Conemaugh River

Conemaugh River
Conemaugh River Lake Dam at low water
Origin	40°19′54″N 78°55′30″W / 40.3317406°N 78.9250255°W / 40.3317406; -78.9250255
Mouth	40°29′08″N 79°27′14″W / 40.4856220°N 79.4539299°W / 40.4856220; -79.4539299
Basin countries	United States
Mouth elevation	827 feet (252 meters)
River system	Allegheny River

The Conemaugh River is a 70-mile (110 km) long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.^[1] It crosses both the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and the Johnstown, Pennsylvania metropolitan area.

Course

Conemaugh River Lake Dam near Saltsburg, Pennsylvania

The Conemaugh River is formed at Johnstown in southwestern Cambria County by the confluence of the Little Conemaugh and Stonycreek rivers. It flows generally WNW, in a winding course through the mountains along the northern edge of Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge. Northwest of Blairsville it is joined by Blacklick Creek. At Saltsburg it is joined from the south by Loyalhanna Creek to form the Kiskiminetas River. Along much of its lower course, the Conemaugh forms part of the boundary between Westmoreland and Indiana counties.

Watershed

Historic bridges downstream of Conemaugh River Lake Dam: 1864 railroad bridge pier, 1907 arch bridge, and 1952 railroad bridge

The Kiskiminetas-Conemaugh river basin flows through a scenic mountainous country that forms the heart of the historic coal-producing areas of western Pennsylvania. Before the Dam was constructed, the town of Livermore served the area between Blairsville and Saltsburg as an important stop along the former canal, as well as the railroad. The watershed is considered among the most degraded in the state, largely from abandoned mine drainages. The recovery of the river has been an important ongoing ecological management project of state and private agencies.

See also

• List of rivers of Pennsylvania
• List of tributaries of the Allegheny River

References

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stations
• Conemaugh Dam pictures
• SCRIP-river improvement project
• Conemaugh Valley Conservancy

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