News and Notices:
Public Access Notice (9/30/2024): As of 9/29/2024, the Cheat Lake elevation increased above 868 feet NGVD. Lake Lynn Generation will endeavor to keep the elevation at 868 feet this week (9/30-10/5), while we have sufficient inflow. Lake Lynn Generation cannot guarantee the lake elevation will be maintained at or above 868 feet beyond this week because we expect inflow to decrease, and the extended forecast is not predicting rain. We strongly encourage folks to take this opportunity to remove their boats from Cheat Lake if they have not done so already.
Public Access Notice (9/24/2024): The public boat ramp at Sunset Beach is currently nonoperational since the lake elevation is below 866 feet. Please check the home page for the current lake level. The winter boat ramp at Cheat Lake Park is open and available for boat removal.
Public Access Notice (9/18/2024): The public boat ramp at Sunset Beach is currently open and operational. It will become usable at an elevation of 866 feet. Please check the home page for the current lake level. Additionally, the winter boat ramp is also open and available for boat removal.
Lake Level Notice Updated (9/16/2024): West Virginia and the Cheat River watershed have been experiencing drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor is currently reporting the drought severity level of Monongalia County as a “Severe Drought (D2).” In West Virginia, examples of historically observed impacts during Severe Drought D2 include the following: fish kills; wildlife move to farms for food; golf courses conserve water; poor water quality; groundwater is declining; irrigation ponds are dry; outdoor water restrictions are implemented.
Cheat Lake is currently experiencing extremely low inflows as measured at USGS Gage 03069500. Per Lake Lynn Generation’s FERC license, a 100 cfs minimum flow is required through the spillway gates when there is no generation. When inflow into the lake is less than the required outflow, the lake level will decrease. We are currently estimating that Cheat Lake elevation will decrease at a rate of approximately 2 inches per day, assuming no withdrawals from adjacent land users and no significant precipitation. Two 2 inches may appear to be more in shallower areas.
Current lake elevation information is available at Cheat Lake Today and at the USGS Gage 03071590 (use NGVD 1929 as the datum). You can sign up for lake level alerts from the USGS gage here.
Updates will be provided here as conditions materially change.
UPDATE: Lake Lynn Recreation Plan
In accordance with the FERC Project License, Lake Lynn Generation, LLC submitted an update of the Lake Lynn Recreation Plan to FERC in 2021. Click here to read or download a copy.
Park & Trail Information
On June 7, 2000, Allegheny Energy dedicated a new recreation spot in Monongalia County, W.Va., as a symbol of its commitment to the environment and the community. Located adjacent to its Lake Lynn Power Station and overlooking the picturesque Cheat Lake, Cheat Lake Park and Trail is a first-class facility that can be enjoyed by families from across the region.
In the 1920s, this 20-acre site was known as West Penn Beach, and employees were able to rent company-owned vacation cottages overlooking the lake. Today, visitors to the facility are welcome to bike or enjoy a nature walk along the 4.5-mile trail.The 12-foot-wide, handicapped accessible trail follows the Lake Lynn shoreline along an abandoned railroad right-of-way leading to a nature viewing area at the southern tip and a fishing platform near the station at the northern tip. To conserve, protect, and enhance the fishing area, we have partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to place recycled Christmas trees at the embayments and in the lake to provide a natural habitat for the fish. We also carefully monitor water quality in the lake, below the dam, and at Point Marion. Other attractions at Cheat Lake Park and Trail include a children’s play area, picnic sites, boat docking facilities, and a free motor boat launch at the Sunset Marina. Our policy is to share our land resources with the public at locations suitable for such purposes. And we play a leading role in ensuring that these areas are compatible with the environment.
Directions to Cheat Lake Park & Trail
From the North: Travel south on US 119 to Uniontown. Just south of Uniontown, Pa., take the Morgantown exit from US 119 to PA 43 South. PA 43 is a toll road requiring 75 cents. It terminates near Gans, Pa. At the last exit of PA 43, turn left toward PA 857. Turn right on PA 857and follow into WV to Morgan Run Road. (Watch for Morgan Run Road after you pass the very sharp hair-pin turn at Darnell Hollow on PA 857.) Turn right on Morgan Run Road. It is a very narrow road that becomes a one-lane road at some locations. Watch for the one-lane bridge. Morgan Run Road terminates at Cheat Lake Park.
From the South: Take the Cheat Lake exit from US I-68. Turn left on WV 857 to Morgan Run Road, then turn left onto Morgan Run Road. It is a very narrow road that becomes a one-lane road in some locations. Watch for the one-lane bridge. Morgan Run Road terminates at Cheat Lake.
