ALLEGHENY RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 20, 2024
42.02, -78.97


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Allegheny River was last observed at 173,599 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 344,329 acre-ft of water today; about 167% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 103,818 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2024-04-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at 474,640 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Allegheny River At Natrona reporting a streamflow rate of 37,200 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Allegheny River, with a gauge stage of 13.81 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 10 different streamgauging stations along the Allegheny River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,457 ft, the Allegheny River At Port Allegany.

The Allegheny River spans over 325 miles and originates in Potter County, Pennsylvania. It flows through the Allegheny Mountains and ultimately joins the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River. Native American tribes such as the Seneca, Shawnee, and Mohawk once inhabited the region before European settlers arrived in the 1700s. The river's hydrology and course have been altered by various dams, including the Kinzua Dam, which created the Allegheny Reservoir. The Conemaugh River Lake and Tionesta Lake are other major reservoirs along the river. The Allegheny River is used for a variety of recreational activities, such as fishing, boating, and camping. The river is also a source of drinking water for multiple towns and cities, and its watersheds support agricultural industries throughout the region.

Last Updated 2024-12-20
Discharge Volume 344,329 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 173,599.0 cfs
-15988.0 cfs (-8.43%)
Percent of Normal 167.22%
Maximum 474,640.0 cfs
2024-04-13
Seasonal Avg 103,818 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Allegheny River At Port Allegany
USGS 03007800
569 cfs 4.24 ft -7.78
Allegheny River At Eldred
USGS 03010500
1340 cfs 6.21 ft -10.07
Allegheny River At Salamanca Ny
USGS 03011020
4060 cfs 4.95 ft -16.8
Allegheny River At Kinzua Dam
USGS 03012550
9930 cfs 11.14 ft -15.13
Allegheny River Bl Conewango Creek At Warren
USGS 03015310
13800 cfs 7.24 ft -10.97
Allegheny River At West Hickory
USGS 03016000
15800 cfs 7.17 ft -13.66
Allegheny River At Franklin
USGS 03025500
26200 cfs 8.45 ft -9.03
Allegheny River At Parker
USGS 03031500
31900 cfs 8.14 ft -7
Allegheny River At Kittanning
USGS 03036500
32800 cfs 13.44 ft -6.55
Allegheny River At Natrona
USGS 03049500
37200 cfs 13.81 ft -4.37
History of the River

The Allegheny River ( AL-ə-GAY-nee) is a 325-mile (523 km) long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York, United States. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into New York then in a zigzag southwesterly across the border and through Western Pennsylvania to join the Monongahela River at the Forks of the Ohio on the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Allegheny River is, by volume, the main headstream of both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Historically, the Allegheny was considered to be the upper Ohio River by both Native Americans and European settlers.
The shallow river has been made navigable upstream from Pittsburgh to East Brady by a series of locks and dams constructed in the early 20th century. A 24-mile long portion of the upper river in Warren and McKean counties of Pennsylvania and Cattaraugus County in New York is the Allegheny Reservoir also known as Lake Kinzua, created by the erection of the Kinzua Dam in 1965 for flood control.
The name of the river comes from one of a number of Delaware Indian phrases which are homophones of the English name, with varying translations.

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