Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

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personal communication, May 2005), and the Cleveland Museum has also begun a field program to manage invasive plant species that threaten these habitats in the Ohio portion of Conneaut Creek. 6.2.5 Invasive Plants and Climate Change Plan co-author J. M. Campbell has observed that floodplain habitats of several streams in the study area have been colonized by invasive plants, including the noxious weeds (PADA 2004), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) as well as the persistent pest (USDA 1999, 2006) Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). Locations in the study area's stream valleys where invasive plants threaten wetland habitats containing plant species of concern (Table 6.5) should be mapped concurrent with faunal surveys (see above), and the resulting survey data should then be used to develop a comprehensive landscape-scale plan to protect and restore these critical habitats. The Botany Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has expressed interest in working with Mercyhurst College on this project (James K. Bissell, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, personal communication, May 2005). Other invasive plant species besides those mentioned above, such as common reed (Phragmites australis), canary reed grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), are also problematic in wetlands and riparian habitats of the study area and should also be considered for potential inclusion in the landscape-scale survey recommended in the previous paragraph. PADA (2004) and USDA (2006) would suggest other candidate species to possibly include in surveys. It would be especially important to manage early-colonization-stage populations of invasive plants in headwater streamside habitats, since these populations would present the greatest threat to disperse to other areas lower in the watershed, via downstream transport of propagules. Additional invasive plants not yet documented in the study area may be expected to advance from the south (and east) as our climate continues to warm. Prominent examples include kudzu and mile-aminute weed (Pueraria montana var. lobata and Polygonum perfoliatum). It has been predicted that only a 3 o C (5.4º F) increase in average and minimum winter temperature could allow kudzu vine to spread north by several hundred kilometers (Sasek and Strain 1990). Both of these plants are already listed as noxious weeds in Pennsylvania (PADA 2004), and USDA (2006) provides links for more detailed information about both species aggressive spread within the United States. 6.3. Upland Plant Communities 6.3.1 Forest Types and Composition The most widely accepted system for classifying upland vegetation within the United States, developed by Robert G. Bailey of the U.S. Forest Service (USDA 1995), identifies the Pennsylvania Lake Erie watershed as presenting two somewhat different forest provinces or "ecoregions." The ecoregion including the lake plain (to ca. 1,000 ft [305 m] above sea level) and Lake Erie coast is part of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Continental Province, and the ecoregion at higher elevations south of this area is part of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Oceanic Province (USDA 1995). Bailey's description of the vegetation in the "Continental" (lake plain) portion of the broadleaf forest identifies American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) as the dominant trees, with oak and hickory (Quercus and Carya) "on poor sites." The higher elevation "Oceanic" ecoregion presents "mixed mesophytic vegetation" according to Bailey's description (USDA 1995), with widespread dominants including American beech, tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), basswood (Tilia americana), sugar maple, red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Quercus alba), and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). The plant community classification system developed by Pennsylvania's Bureau of Forestry (Fike 1999) identifies 11 different types of terrestrial forests and woodlands that potentially occur in the study area. Fike (1999) classifies the region's upland forests into several broad categories, including "coniferous" (also referred to as "evergreen" forests), "coniferous-broadleaf" (herein referred to as "mixed" forests), and "broadleaf" (also referred to as "deciduous" forests). Under the coniferous category, Fike (1999) lists "hemlock (white pine) forest" as the only type. In the study area, eastern hemlock is the dominant conifer and white pine (Pinus strobus) is secondary. In coniferous forests, cover by these species exceeds 75%, and the less abundant deciduous trees usually include yellow birch (Betula 130
alleghaniensis), sugar maple, red maple (Acer rubrum), red oak, American beech, and tuliptree (Fike 1999). Fike (1999) lists two forest types under the "mixed" category—the "hemlock (white pine)–northern hardwood forest," and the "hemlock (white pine)–red oak–mixed hardwood forest." In mixed forests, conifers and deciduous hardwood trees each constitute between 25% and 75% of the canopy. The hemlock (white pine)–northern hardwood forest, which usually occurs on "mesic" or cool/moist sites (such as north-facing slopes) usually includes beech, sugar and red maple, and yellow birch as the main hardwood species, and eastern hemlock as the main conifer. The hemlock (white pine)–red oak–mixed hardwood forest in the study area typically presents at least 25% cover of hemlock, with red oak as the dominant deciduous tree, and secondary species including red maple, white oak, white ash (Fraxinus americana), beech, and/or tuliptree (Fike 1999). Mature coniferous and mixed forest types have special importance in the study area because evergreens provide year-round cover and shade beneficial to wildlife and fisheries, and interception of precipitation that could otherwise contribute to soil erosion and runoff in areas with steep slopes. Six different types of "broadleaf" (deciduous) terrestrial forests are listed by Fike (1999) for the study area. Conifers do not exceed 25% cover in this category of forest types. The dry oak–mixed and red oak–mixed hardwood forest types occur in dry (e.g., south-facing) and mesic sites respectively. The dry oak–mixed hardwood forest is usually dominated by white oak, but may include black oak (Quercus velutina). Associated species in both types of oak forests may include hickory (Carya) species and varying combinations of maples, white ash, and many of the other previously mentioned hardwoods (Fike 1999). Dominant species in the northern hardwood forest usually include beech, red and sugar maple, and black cherry (Prunus serotina), with yellow birch, red oak, white ash, and hemlock as secondary species. Other broadleaf communities in the study area include the red maple (terrestrial) and aspen/gray (paper) birch forests—both of which are early-successional forest types that occur on former agricultural lands (Fike 1999). The red maple forest may include also red oak, tuliptree, hickories, white ash, and black cherry. The aspen/birch forest type in the study area is usually dominated by bigtooth or quaking aspen (Populus grandidentata and tremuloides), and may also include gray birch (Betula populifolia), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), maples, and cherry. Although not identified by Fike (1999) as being represented in the study area, another type of early-successional forest that commonly occurs in the region is the black locust forest. This forest community type occurs in former agricultural areas and disturbed urban/suburban sites. The dominant tree, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), may be associated with red maple, Norway maple (Acer platanoides), sassafras, oaks, or black cherry. In moist soils within the lake plain, open floodplains, or along Lake Erie bluffs, cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is often codominant with black locust. Co-author J. M. Campbell has observed that the black locust forests of the study area are prone to invasion by invasive species such as multiflora rose, tree-of-heaven, and Japanese bush-honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowi). 6.3.2 Distribution of Upland Forest Types The "dry oak–mixed hardwood forest" was the only terrestrial plant community listed for the study area by the PNHP (2006) as having special concern status (PADEP et al. 2006). The principle location where this community has been documented is an unusual "fossil dune ridge" formation (WPC 2004) on the former Coho site (Erie Bluffs State Park). The dune feature formed several thousand years ago when the shore of Lake Erie was a few hundred feet higher than its present elevation. This unique plant community is also known as an "oak savannah sand barren" (WPC 2004). Jim Bissell of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History indicated that Presque Isle and the Coho site's fossil dune ridge present "the only quality oak savannah ….seen in Erie County so far" (WPC 2004), leaving open the possibility that it may occur at other sites which have not yet been discovered. The fossil dune ridge community at Erie Bluffs State Park contains Quercus velutina (black oak), which is very rare in Erie County, and is associated with a black locust forest heavily infiltrated by invasive species. It is recommended that steps be taken to restore the portions of this habitat threatened by black locust and invasive species. An attempt should also be made to inventory locations on the lake plain where other remnant oak savannah sand 131
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Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Pr
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land to development. Strong communi
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Human resources available to facili
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other communities, organizations, a
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TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures .
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8.3 Sustainable Development and Gov
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Figure 5.14. Average summer phospho
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Figure 10.3. Management Areas propo
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND PLAN AUTHORSHIP
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working with interested teacher and
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Figure 1.3. Perceived importance of
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1.3 Watershed Plan Focus The primar
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Figure 2.2. Detail of the south-cen
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Figure 2.4. Physiographic provinces
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westward. Although the paucity of f
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via the Erigan River, a major river
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Warren and Whittlesey can be found
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evised paleoenvironmental picture,
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characteristic ground stone tools,
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phase represent the most common Lat
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including flexed and extended inhum
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with the appearance of European tra
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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wa
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of $800 for the purchase of The Tri
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In addition to these townships, the
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Pittsburgh Railroad had reached New
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Figure 3.3. Density of registered a
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the Whittlesey and Warren III stran
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Table 3.3. Properties in the Study
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Table 3.3—continued Name Address
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Table 3.3—continued Name Address
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"Little Ice Age"), and the validity
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"massasaugies" (Eastern Massasauga
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eport (Col. John Fleeharty) lamente
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flowing streams. The starting point
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elow the park." Apparently the pump
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A submerged arching sand feature is
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of the lake plain and upland areas
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characteristics, and are important
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Lake section (see Figure 2.4). Nota
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Figure 5.2. Flow time series for Tw
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Figure 5.4. Flow time series for Co
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Figure 5.8. Flow per square mile pe
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area that have thicker glacial depo
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Table 5.4. Protected Water Uses for
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Stream Zone County 3—East Branch
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5.10.2 Permitted Discharges The two
Page 99 and 100: Figure 5.14. Average summer phospho
Page 101 and 102: Figure 5.15. Graphical analyses of
Page 103 and 104: Figure 5.17. Average summer nitrate
Page 105 and 106: Figure 5.19. Mercury concentrations
Page 107 and 108: Figure 5.20. Map showing locations
Page 109 and 110: Figure 5.22. Number of stream miles
Page 111 and 112: 91 Figure 5.24. Results of Campbell
Page 113 and 114: Table 5.6. Range in Number of E. co
Page 115 and 116: Figure 5.26. Maximum E. coli counts
Page 117 and 118: The recent investigation completed
Page 119 and 120: Figure 5.30. Sources of known nondo
Page 121 and 122: 6 NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1 Animal Life
Page 123 and 124: Rank Status Taxon Common Name Globa
Page 125 and 126: Table 6.2. Pennsylvania Vertebrate
Page 127 and 128: Table 6.3. Noted Occurrence of Spaw
Page 129 and 130: Figure 6.4. Water quality designati
Page 131 and 132: Figure 6.6. Fishing hours spent on
Page 133 and 134: Figure 6.7. Comparative analysis of
Page 135 and 136: Figure 6.9. Percentage breakdown of
Page 137 and 138: A small number of the birds listed
Page 139 and 140: phytoplankton by Dreissena allows l
Page 141 and 142: populations increase. Corbicula flu
Page 143 and 144: Rank Status Taxon Common name Globa
Page 145 and 146: Rank Status Taxon Common name Globa
Page 147 and 148: Two other forest wetland plant comm
Page 149: 6.2.4 Emergent Wetlands Over half o
Page 153 and 154: Table 6.6.Percentage Composition of
Page 155 and 156: Figure 6.18. Detail of the largest
Page 157 and 158: Figure 7.1. Responses made by study
Page 159 and 160: Figure 7.3. Spatial distribution of
Page 161 and 162: Presque Isle State Park is connecte
Page 163 and 164: Table 7.2. Number of Recreational O
Page 165 and 166: lakefront recreational properties,
Page 167 and 168: Map Id Subwatershed Comment 51 41.5
Page 169 and 170: Bayfront Center for Maritime Studie
Page 171 and 172: Other watershed associations or wat
Page 173 and 174: Figure 8.1. Child poverty rates in
Page 175 and 176: comprehensive vision or plan, have
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Page 179 and 180: 5. In order to sustain maximum biod
Page 181 and 182: 10 PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES FOR AC
Page 183 and 184: easements for riparian areas, and p
Page 185 and 186: Table 10.2 Management Areas Defined
Page 187 and 188: Figure 10.2. Example of how GIS can
Page 189 and 190: Figure 10.4. Example of how GIS can
Page 191 and 192: Watershed Portion MAs Main Subwater
Page 193 and 194: Restoration actions Management Area
Page 195 and 196: 11 REFERENCES CITED Abrams, M. D. 2
Page 197 and 198: Broyles, B. J. 1971 Second Prelimin
Page 199 and 200: Cooper, N. L., J. R. Bidwell, and D
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Dzurko, Robert 1972 Conneaut Creek
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Goodyear, A. C. 1999 The Early Holo
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Jasim, S. Y., A. Irabelli, L. Schwe
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Leighton, R. 2006 Pennsylvania Fish
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Michaels, A. 2005 Pennsylvania Has
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2007d Waterways, Wetlands, and Eros
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Richardson, J. B., and J. B. Peters
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Soon, W. and S. Baliunas 2003 Proxy
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Tomikel and Shepps 1967 Trasande, L
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Whitley, D. S., and R. I. Dorn 1993
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Preparing For Watershed Conservatio
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Introduction (cont’d) In March of
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Executive Summary Overall, responde
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Executive Summary (cont’d) Cont
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Summary Of Key Groups (cont’d) Ur
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Please Indicate Whether You Agree,
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In Your Opinion, Is The Need For Im
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If You Had To Choose Between Proper
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Favorite Locations For Recreation I
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Favorite Motor Boating Locations To
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Favorite Hiking Locations Location
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Favorite Swimming Locations Total R
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Knowledge Of Historic And Prehistor
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Support For Stream Protection Measu
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LERC Rivers Conservation Plan Publi
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• Mason: As far as education, get
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• Kloss: Educate people about Act
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Great Lakes Commission http://www.g
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Center for Economic and Environment
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The Erie County portion of the Penn
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Feature Parameters Parameter Variab
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Feature Parameters Parameter Variab
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Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

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