CHAPTER 4 - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

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Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan Chapter 4. Biological Resources Brush Creek County Park Significance: Managed land Location: Marion and North Sewickley townships Description: This park, established in the 1970s, sits atop 645 acres, making it the second largest county park in Butler County, while providing recreational outlets for the citizens in the northeastern part of the county. The park offers mowed picnic areas, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, paved roads, and a man-made pond. Brush Creek flows through the area; its floodplain is occupied by the above amenities. Some areas along the stream are forested with second growth trees, though a large portion of the upland and floodplain areas are in an unnatural state due to the development of park facilities. Some forested areas remain in the floodplain, representing a recovering mesic central forest community dominated by sugar maple and black cherry; bridges and hiking trails have been established to promote the use of this and other natural areas within the park. Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences were noted in the park. Threats and Stresses: Utility right-of-ways cross the park in several areas fragmenting some of the forested resources and restricting them to small areas. Further development and maintenance of recreational areas within the park impact the natural resources. Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) pollution impacts Brush Creek, though the creek is recovering. Recommendations: Encourage the expansion and recovery of the natural areas within the park, and attempt to acquire land adjacent to the forested areas to allow ample space for buffers and encourage natural succession. Discourage any further development that would decrease the amount and size of natural areas within the park. Green Valley Park Significance: Managed land Location: New Sewickley Township (own and manage the site) Description: This park is located south of the turnpike (Rt. 76) along Brush Creek, and it has been cleared and developed for recreational uses. The areas along the stream offer ball fields, picnic pavilions, swing sets, and other recreational amenities for citizens of the area. Some forested areas remain along the slopes and in tributary valleys, representing a second growth Dry Mesic Acidic Central Forest community. Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences were noted at this particular site. Threats and Stresses: There could be impacts associated with construction activities, noise, and pollution stemming from the nearby turnpike. The developed areas of the park limit the possibility for expansion of the natural, forested areas and buffer zones. Recommendations: Properly manage the forested areas, so that their natural qualities may improve. Provide buffer zones in the uplands and bottomlands surrounding the forest. Permit adjacent areas that have cleared to revert back to forest to provide this buffering zone. Expand the park by acquiring private lands bordering to the south, southeast, and northwest of the park. Hereford Manor Lakes Significance: Managed land Location: Franklin Township Description: Consisting of two impoundments and their associated wetlands, this property is owned by the <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), and has resulted from the reclamation of a strip-mined Improving biodiversity enhances recreation at sites like Hereford Manor Lakes 4-22
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan Chapter 4. Biological Resources area. Second growth forests occupy the upland area surrounding the lakes. High walls and AMD in some of the tributaries still exist as a result of the past mining activity on the land. The site is utilized by fishermen and for outdoor recreation. Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences have been noted on this site. Threats and Stresses: The remaining high walls in the area could pose a hazard to human safety, and the AMD in tributary streams affects water quality and the health of the natural ecosystem. Recommendations: Using a “hands-off” management approach, the natural areas around the lakes could recover and improve. Reclamation of high walls would reduce the safety hazard and allow more recreational opportunities. Treatment of AMD impacted waters is needed to improve the overall water quality and health of the ecosystem. Steifel Park Mine BDA Significance: Notable Location: North Sewickley Township, Ellwood City Borough Description: A rare natural community that supports sensitive species of concern. Rare Occurrences: Supports a sensitive species of concern, a rare natural community, and a <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> threatened plant species Threats and Stresses: Human disturbance is the greatest threat to this BDA. Recommendations: Activity should be limited around this site, and human disturbance should be kept at a minimum. Lawrence County Rock Point BDA Significance: Notable Location: Wayne Township and New Beaver Borough in Lawrence County and North Sewickley Township in Beaver County. Description: Located at the confluence of Connoquenessing Creek and Beaver River, this large, contiguous forest area is surrounded by a variety of non-forest land uses. Steep sandstone cliffs and whitewater rapids characterize the area. With an intact canopy and mixture of scrub and open areas in the understory, the area is described as a red oakmixed hardwoods forest. It is dominated by red maple, sugar maple, American beech, white oak, and red oak. A variety of herbaceous species, native and exotic, can be found in the understory. Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences were noted at this site during the survey, but several rare species occurrences have been reported, yet unconfirmed. Carolina willow had previously been recorded in the Wooded, rocky area at Rock Point site’s history, though subsequent field visits did not reveal its presence. The site provides valuable foraging and nesting habitat for a federally endangered animal species of concern. Rock Point possesses outstanding botanical diversity, evident by an unsurpassed spring floral display. A series of rare upland vernal pools have also been found at this site. Threats and Stresses: Invasive exotic plant species, such as multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, and Amur honeysuckle, can compete with native species for space and resources. While Japanese knotweed, another invasive species, was found to be present upstream. Therefore, knotweed has the potential to be transported to the site and compete with native species. Unpermitted ATV 4-23
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CHAPTER 4 - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

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