Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 6.Issues and Concerns
local government to raise more money. Other issues that they want to have addressed by the local
government are the increasing crime rate and illegal dumping within the watershed area.
Recreation
The headwaters of the Allegheny River watershed lends itself to numerous recreational activities due
to its many high quality trout streams, beautiful national forest access, and several trail associations.
Several of the recreational opportunities that exist in the area include, but are not limited to, fishing,
hunting, ATV riding, biking, skiing, hiking, wildlife viewing,
and boating. The major issue in the area is the preservation of
these wonderful recreational opportunities.
McDowell Trail access from University
of Pittsburgh-Bradford Campus
One concern is that the local residents will lose the
outdoor recreational areas due to landowner postings. A
suggestion that would ensure that hunting will remain
available is a program proposed by the PA Game Commission.
The goal of the program is to keep private land open for public
access in order to maximize the available hunting land in the
watershed area. As part of the program, private landowners are
offered an incentive, such as a tax break, to keep their land
open for public use, and the PA Game Commission would
then patrol and enforce regulations on the land.
Biological
The main concern here is the destruction of habitats for certain species. The local residents presented
their concern for certain species, such as the woodcock, warblers, and rattlesnakes. Protected areas
already exist for these three, but more management needs to take place in order to sustain these protected
environments. There is also a call for early successional stage forest, in terms of small shrub and brush
trees, in order to maintain a habitat for these species. There are also issues with a wide variety of invasive
plants and insects in the area.
Other concerns are related to the decreased population of certain animals, such as deer and rabbits,
and the issue of poaching. One resident stated that it seems the population of these two animals has
decreased dramatically over the past ten years, and suggested that poaching may be a cause. She said that
she hears gunshots in the early morning hours, such as 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., and feels that something
must be done to better police poaching in the area.
A number of people throughout the local communities feel that the local wildlife is exceptional and
would like to see projects developed to preserve their existence and natural habitats. The overall feeling is
that the wildlife in the area provides an excellent draw for tourists who are looking for a good area for
outdoor recreational activities, such as bird watching, hunting, fishing, and wildlife photography.
Cultural
There are some concerns with cultural resources in this watershed area. First, the local community
feels that there is a need for conservation programs to be offered to both school-age children and adults.
One suggestion is the creation of adult environmental education programs with the focus being on
balancing economic growth with environmental issues. Similar programs should be offered to the area’s
youth, as well, in order to promote conservation and outdoor recreation.
Another major cultural issue is tourism. Seasonal recreational opportunities limit the ability for yearround
tourism. Along with this, access to recreational lands and streams is limited in some areas. The
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