75th anniversary celebration to commemorate construction of Youghiogheny River Dam

After 75 years the Youghiogheny River Dam in Confluence is still standing — and attracting thousands of visitors each week.

Shaylin Dresher, natural resources specialist at the Youghiogheny River Lake, led the planning for Saturday’s 75th anniversary celebration, which will be hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, and will commemorate the completed construction of the dam in 1943.

The Youghiogheny River Dam went into full operation in 1948 after its completion in 1943, and since then, it has provided flood protection, saving downstream communities more than $716 million in flood damages, officials said. The dam also alleviates waterway pollution and improves navigation on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers.

On average, 275,000 people visit the facility each year, according to Klinkner, of Confluence, and most are regulars who are boating, fishing or camping. All recreation opportunities are free and open to the public, as is the 75th anniversary celebration.

Dresher, also of Confluence, said planning for the event started between February and April, and she asked everyone in the office what they’d like to see at the event and reached out to local organizations to come showcase what they do.

She said they’re trying to make it a “family friendly event” by including many activities like giveaways, a raffle, a historical photo kiosk, touch-a-truck and more.

“It was kind of a mix of everyone’s ideas,” Dresher said, “and then me just planning to make it come to life.”

There will be booths set up by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Ohiopyle Department of Natural Resources, the Confluence Fire Department and Friends of the Youghiogheny as well.

Attendees can participate by writing a note to place inside one of the two time capsules that will be dedicated by lake rangers during the ceremony. The other time capsule will include items from the district commander, elected officials and lake partners.

In 2048, both time capsules will be opened by the district commander at the Youghiogheny River Dam’s centennial celebration.

Dresher said since she’s not originally from Confluence, as she learned more about the area, she was able to realize “how important the dam is in flood control” and how there would be more flooding issues and lives at risk without it.

Lexi Holliday, 17, works at The Outflow Soft Freeze, LLC, a local business near the lake. And before her, other members of her family have worked there.

Holliday, of Confluence, said she usually goes to the dam “any time” she has a day off to hang out with her friends and have fun.

“Whenever I think of the dam, I think of… spending time with either friends or family,” Holliday said.

And the dam will continue to play an integral role in Confluence, as Klinkner said it’s in “good condition” and completely operational.

“As a matter of fact, its dam safety rating is under review to be improved due to testing and some of the upgrades that have been made,” Klinkner said, “so that’s a very good sign that the condition is going to be elevated.”

The staff’s goal is to “try to maintain it in operational condition for as long as possible,” according to Klinkner, which shouldn’t be a problem.

“I believe (with) the efforts that we do on a daily basis that we should be able to achieve that goal for quite some time,” Klinkner said.

On the recreation side, Dresher said she has lots of ideas moving forward to make more recreation for those who decide to go to the dam and lake area.

After putting so much work into the planning, Dresher said she’s looking forward to seeing everyone get together Saturday for the 75th anniversary celebration.

“I’m just excited to see it all come together.”