National Park Service begins lake bed restoration in Cambria County

Following up on plans announced in December, the National Park Service states that the first phase of a lake bed restoration project at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial will begin this week.

The project at St. Michael in Cambria County will begin with manual clearing to remove as many trees and woody shrubs as possible, according to park service spokeswoman Katherine Cordek.

Efforts will be made to expose the lake bed, abutments and sluiceway while ensuring minimal impacts to the wetlands and stream.

According to the park service, shrubs, overgrown weeds and hundreds of trees — some standing 35 feet tall — blanket the remains of the former dam and Lake Conemaugh that flooded Johnstown on May 31, 1889.

South Abutment Road will be closed Jan. 21-24 to all pedestrian and motor traffic from Route 869/Locust Street to the overlook and picnic areas, due to the lake bed work.

“Currently, when I show someone the viewpoint from the visitor center, I almost need an old photograph. It’s hard for most people to understand what they are looking at,” says Doug Bosley, park service ranger.

This phase, lasting up to a few weeks, will restore areas of the lake bed to what it looked like shortly after the flood, enhancing visitors’ experience at the memorial.

The project’s secondary goal is to allow areas outside of the wetlands and stream to flourish with low-lying vegetation and native grasses and plants, with park service maintenance. Rehabilitation was done in the lake bed in the 1980s, but the vegetation has since grown back, the park service states.

Memorial visitors can see ruins of the South Fork Dam, the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club House and the visitor center.

Details: 814-886-6171 or nps.gov/jofl