Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological Resourcesand is composed of a young second growth mixed deciduous community. The valley communityextends onto a floodplain, adding to the diversity of the site.Rare Occurrences: This site contains a significant mesic central forest community.Threats and Stresses: Land use practices upslope from the valley pose a potential threat. Amajority of the upland has been planted for sod, which requires continuous removal of the sodand part of the topsoil leading to erosion concerns.Recommendations: A forested buffer should be established and maintained upslope of the valleyand stream to reduce impacts associated with the farming practices occurring on the land above.Waddell Floodplain BDASignificance: Moderate to HighLocation: Forward TownshipDescription: West of Vic-nor Valley, along the Connoquenessing Creek, lies this forestedfloodplain community with a high level of biodiversity. The site is characterized by an abundanceof vernal pools and herbaceous vegetation, along with rich, mesic soils. Red oaks, red maples,and black cherry trees dominate this maturing second-growth mixed deciduous forest. Other thanpast logging and occasional flooding, this high quality wetland is relatively undisturbed.Rare Occurrences: A floodplain forest community of significance occurs at this site.Threats and Stresses: There seem to be no apparent threats to the site at the time of the study.Lying adjacent to the creek on one side and a contiguous upland forest on the other, the site issomewhat protected from surrounding land uses.Recommendations: Maintain the forested buffer, both upland and along the creek and limitlogging to within 100 meters of the floodplain.Wahlville Hillside BDASignificance: ModerateLocation: Jackson and Forward townshipsDescription: This steep slope community alongConnoquenessing Creek is a significant natural featureof Butler County that has not been disturbed bylogging due to the inaccessibility of the site. The oldgrowth trees occurring in this red oak-mixedhardwood forest community seem to be stunted due toharsh conditions, and therefore are not accurately A pair of mallard ducks wade in a streamrepresentative of their age. The community isdominated by white oak, sugar maple, and shagbark hickory. The hillside has moist seepage areasand downed trees offer a variety of habitat and opened the canopy up to allow natural successionto occur.Rare Occurrences: A red oak-mixed hardwood forest community occurs at this site.Threats and Stresses: Logging, the biggest threat to this BDA, and ATV usage have impacted theupland forest area. A scarcely used road traverses the bottom edge of the hill, but doesn’t pose amajor threat; and cottages occupy the floodplain between the road and the creek.Recommendations: Maintain a forested buffer around the hillside community, so it may expandand continue to be self-sustaining.Semiconon Valley LCASignificance: LowLocation: Connoquenessing and Franklin townshipsDescription: This Land Conservation site is located south of Moraine State Park. It is owned byLutherlyn and managed as a church camp for educational and recreational purposes. It is forested4-19