Documentary features area waterways
a kayaker is shown going over the waterfalls on Yough River at Ohiopyle.
A swimmer rides through the rock slide at OhioPyle State Park.
photos courtesy of WQED Multimedia
A man leaps into Jacobs Creek swimming hole.
ON THE COVER: A kayaker is shown going over the waterfalls on Yough River at Ohiopyle.
Waterways in Fayette County will be front and center in a new documentary from WQED set to premiere Thursday on the Pittsburgh PBS channel.
“Pittsburgh From the Water” is the latest in the series of documentaries that showcases the region.
“We are so pleased with the response from “Pittsburgh From the Air I and II” that we felt compelled to produce “Pittsburgh From the Water” to showcase America’s most livable city from a different vantage point. The splendor of the place we call home is captured and highlighted from expected and never-before-seen perspectives with more than a few surprises,” said Deborah Acklin, president and chief executive officer, WQED.
In addition, to Pittsburgh’s Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, the documentary features waterways in Beaver, Butler, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, from the spectacular point in downtown to picturesque lakes and sleepy streams in outlying counties.
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau (LHVB) is a sponsor of the documentary, and officials there are excited to attract people to waterways in the region.
“Our goal in supporting this project is reinforcing these great waterways and the abundance of activities available from fishing and boating to rafting and swimming,” said Julie Donovan, LHVB public relations vice president.
LHVB promotes travel and tourism for the Laurel Highlands region encompassing Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.
Prominently featured in “Pittsburgh From the Water” are Jacobs Creek and the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers including Ohiopyle.
The documentary was produced, shot and edited by Emmy Award-winner Paul Ruggieri. Utilizing small, waterproof cameras, Ruggieri was able to capture stunning visuals from a kayaker’s perspective going over a waterfall on the Yough at Ohiopyle, to a view from inside the cockpit of a regatta speedboat and to what it’s like to capture the wind in a modified sailboat.
“We got a lot of unprecedented angles from our viewers,” said Ruggieri. “Not only are the shots beautiful and active, but they are shown from a perspective that the audience wouldn’t have thought of or seen before,” said Ruggieri.
Making the waterways the star is a reward for many area organizations that strive to clean and preserve rivers and streams in the Fay-West region.
“The documentary shows the clean water and beautiful scenic landscapes and the efforts to preserve the region’s green space. A lot of organizations have worked hard over the years, from the Western PA Conservancy to watershed organizations and countless other organizations and volunteers, to preserve landscapes and waterways. This documentary acknowledges and rewards their successful efforts,” said Donovan.
Bringing attention to all waterways in the region is an important part of this documentary, even those which are lesser known.
“The Yough and Mon are well known in Allegheny County, but few people may be aware of the Mon River development project in Brownsville or the smaller waterways like Jacob’s Creek and the recreational opportunities that these provide,” said Donovan.
She said sponsorship of “Pittsburgh From the Water” is a component of LHVB’s overall marketing campaign.
“So if a potential visitor watches the documentary or goes to the WQED website for the DVD, they are directed to our website where they can find out more about outfitters, hiking, biking and the wealth of activities the Laurel Highlands has to offer,” Donovan said. “It’s important to the growth of the economy, whether taking a drive out of Pittsburgh or exploring what’s around us, we all benefit from the beauty the region has to offer.”