Times Observer file photo The Kinzua Dam will begin increasing outflows today as pool elevations have increased due to recent wet weather.

The wet weather is driving increased outflows from the Kinzua Dam.

The Allegheny Reservoir has surpassed its summer max pool of 1,327 feet, though it is still less than the full pool level of 1,364.51. Its Monday pool elevation was 1,332.19 feet Monday, prompting outflow from the Kinzua Dam into the Allegheny Reservoir to be increased from 2,550 cubic feet per second to 10,400 cfs today before increasing to 12,300 cs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Outflows at Tygart and Conemaugh will also surpass 10,000 cfs. At Conemaugh, pool elevations reached 937.72 feet Monday, prompting outflow to be increased from 2,240 cfs on Monday to 3,900 cfs today and then to 10,900 Wednesday through Friday. Tygart’s pool reached 1,130.09 feet Monday, prompting an increase in outflow from 3,300 cfs to 8,600 cfs today and then to 14,000 the rest of the week.

What that means for anglers, boaters, and other people enjoying the river below the dam in the coming week is that extra precautions need to be taken to ensure safety. Water will be both higher and moving more quickly.

For general water safety, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recommends the following precautions on their website: “wearing life jackets, letting friends or family know when and where you’ll be on the river, getting forecasts before heading out to use the river, and assessing river safety based on whether or not it looks safe enough to swim – paddlers and boaters need to be prepared to be without the safety of their craft in the event of an emergency, so boating and paddling where you’re unlikely to be able to swim is unwise.”

For more safety information about river and water recreation in Pennsylvania, visit www.fishandboat.com. Keep an eye on current Kinzua Dam outflow by finding the Kinzua Dam on Facebook or calling for a current lake conditions report at (814) 726-0661.

According to Monday’s Kinzua Dam forecast, the reservoir water temperature is 39.7 degrees while the river temperature is 40.1 degrees.