U.S. Army Corps seeking input on Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will hold a virtual public meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday to kick off the Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan revision.

The corps is seeking public input about environmental and recreational subjects to consider during the master plan revision process.

The plan guides the comprehensive management, conservation and development of recreation, natural and cultural resources at corps reservoirs and provides a vision for future management. Youghiogheny River Lake’s current master plan, last updated in 2007, requires revision due to changes in corps regulations and community needs, said Carol Vernon of the corps public affairs office in Pittsburgh.

The lake is a flood control reservoir in Fayette and Somerset counties and western Maryland.

The lake was formed in 1944 by damming the Youghiogheny River upstream from Confluence in Somerset County. The earthen structure is 184 feet high and 1,610 feet long and is operated by the corps. The lake is normally 4.4 square miles.

It is also a tourist attraction that draws more than one million visitors a year to the region.

During the virtual public meeting, the corps will collect community input on possible revisions to the lake’s master plan. The meeting will be conducted through a webinar application and will consist of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, according to Vernon.

The public can review the master plan, propose revisions, find additional information about the meeting and view instructions to join the webinar at the Pittsburgh District website, lrp.usace.army.mil.

The public comment period will close Aug. 7.

Comments can also be submitted via email to CELRPPA@usace.army.mil or mailed to Youghiogheny River Lake, 497 Flanigan Road, Confluence, PA 15424.

The public meeting will be 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. It can be accessed at USace.webex.com/meet/PittsburghDistrict.

To join the meeting, click the link, select “Call Me,” and enter your phone number. The toll free call in number is: 877- 336-1831 Access Code: 1048650 Security Code: 1234.