Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Boaters and anglers on the Allegheny Reservoir are being advised to use extra caution over the next few days because the US Army Corps of Engineers is releasing more water from the Kinzua Dam than usual due to heavy rainfall over the last few days. Dam resource manager Doug Helman says they need to bring the water level down so there’s enough room in the reservoir when the next heavy rainfall hits. He said it takes three or four days for the water level in the reservoir to drop so, during that time, boaters and anglers will experience higher water levels. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department is still asking for the public’s help in the death investigation of Traci Douglass, the Salamanca woman whose remains were found in the Allgeheny Reservoir in 2009. Sheriff Tim Whitcomb held a news conference this morning saying the case is still active, and they have gotten more than 400 leads, but they are hoping people will come forward with information that would help them determine how Douglass died. Although her body was found four years ago, Douglass was not identified until last February because the remains were so badly decomposed. Douglass was last seen in Salamanca in January of 2007 The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The body of the Kane man who went missing on the Allegheny Reservoir on November 11 has been recovered. The body of 57-year-old Mike Snyder was found at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the same area where his wife’s body was found after their canoe capsized at 11:30 a.m. on Veterans Day while they were fishing. The body of his wife, 62-year-old Terry Snyder, was recovered shortly after police arrived on the scene last Sunday. State police thanked the Fish & Boat Commission, the Ludlow Fire Department, The Kane Fire Department and the Glade Township Rescue and Dive Team for their continued efforts in the search.

Police have identified one of the people who drowned in the Allegheny Reservoir Sunday, but say the second person who was in the canoe is still missing. 62-year-old Terry Lee Snyder of Kane died after the canoe tipped over at around 11:30 Sunday morning as she was fishing near the Red Bridge Recreational Area. Rescue crews continued their search for the second person today, and police say the search and investigation are continuing. The Ludlow and Kane fire departments, Search and Rescue troopers and the Glade Township Rescue Team are conducting the search. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The search for a missing canoeist resumed today on the Allegheny Reservoir, near the Red Bridge Recreational Area. The McKean County Dive and Rescue team recovered the body of a woman Sunday afternoon after a canoe tipped over sending two people into the water. The team searched for a man in the water until dark Sunday. Dive and Rescue returned to the reservoir this morning at day break and resumed their search for the missing man. The name of the woman is being withheld until the body of the man is found. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to alert visitors to the Allegheny Reservoir about a blue-green algae bloom. The bloom could be harmful to people and pets if they come in contact with it. Direct contact, or even breathing airborne droplets, containing high levels of the toxins can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat as well as inflammation in the respiratory tract, according to the New York State Department of Health. The bloom was found in the New York State portion of the Allegheny Reservoir from Quaker Bay downstream to Willow Bay. Surface water affected by blue-green algae often is so strongly colored that it can develop a paint-like appearance. Under some environmental conditions, blue-green algae can become so abundant that they form floating rafts or scums on the surface of the water. NY Department of Health photos The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The bodies of both Jamestown kayakers who drowned last weekend have been found. At around 8 o’clock Friday morning the body of 23-year-old Jonathan Miller was pulled from the Allegheny Reservoir. He was found along a shoreline in Stateline Bay. At around 12:30 Friday afternoon, crews found the body of 32-year-old Jacob Maynard in the dredge area of the Allegheny River in the Starbrick area. Maynard’s kayak capsized and he drowned on Saturday. Miller’s kayak capsized on Sunday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A source tells us the body of the 22-year-old Jamestown man whose kayak capsized Sunday has been found. Jonathon Miller was with a friend on the Allegheny Reservoir when the boat flipped over. State Police dive teams found the Miller's body this morning near Webbs Ferry. Crews are still searching for the body of 32-year-old Jacob Maynard of Jamestown whose kayak capsized Saturday near Starbrick. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Earlier this week on the air we reported that the Onoville Marina in Cattaraugus County would not be opening this weekend because of high water. On Friday, John Stoneman sent us these pictures of the Kinzua Reservoir. You can see more of his pictures at BradfordToday.com . He, and The Olean Times Herald, report that the water level has not been this high since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says a significant increase in outflow from Kinzua Dam is planned through Sunday, and may cause substantial rises in the river below the dam. Boaters and fishermen are being advised to use caution this weekend. The Corps says the opening of the gates will be spaced over several hours so they don’t cause sudden rises in river levels.