Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

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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. 4-14
Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan Chapter 4. Biological Resources ALLEGHENY RIVER AT TURTLEPOINT CONSERVATION AREA Description: A section of Allegheny River that encompasses habitat for six species of concern, of which three are not identified at the request of the jurisdictional agencies. Significance: Exceptional Location: Annin Township, McKean County Rare Occurrences: American brook lamprey, elktoe mussel, round pigtoe mussel, sensitive species 2, sensitive species 3, sensitive species 5 Threats: 1. Siltation within the riffle and run habitats. 2. Runoff from dirt and gravel roads in close proximity to streams can contribute physical degradation of stream channels, erosion, and sediment pollution in the stream. 3. Loss of forest cover in riparian zones may increase water temperatures and distribution of natural nutrient cycling linked to streams. 4. Removal of forest cover on steep slopes is especially problematic because of the potential for increased runoff and erosion following storm events. Recommendations: 1. Timbering, road construction, oil and gas development, or other construction activities should be kept well away from riparian corridors in order to avoid degrading important aquatic and streamside habitat. 2. A high degree of forest cover should be maintained for additional protection of water quality and ecological integrity. 3. Landowners engaged in timber harvesting should implement best management practices. INDIAN CROSSING SWAMP CONSERVATION AREA Description: Adjacent to the Lower Knapp Biological Diversity Areas, this area contains 71 acres and is part of an extensive wetland complex that is fed by springs and seeps that drain to Knapp Creek. A portion of the wetlands is a black ash-balsam fir swamp with scattered shrub and graminoid-dominated openings and ponded water. Significance: Exceptional Location: Eldred Township, McKean County Rare Occurrences: Black ash, downey willo-herb, stalked bulrush, Wilson's snipe, sensitive species #8 Threats: 1. Hemlock woolly adelgid poses a potential threat to hemlock trees in the region. 2. Canopy removal in the vicinity of the wetland may increase temperatures in the wetland potentially altering its habitat quality and species composition. 3. Over-browsing deer eliminate tree seedling, sapling, shrub layers, and greatly reduce herbaceous species diversity in large areas. Recommendations: 1. Road development and timber harvesting should be avoided in the vicinity of the wetland; however, if it cannot be avoided, implementation of best management practices is recommended. 2. Periodic monitoring for invasive species, including the hemlock woolly adelgid. 3. Surveys of monitoring to document amphibian and insect species within the wetland should be conducted. 4-15
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Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

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