Upper Allegheny
Watershed Hydrology
The Upper Allegheny Watershed (HUC 05010001) encompasses a land area of approximately 7,300 square miles in western Pennsylvania and New York. Hydrologically, the watershed is characterized by steep terrain and a network of small to medium-sized streams and rivers that feed into the Allegheny River. The region receives an average of 60 to 80 inches of annual precipitation, with the majority falling as snow during the winter months. The snowpack in the region is heavily influenced by lake-effect snow, as the watershed is located downwind from Lake Erie. Surface water quality in the watershed is generally good, with the Allegheny River supporting many species of fish and other aquatic life. The reservoirs within the watershed are primarily used for flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation. Over the past several decades, the region has experienced a warming trend and an increase in extreme weather events.