Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 4. Biological Resources
Upper Allegheny River LCA is an exceptionally significant landscape within sections of Allegheny
Portage Creek and the Allegheny River and their tributaries, including riparian corridors that encompass a
number of smaller-scale aquatic conservation areas.
Biological Diversity Areas
Biological Diversity Areas (BDAs) or Conservation Areas (CAs) are natural areas identified in
CNHIs that support species or natural communities of concern, high-quality natural communities or
ecosystems, or exceptional natural diversity. The core of these areas is typically small and is surrounded
by a larger area of supporting habitat. Table 4-1 identifies the CAs within the Allegheny River headwaters
region.
Table 4-1. Conservation Areas
ALLEGHENY RIVER AT REED RUN BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AREA
Description: Cores of the Biological Diversity Area are delineated around a section of the Allegheny
River that provides habitat for the American brook lamprey and two animal species of
concern not identified at the jurisdictional agency's request. The area also contains a
hemlock palustrine forest community that is dominated by eastern hemlock. Speckled alder
and black holly are dominant shrub species, where the canopy is open. The forest floor
contains pits holding standing water and is dominated by sphagnum moss. The brown water
stream flowing from the wetlands are high in tannic acid and naturally low in pH with the
potential of supporting unique aquatic fauna, particularly insects.
Significance: Exceptional
Location: Eulalia and Roulette townships, Potter County
Rare Occurrences: American brook lamprey, species of concern not identified at request of jurisdictional
agency, palustrine hemlock forest
Threats: 1. Hemlock woolly adelgid poses potential threats to hemlock trees, resulting in high levels
of hemlock mortality, which opens the forest canopy, illuminating the forest floor to full
sunlight. In addition, loss of the adjacent hemlocks could impact the hydrologic regime of
the watershed.
2. Maintaining suitable aquatic habitats is key to continued success of these species of
concern.
3. Runoff from dirt and gravel roads in close proximity to rivers can contribute to physical
degradation of river channel, erosion, and sediment pollutants in the river.
4. Canopy removal, whether biological or human influenced, may increase temperatures
within the wetland, potentially altering its habitat quality and species composition.
Increased temperatures could negatively affect populations of snowberry that are more
adapt to cooler, northern climates.
Recommendations: 1. Land management decisions should account for potential impacts, such as alterations to
light, temperature, and hydrologic regimes.
2. Periodic monitoring for invasive species, particularly the hemlock woolly adelgid.
3. Periodic surveys or monitoring to document amphibian and insect species located within
this wetland habitat.
4. Timbering, road development, and other construction activities should avoid riparian
buffers in order to avoid degrading important aquatic and riverside habitats.
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