RE: Yough dam
2010/09/05 19:20:51
(permalink)
The Youghiogheny River Lake has entered into "drought watch" conditions, prompting the early closure of several recreational areas.
The boat ramp at the lake remains open, according to Brian Luprek, Yough Lake park manager.
"We do try to keep the boat launch here at the dam open as long as we can, because there's good fishing on the lake for bass and walleye," he said. "We still have about 20 more feet of lake level before we would look at closing that."
The areas affected by the closures include Tub Run Campground boat launch and beach, Jockey Hollow boat launch and Mill Run boat launch and beach. With current predictions, the Army Corps of Engineers anticipates closing Spillway Beach.
Luprek said the lake is nearly 19 feet below the target level for this time of year.
"The levels are below average for this time of year, but it's not the worst we've ever seen," he said, adding that these are close to the unprecedented levels in 1991.
The early closures might affect the plans of some swimmers, boaters and fishermen for the holiday weekend, but Luprek said this is the time of year that all recreational activities begin to slow.
"Labor Day weekend is a busier weekend ... because it's a holiday, but it's not as bad as the Fourth of July or Memorial Day weekends," he said. "When school starts, the recreation really starts to slow down."
According to the corps, Youghiogheny River Lake was built for flood-damage reduction, low-flow augmentation for water quality and recreation.
In a normal year, Luprek said, the water level draw-down begins in mid-July. In most years, the draw-down is gradual, allowing most recreation facilities to remain serviceable through Labor Day.
Because there has been little rainfall in the Youghiogheny River Watershed, most of the water to meet the requirement is being provided from corps' reservoirs.