South Fork
Little Conemaugh River

Description - The headwaters of the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River were approved in 1995 as an addition to the Wilderness Trout Program of the Fish & Boat Commission.  The streams flows down from high on the Allegheny Ridge through State Game Lands and land owned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.  The designated section of the stream is above Beaverdale Reservoir, and can be accessed only by foot.  The stream has a large population of native brook trout, ranking in the top five percent statewide in pounds of fish per acre of water.  The stream also has an excellent pool-to-riffle ratio and the undisturbed watershed keeps the water clear of silt.  However, typical of streams on the high ridges, it has little alkalinity for buffering capacity from acid rain.  

Fish - The South Fork headwaters designated as a native, reproducing brook trout, and in large numbers.  However, typical of fish that never see a hatchery, there fish rarely exceed 10 inches in length.  

Comments - The two-mile stretch of headwaters designated as a Wilderness Trout stream is a small but very clear stream.  Although the stream has lots of native brookies, as with any native, stream-bred population, it could be damaged by overfishing.  Catch and release is suggested for these types of waters - and when the lunkers here are only 8 to 10 inches long, this is obviously not the place to go in preparation for a large fish fry.