Stoneycreek River
Encyclopedia
The Stonycreek River is a tributary
of the Conemaugh River
, approximately 45 mi (72 km) long, in southwestern Pennsylvania
in the United States
.
from the headwater spring, Pius Spring, in Berlin, and flows north past Shanksville
, Stoystown
, Hooversville
, and Ferndale
. It joins the Little Conemaugh River
at Johnstown
to form the Conemaugh River
. Additional variant names include: Achsinne-hanne, Gordon, and Sinne-hanna.
The river basin is in a highly scenic area but had been considered among the most degraded in the state, largely as the result of acid mine drainage
from the long history of coal mining
in the region. The recovery of the river has been an ongoing project of federal, state, and private agencies, and continues to progress. In recent decades, the river has become a popular destination for trout
fishing.
by Bethlehem Steel Corporation to the Cambria Somerset Authority
, there have been periodic releases of water into the Stonycreek in order to facilitate whitewater rafting as an additional recreational opportunity. As of early 2010, there was a proposal to substantially increase discharges from the reservoir to improve whitewater rafting on the Stonycreek River.
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 Conemaugh River
Conemaugh River
The Conemaugh River is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.- Course :...
, approximately 45 mi (72 km) long, in southwestern 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Course
It rises in the mountains of eastern Somerset CountySomerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
from the headwater spring, Pius Spring, in Berlin, and flows north past Shanksville
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Shanksville is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 245, as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area and is approximately 60 miles southeast from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Stoystown
Stoystown, Pennsylvania
Stoystown is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 428 at the 2000 census...
, Hooversville
Hooversville, Pennsylvania
Hooversville is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 779 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and Ferndale
Ferndale, Pennsylvania
For the village in Bucks County, see Nockamixon Township, Pennsylvania.Ferndale is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,834 at the 2000 census...
. It joins the Little Conemaugh River
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....
at Johnstown
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...
to form the Conemaugh River
Conemaugh River
The Conemaugh River is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.- Course :...
. Additional variant names include: Achsinne-hanne, Gordon, and Sinne-hanna.
The river basin is in a highly scenic area but had been considered among the most degraded in the state, largely as the result of acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
from the long history of coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in the region. The recovery of the river has been an ongoing project of federal, state, and private agencies, and continues to progress. In recent decades, the river has become a popular destination for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishing.
Recreation
Following the sale of the Quemahoning ReservoirQuemahoning Reservoir
The Quemahoning Reservoir, more accurately known as Beautiful Lake Quemahoning , is created by the Quemahoning Dam, located on Quemahoning Creek on the border of Quemahoning Township, Pennsylvania and Conemaugh Township, Pennsylvania in Somerset County just south of Hollsopple...
by Bethlehem Steel Corporation to the Cambria Somerset Authority
Cambria Somerset Authority
The Cambria Somerset Authority was formed in 1999, in anticipation of acquiring water interests and related land properties of Manufacturers Water Company, a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Transfer of ownership occurred in August, 2000...
, there have been periodic releases of water into the Stonycreek in order to facilitate whitewater rafting as an additional recreational opportunity. As of early 2010, there was a proposal to substantially increase discharges from the reservoir to improve whitewater rafting on the Stonycreek River.
External links
- Stonycreek Quemahoning Initiative
- Stonycreek River fisheries
- Stonycreek River Rendezvous, an annual whitewater event and competition, Benscreek Canoe and Kayak Club
- Stonycreek whitewater information http://www.riverfacts.com/rivers/12894.htmlhttp://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2843http://www.benscreekcanoeclub.com/Creeks.htm#_Stonycreek_River
- Trout Unlimited, Mountain Laurel Chapter, Stonycreek River
- U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stations
- USGS: Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh Acid Mine Drainage Study