MUDDY ALLEGHENY

That dude , steve Lauser from the corps of engineers is an****  I can't believe he tried to pass that off as sediment from the bottom of the lake being stirred up.  What a load of crap, I never thought I'd see Kinzua reservoir resemble Canonsburg lake. 
 
 

That sure does look like a mess.  Has anyone else complained about this problem? 

Tree hugging is one thing, but good sound environmental policies are another.  I would bet that a lot of people in the area fish these waters and would not consider themselves tree huggers.  If you can energize the average fisherman, then you will have a voice that the politicans will listen to.  It is easy to poo poo the "hippie liberal nut job", but when it is the locals who don't fit that description who are calling for change, you will be on your way.
 
I do have one question.  The logging and drilling activity is the root of the problem, correct?  If that is the case, is there anyway to have the Commonwealth go after them?  I am no expert, but I thought in your application to harvest trees or drill for oil/gas, you needed to have an environmental impact statement and have procedures you would follow to prevent any serious environmental impact.  If that is the case, I think their plans failed and they should be held accountable for that.  A heavy fine or even some jail time might get these guys to be more careful.
 
 

Something sounds fishy to me.  I would bet whomever was supposed to take care of the environmental impact was asleep at the wheel.
 
One solution would be to call Donny Beaver and see if you can get him to step in.  Afterall he is a giant among conservationist....

As a logger I can say if you are causing this much dirty run off the dep will contact and fine you. They do not let this slide from any logging operation I have ever seen. These are obviously new sites that have had no time for reclamation and have probably been filmed at the worst possible time. The logging company I sub contract out too is actually owned by a so-called tree hugger. As a timber exstraction engineer I am a tree hugger with out trees I have no job. Sustainable logging has a positive environmental impact if done properly. You get a healthier and more diverse woods than you would if just leaving it to mother nature. As for the well sites I can't speak for the riggers. That's the main reason I can get on here and bs a little today it is too wet to work and make mud. And for you fellas that don't much care for us loggers. Try wiping your****with plastic.

Amazing, What a crime.
The sediment isn't coming from NY.
I was in Salamanca yesterday and the river is clear and so is the upper reservoir.
Back last month when the river was over its banks, yes it looked ugly. I'm sure tons of silt washed down.  But, I remember other Spring flooding events causing the upper reservoir to muddy but it didn't effect the lower reservoir to the extent of its current state. At least thats my recollection during the past 17 years of living around these parts.  
 
 The photos don't lie. It shows where the silt is coming from. I do know that the PFBC can fine the operators. I've seen it done be for when loads of mud entered a wild trout stream . I remember one WCO fining a highway contractor numerous times hwen they altered run off and mudded up the stream.
What a shame.
This is a National Park. And for now I don't see the Feds being in any hurry to get this fixed. Bad timing, wrong administration.
 

 You are right there are some problems there. Wether the mud was caused by irresponsible logging or well drilling. Someone should be held accountable for that mess...

I could not care less who exactly caused it, or whether or not they are fined. I'd just like to see the problem fixed, if it can be.  There is no way the water at the dam should ever be that muddy.   I don't care if it rained for 3 weeks straight, it would have settled  before it got to the dam.  
 
That's what bugs me about the dude that said everything is normal,  he's either covering for someone's butt or incredibly stupid. 

The evidence  is quit clear . Our state reps. need too take action on this issue.  Maybe as bug said, Beaver squeezer.