USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

03081500 YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER AT OHIOPYLE, PA

LOCATION - Lat 39°51'57", long 79°29'41" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Fayette County, PA, Hydrologic Unit 05020006, on left bank 900 ft downstream from State Highway 381 bridge at Ohiopyle and 1,100 ft upstream from mouth of Meadow Run.

DRAINAGE AREA - 1,062 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY -

Revisions: Gage height and discharge for the period of 10/10/2018 - 11/6/2019 on 2/11/2020 due a changes in the gage datum.  

Revisions: Discharge data was added on 10/20/2020 on 1/14/2021 due to low flow data being estimated

Revisions: Prior to January 4, 2024, the datum of gage was reported as 1,164.67 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 depending on source.  The gage datum was actually 1,164.67 ft above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 2002 to September 2003, October 2009 to current year. Monthly discharge only, November 1927 to October 1950, published in WSP 1305. Annual peaks only, October 2003 to September 2009.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and Pluvio precipitation gage. Datum of gage is 1,164.2 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988.  From November 1927 to October 1950, at site 1,400 ft upstream, datum 34.24 ft higher. Prior to January 4, 2024, the datum of gage was reported as 1,164.67 ft above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.  The datum of gage was also erroneously reported as 1,164.67 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 depending on source.  Satellite telemetry at station.

COOPERATION - Station established and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District.

REMARKS - Flow regulated since 1925 by Deep Creek Reservoir (station 03076000), since December 1942 by Youghiogheny River Lake (station 03077000), and by several smaller reservoirs above station.  Records are fair except those for estimated daily discharges and discharges above 23,400 cfs, which are poor.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - The flood of March 18, 1936 reached a stage of 13.30 ft, discharge 82,100 ft³/s, at datum then in use, as determined by velocity-area studies.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 2014 to current year.

PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - October 2014 to current year.

INSTRUMENTATION - Water temperature probe interfaced with a data collection platform, recording data at a 15-minute sampling interval.

REMARKS -

Historically, water temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius were not reported. Water temperature sensors now have the ability to accurately read water temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. 

Cross-sectional water quality data is available upon request.

Water year 2014: Water temperature records are rated good except October 1 to 2 and April 2 to May 17, which are rated fair, and July 18 to August 20, which are rated poor. For water year 2015, records for water temperature are rated fair. For water year 2016, records for water temperature are rated good. For water year 2017, records for water temperature are rated good. For water year 2018, records are rated good. Beginning water year 2019, water quality records are no longer rated "excellent", "good", "fair", or "poor".

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - Maximum, 78.2° F, July 21, 2019 ; minimum, 31.5°F, March 14, 2014.