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Though the Lower Allegheny is the bottom third of a river, we consider it here because of the influence of nine locks and dams that extend from Pittsburgh upriver to East Brady. The Lower Allegheny does have tributaries and watersheds draining into it—we explore some of them as well. The Lower Allegheny as delineated here is 631 square miles. Its land uses are diverse and include agriculture, occasional surface coal mines, industry, and dense urban and suburban populations.
Today, commercial barges ply the River, but we see far more recreational boaters. We know that at least 1,800 years ago Native Americans paddled the Allegheny in dugout canoes. The French were the first Europeans in the area: in 1669, LaSalle, a fur trapper, discovered the region in his exploration for beaver. Western Pennsylvania boomed in the wealth of its natural resources—in 1760, Fort Pitt was built in order to fend off native attacks, foreigners, and establish a fortified trading post in the fast developing village of "Pittsboro." Use the "Change Topics" menu below to explore various topics within the Lower Allegheny River Watershed. Also check out the Timeline to see a 1762 drawing of Fort Pitt by Wingenund, a Munsee prophet; or the 1803 sketch of Lewis and Clark's boat built in Pittsburgh. |