Neill Andritz keeps a close eye on water levels and speeds on the Kiski River to see if it’s safe for his business, The River’s Edge Canoe & Kayak, to rent equipment to customers.

So far this year the river, which separates Westmoreland and Armstrong counties, has been too high, forcing the Gilpin business to keep its rentals on shore. The cutoff for him on a river gauge at Vandergrift is 7 feet of water depth.

“It has been above seven for most of the season,” said Andritz, who co-owns the shop with his wife, Evelyn Andritz.

He hopes to open this weekend as levels dipped below that cutoff midweek. On Wednesday, the river depth in Vandergrift was about 6.7 feet and the water was moving at 4,250 cubic feet per second. On the evening of the same day in 2024, it was 3.5 feet deep and the water was moving at 717 cubic feet per second, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

Andritz said the normal summertime depth is 3 to 5 feet.

As temperatures are expected to reach the 90s over the next few days, residents might be looking to the region’s waterways for respite and recreation opportunities. Above-normal precipitation in recent weeks has resulted in some water levels and speeds to be higher than normal, according to the U.S. Geological Survey national water dashboard.

In Allegheny County, the river stage in and around Pittsburgh’s Point is typically between 16 and 17 feet, a figure that remains consistent for several miles along the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers.

On Friday, the Allegheny River measured 14 feet at the Sharpsburg Lock and Dam, according to the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration, which records river stage measurements every 15 minutes.

Downstream, the Ohio River has been between 16 and 17 feet for the entire month, but nearly reached 18 feet in late May. Eighteen feet is when river water begins to affect the Monongahela Wharf parking area. On Friday, the river was flowing at a rate of 76,700 cubic feet per second, according to NOAA measurements.

That is right around the typical depth and flow, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Brudy.

“Compared to what we had when we were getting more rain, the level and the flow is getting back to normal,” Brudy said.

Debris adds to hazard

Water recreation and management experts are encouraging anyone who ventures onto local waterways to wear life jackets and be prepared for the possibility of conditions that are different than normal. Never board a boat alone, they say, and always let others know the location of water recreation plans.

There may be added debris in the water or hazards under the surface that can’t be easily seen, experts said. It’s important to check water levels and flows before heading out and listen to those who are familiar with the conditions, such as local outfitters, said Nick Lazzaro, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District supervisory civil engineer.

“Just be knowledgeable about where you’re getting in at,” he said. “There’s a lot of different obstacles and hazards in the water, it’s very important to proactively plan out ahead.”

Parts of the area have seen between 125% and 200% more precipitation than normal, according to the National Weather Service in Moon. Flooding on June 6 hammered the Murrysville area, resulting in dozens of people being rescued by first responders.

A State College man, an experienced kayaker, died last week on the Lower Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle State Park after becoming stuck in a “pourover hole,” according to a report on the American Whitewater accident database. That is caused when water rushes over a rock that is normally sticking out of the surface and can trap a whitewater kayaker or rafter in a recirculating current.

The water depth in Ohiopyle was 4.2 feet at the time of the accident on a rapid known as “Bottle of Wine” about 4 miles downstream of Ohiopyle. On the same day in 2024, the river depth there was 1.3 feet, according to the survey’s water data.

“This is the sort of thing that wouldn’t happen at a lower flow,” said Charlie Walbridge, a nationally known whitewater safety expert who maintains the American Whitewater accident database.

Higher water levels can pose many dangers on whitewater rivers like the Lower Yough, which attracts thousands of rafters and kayakers every year. The passage is made navigable thanks to the reservoir system upstream that allows water to flow reliably through warm months when the river level in Ohiopyle is typically between 1.8 to 2.5 feet.

It was 6.5 feet Wednesday afternoon, moving at nearly 6,000 cubic feet per second. Those numbers were beginning to decrease by Friday.

‘A very different experience’

Walbridge said higher water can completely change how the Lower Yough looks by creating new hazards, even for someone who is familiar with that section.

“It’s just a very different experience,” he said. “You have to have water-reading ability … and you have to be able to move your boat to get away from that.”

Ohiopyle Fire Chief Rob Joseph echoed that warning and said downed trees in the water can pose an additional danger. He was involved in the recovery of the State College man last week.

“The water is not what we’re used to all the time,” he said. “When it comes to river safety with this type of water, what you can’t see is the biggest problem.”

Safety is important on rivers that aren’t known for their whitewater prowess — such as the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela. Luke Borowy, director of paddle sports with Venture Outdoors, said he keeps an eye on how fast the rivers are running in determining if it’s safe for equipment to be rented to Kayak Pittsburgh customers.

“Sometimes we’re watching it hourly,” he said. “We’ve had a couple closures from high water flows.”

Employees are able to make recommendations based on a person’s ability and familiarity with paddling if there is water moving faster than usual, he said. Borowy encouraged anyone heading out on a river to scout out a location and determine if the water looks or feels different before getting in.

“It’s pretty easy to get complacent out there,” he said.

The Army Corps of Engineers controls flows from some reservoirs in the area, such as Youghiogheny River Lake and Loyalhanna and Conemaugh River lakes, both of which feed the Kiski River.

Engineers in the water resources section are constantly monitoring conditions and making hydrologic calculations to determine when it is safe to release water from the dams they oversee, said Lazzaro, section chief. Their goal is to prevent flooding in times of high precipitation and, conversely, keep waterways navigable by river traffic and maintain a sufficient supply when precipitation is scarce.

Andritz said he relies on what the Army Corps does at the Loyalhanna and Conemaugh sites to know how recreation might be affected for customers at The River’s Edge. Obstacles on the Kiski, such as rapids, narrowing of the river and bridge piers, can add hazards on a good day.

Plus, a temporary dam has been erected at the Salina Bridge, which is being replaced by PennDOT. Boaters must portage around on foot.

“As we do get nicer weather, we are hoping people will be able to be safe,” he said. “Always wear your life jacket. We preach that. We have our customers sign a waiver that they will wear it.”

Staff writer Patrick Varine contributed to this story.

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