Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

Erie watershed is the "Jumbo Woods" area of the Conneaut Creek subwatershed (see chapter
6, Figure 6.18). This forest apparently includes significant tracts of palustrine forested
wetlands and areas of mixed forest within a core forest that is one of most distinctive natural
features of the northwestern corner of the state, shared between Erie and Crawford Counties
and extending into eastern Ohio. The fact that Pennsylvania Game Land 101 is already a
prominent part of this forest suggests that bringing additional adjoining properties into the
realm of "public protection" is a highly worthwhile goal.
12. Research is needed on the ability of vegetation communities to respond to global warming,
and how the dynamic of land use and management will interact with climate change.
Sousounis and Glick (2000) specifically recommend that adaptive management strategies
should be used with forestry and land management, and that tree planting and crop operations
should select plant varieties more adaptable to our changing climate.
9.3 Cultural and Recreational Resource Recommendations
1. Existing cultural resources in the study area, especially high value properties such as the
Sommerheim National Register District and the archaeological site complex documented at
Erie Bluffs State Park, should be further documented via scientific investigation and
preserved wherever possible. Where specific instances warrant, archaeological and historic
properties could also be featured and integrated into trail, tourism, and recreational plans.
2. Whenever and wherever possible, efforts should be made to document archaeological and
historical properties—and mitigate adverse effects from infrastructure development—when
commercial and domestic development pressure and construction activities occur in the zone
of "high potential for archaeological site discovery" identified in chapter 4.
3. Archaeological site survey investigations should be conducted, wherever possible, in the
Conneaut Creek subwatershed in order to better understand the history and heritage of this
relatively poorly documented portion of the study area. Such activities would be consistent
with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's stated goals to identify and
protect the Commonwealth's architectural and archaeological resources by working with
individuals, communities, local governments, and state and federal agencies to educate
Pennsylvanians about their heritage and its value, and to thereby insure its preservation.
4. There are excellent opportunities for the community to develop new recreation/ecotourism
initiatives with stream-associated educational/scenic tours within the study area. Efforts to
realize these opportunities—such as tourism initiatives for the Beaver and Erie Canal (see
chapter 7)—should be exploited.
5. Recreational opportunities should be improved throughout the study area, particularly in those
portions which presently contain limited access. It is specifically recommended that northsouth
recreational corridors for land-based (e.g., hiking, bicycling, nature observation, etc.)
and water-based (e.g., stream fishing and access) activities be developed within the study area
(see chapter 7).
160