposes
Conemaugh River Lake's Congressionally Authorized project purposes include flood control, water quality, hydropower generation, and recreation. Of these project purposes, only flood control has storage allocated for its operation. As a result, operations (gate changes) are made to maximize the flood storage capability of the project. The remainder of the project purposes are accommodated to the extent feasible.
Recreation - An endowment of historic resources, added to recreational opportunities, attracts visitors to Conemaugh River Lake. Only a short drive from Pittsburgh, Conemaugh River Lake is rich in history. Primary sites of historical interest include traces of The Pennsylvania Mainland Canal and sections of the 1864 and 1907 railroads. The Pennsylvania Game Commission leases 7,000 acres of land around the lake for wildlife management and hunting. Nature, hunting and fishing areas are accessible to physically challenged persons, by permit. Public boating on the lake is limited due to lack of accessibility, however, a canoe launch is provided below the dam and a cartop launch site is now available at the Blairsville bridge next to Water St. above the dam. At the dam site area, visitors can enjoy a picnic area with two pavilions (which may be reserved) and tables, a playground, visitor information center, nature and hiking trails. Also nearby are a baseball field, horseshoe courts, a scenic dam overlook and the Thunder Mountain Lenape Nation center. Corps rangers conduct tours through the dam that take visitors 30 feet below the bottom of the river. Climate - Pennsylvania generally has a moist climate with cold winters and warm summers. The Conemaugh area has cold winter months with temperatures averaging above 28 degrees Fahrenheit (above -2 degrees Celsius). The area's average summer temperatures range around 72 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit (22 to 23 Celsius). Location -
The dam is located on the Conemaugh River about 7.5 miles upstream of Saltsburg, where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek join to form the Kiskiminetas River. The reservoir is located in Indiana and Westmoreland Counties.
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