Conemaugh River
Encyclopedia
The Conemaugh River is a 70 miles (112.7 km) long tributary
of the Kiskiminetas River
in Westmoreland
, Indiana
, and Cambria
counties in the U.S. state
of 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.
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.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Kiskiminetas River
Kiskiminetas River
The Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States...
in Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
, and Cambria
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Course
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
in southwestern Cambria County
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
by the confluence of the Little Conemaugh
Little Conemaugh River
The Little Conemaugh River is a tributary of the Conemaugh River, approximately 30 mi long, in western Pennsylvania in the United States....
and Stonycreek rivers. It flows generally WNW, in a winding course through the mountains along the northern edge of Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill may refer to the following:In Australia*Laurel Hill, New South Wales, a town in the Riverina regionIn Ireland*Laurel Hill Coláiste, a school in Limerick, IrelandIn the United States*Laurel Hill, Florida, a city in Okaloosa County...
and Chestnut Ridge
Chestnut Ridge, Bedford County
Chestnut Ridge is an elongate hill trending northeast-southwest in west-central Bedford County, Pennsylvania. It is partially forested with rural homes, farms, and notably apple orchards. Four small towns surround it: Schellsburg, New Paris, Fishertown, and Pleasantville...
. Northwest of Blairsville
Blairsville, Pennsylvania
-External links:* * *...
it is joined by Blacklick Creek
Blacklick Creek (Pennsylvania)
Blacklick Creek is a tributary of the Conemaugh River, approximately 30 mi long, in western Pennsylvania in the United States....
. At Saltsburg
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
Saltsburg is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 955 at the 2000 census. The town was based on the construction of salt wells and the canals and railroad tracks that passed through it.-Geography:...
it is joined from the south by Loyalhanna Creek
Loyalhanna Creek
Loyalhanna Creek is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The stream is a popular destination for canoeing and recreational trout fishing.- Etymology :...
to form the Kiskiminetas River. Along much of its lower course, the Conemaugh forms part of the boundary between Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
and Indiana
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
counties.
Watershed
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-producing areas of western Pennsylvania. Before the Dam was constructed, the town of Livermore
Livermore, Pennsylvania
Livermore, Pennsylvania is an abandoned town that was located on the Conemaugh River between Blairsville and Saltsburg in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania...
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
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
management project of state and private agencies.