Quemahoning Reservoir

Quemahoning Reservoir
Quemahoning Reservoir
	Quemahoning Reservoir
Location	Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates	40.166°N 78.962°W
Primary outflows	Stonycreek River
Built	1910 to 1913

The Quemahoning Reservoir, also known to locals as The Dam, is created by the Quemahoning Dam, located on Quemahoning Creek on the border of Quemahoning Township, Conemaugh Township, and Jenner Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania just south of Hollsopple. The dam was constructed by the Manufacturers Water Company to supply water for the Cambria Iron Company's works in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Construction was begun in 1910 and completed in 1913. The reservoir created by this dam is about five miles long and two miles wide at its widest place, and drains into the Stonycreek River and thence into the Kiski-Conemaugh system.

It is one of the largest artificial bodies of water in Pennsylvania, and is known as a stopover for migratory waterfowl, including geese, swans, and herons. It was sold by Bethlehem Steel Corporation (successor to Cambria Iron) to the Cambria Somerset Authority in 2000, which now operates it both for recreation and industrial water supply.[1]

Additionally, Somerset Borough, Pennsylvania has commenced construction of a pipeline from the reservoir to the borough to provide potable water. The original 66 inch pipeline constructed by Manufacturers Water Company from the reservoir to Johnstown was upgraded and refurbished after the sale to the Cambria Somerset Authority.

Recreational use

Fishing, boating, camping and occasional whitewater rafting are among the recreational activities available. Upgraded release valves in 2010 substantially increased discharges from the reservoir to improve whitewater rafting on the Stonycreek River.[2]

Bethlehem Steel Corporation ran a gun club, a farm house and Bethco Pines, a recreational park for its staff. The park included boating, swimming and facilities which employed a number of people. The dissolution of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in the 1990s caused the recreation areas and reservoir to be put up for sale, and was included in the sale to a coalition of local governments.

Summer's Best Two Weeks (SB2W) operates portions of the former Bethco Pines recreational park located on a section of the Reservoir. The Camp is affiliated with SB2W on Lake Gloria which is approximately 5 miles away from the one on the Quemahoning Reservoir. Summer's Best Two Weeks is a Christian sports resident camp that hosts hundreds of campers during the summer for two week intervals.

Kickenapauling's Town

The reservoir is said to cover the American Indian village of Kickenapauling's Town, which was referred to in records of Christopher Gist, as well as in the 10 June 1779 deed of Joseph Johns, after whom Johnstown was named.

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References

"Recreation". Cambria Somerset Authority official website. Cambria Somerset Authority. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
Faher, Mike (2010-01-07). "State: Whitewater cash on way $450,000 grant will go toward Quemahoning project". The Tribune-Democrat. Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2010-01-09.

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[1] "Recreation". Cambria Somerset Authority official website. Cambria Somerset Authority. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2010-01-09.

[2] Faher, Mike (2010-01-07). "State: Whitewater cash on way $450,000 grant will go toward Quemahoning project". The Tribune-Democrat. Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2010-01-09.