Kiski River makes comeback

While we were growing up in west-central Pennsylvania, the Kiskiminetas River was the orange-stained, shallow river we crossed in Apollo on the way to Pittsburgh. Even at an early age I pondered what a great smallmouth bass river this could be, given its extensive riffles and pools, if not for the dreadful effects of extensive pollution. Thanks to the efforts of several watershed and conservation groups, during the past two decades that question has been answered. The Kiski has experienced a remarkable comeback, so much so that it’s now a destination for anglers, kayakers and canoeists.

The Kiski River watershed accounts for 16 percent of the Allegheny River drainage. It’s formed in Saltsburg, where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhana Creek converge. From there if flows for 27 miles, bordered by mill towns, including Vandergrift, Avonmore. Leechburg and Apollo.