Great Crossings Bridge returns to Yough Lake's depths as boating season approaches

The 1818 Great Crossings Bridge exposed last fall during an extended drought is back under water at the Yough Lake Marina in Somerset County.

The historic structure dropped out of sight once more Dec. 13, as the lake was replenished with water.

“The lake (water level) has come up a lot,” said Greensburg’s Tom Trent, who keeps a boat at the Yough marina with his wife, Carol. “It is still far below the desired summer pool.”

On Tuesday, Trent reported two boats making an early preseason appearance on the Yough. The Trents operate No Wake Zone, offering Airbnb rentals at an inn that sits along the lake, across Route 40 from the marina in Addison Township.

“We’re very much looking forward to the return of boating in May,” Tom Trent said.

Yough Lake’s normal summer water elevation is 1,439 feet above sea level, compared to Wednesday’s elevation of about 1,425 feet.

The very top of the Great Crossings Bridge becomes visible when the lake level is at 1,392 feet, and the bridge deck becomes exposed at 1,384 feet, according to Andrew Byrne, public affairs specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District, which oversees the lake and the flood control dam that created it.

According to unofficial reports by a volunteer observer in Connellsville, the general area received above-average precipitation in two recent months.

Shannon Hefferan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh, said the observer listed 4.31 inches in November, compared to an average of 3.29 inches for that month. February’s unofficial total was 4.04 inches, compared to an average of 3.02 inches.

Challenged by the recent weather and lake conditions, Yough marina workers have been busy getting the docks into shipshape condition for the normal season opening date.

“Our official season is May 15 through Sept. 15,” said marina representative Steve Leskinen. With last year’s drought and low water, “We had to shut down in late August, the first time we ever had to close before Labor Day.”

The marina has to vacate some of its docks when the lake elevation falls to 1,412 feet and has to fully shut down when it drops to 1,408 feet, according to Leskinen.

Extremes the marina experienced last year began with flooding in April, as the lake elevation rose to 1,456 feet, Leskinen said.

“It covered our lower parking lot and was close to the trailer tires of the houseboats in the upper lot,” he said. “In November, 11 inches of snow plus one inch of rain hitting all at once cut four of our main docks in half. Then ice. I’ve been involved with the marina since June of 1969, and this is our most interesting year.”

The marina has had to repair or replace about a quarter of its docks, Leskinen said.

“There should be no delays starting the season this year,” he said. “We’ve had three crews working full time through a very cold winter welding, painting and attaching flotation, decking and rubrail to new and repaired docks.”

He said the marina has berths for about 350 boats. All are booked, with additional boaters on a waiting list.