Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological ResourcesRecommendations: Avoid expanding developed areas adjacent to the floodplain, as well asupland areas that extend to the edge of the floodplain. Impacts associated with mowing,development, road construction or expansion, etc., should be evaluated to determine theirpotential impacts on the BDA, and in particular the rare plant population. Reduce the width of themowed trail through the floodplain to four feet and maintain it with non-mechanical maintenancemethods, such as hand trimming, so it can be utilized for nature study. Herbicide usage along theroad to control weedy vegetation should be avoided or eliminated to avoid potential impacts tothe rare plant species. Tree growth near the road could be encouraged, as that would naturallyimpede weedy growth and provide canopy cover, a habitat requirement, for the plant species ofspecial concern.Brush Creek Floodplain BDASignificance: NotableLocation: New Sewickley TownshipDescription: This BDA contains a small stand ofmature trees and an associated recovering shrubwetland, along a pattern of oxbow ponds and a smalltributary stream where Brush Creek once flowed,but appears to have been cut off by the constructionof the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Rt. 76). The maturetrees serve as nesting habitat for the animal speciesof special concern, which depends on old-growthtrees and wetlands or floodplains for nesting habitat.Approximately 30 nests have been reported, makingthis the largest nesting site of the species in BeaverCounty.Rare Occurrences: One animal species of special concern inhabits this site.This ebony jewelwing is a predatorydamselfly that helps to keep insectpopulations under controlThreats and Stresses: The small size of the stand of mature trees limits the availability of suitablenesting sites for the animal species of special concern. The site is bordered on one side by a majorroad, the turnpike, and on the other by a pasture and another road. Therefore, it lacks a buffer andthe potential for expansion of the habitat, which threatens the nesting habitat.Recommendations: Attempts should be made to limit human access and disturbance to the site,especially during the nesting period from early spring to mid summer. Development of the land inthe immediate area of the site should be evaluated for potential impacts to the animal species ofspecial concern. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission should also be made aware of the site,and efforts should be made to avoid impacts to the species as a result of activities along Route 76.Big KnobSignificance: This is the highest point in Beaver County at an elevation of 1,383 feet.Location: New Sewickley TownshipDescription: Residential development occupies the base and lower slopes of the knob, whilemuch of the forest has been cleared. One of two geological features recognized in the NaturalHeritage Inventory of Beaver County occurs at Big Knob; this site is a remnant of the glacialperiod.Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences were noted on this site.Threats and Stresses: Residential development expansion.Recommendations: No recommendations were noted for this site.4-21
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological ResourcesBrush Creek County ParkSignificance: Managed landLocation: Marion and North Sewickley townshipsDescription: This park, established in the 1970s, sits atop 645 acres, making it the second largestcounty park in Butler County, while providing recreational outlets for the citizens in thenortheastern 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; itsfloodplain is occupied by the above amenities. Some areas along the stream are forested withsecond growth trees, though a large portion of the upland and floodplain areas are in an unnaturalstate 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 blackcherry; bridges and hiking trails have been established to promote the use of this and other naturalareas 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 theforested resources and restricting them to small areas. Further development and maintenance ofrecreational 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 andencourage natural succession. Discourage any further development that would decrease theamount and size of natural areas within the park.Green Valley ParkSignificance: Managed landLocation: 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 beencleared and developed for recreational uses. The areas along the stream offer ball fields, picnicpavilions, swing sets, and other recreational amenities for citizens of the area. Some forestedareas remain along the slopes and in tributary valleys, representing a second growth Dry MesicAcidic 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, andpollution stemming from the nearby turnpike. The developed areas of the park limit thepossibility for expansion of the natural, forested areas and buffer zones.Recommendations: Properly manage the forested areas, so that their natural qualities mayimprove. Provide buffer zones in the uplands andbottomlands surrounding the forest. Permit adjacentareas that have cleared to revert back to forest toprovide this buffering zone. Expand the park byacquiring private lands bordering to the south,southeast, and northwest of the park.Hereford Manor LakesSignificance: Managed landLocation: Franklin TownshipDescription: Consisting of two impoundments andtheir associated wetlands, this property is owned bythe Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC),and has resulted from the reclamation of a strip-minedImproving biodiversity enhancesrecreation at sites like Hereford ManorLakes4-22
Page 4 and 5:
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Con
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58: Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Con
Page 107: Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Con
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189 and 190:
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
Page 195 and 196:
Page 197 and 198:
Page 199 and 200:
Page 201 and 202:
Page 203 and 204:
Page 205 and 206:
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
Page 211 and 212:
Page 213 and 214:
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
Page 235 and 236:
Page 237 and 238:
Page 239 and 240:
Page 241 and 242:
Page 243 and 244:
Page 245 and 246:
Page 247 and 248:
Page 249 and 250:
Page 251:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 257 and 258:
Page 259 and 260:
Page 261 and 262:
Page 263 and 264:
Page 265 and 266:
Page 267 and 268:
Page 269 and 270:
Page 271 and 272:
Page 273 and 274:
Page 275 and 276:
Page 277:
Page 280 and 281:
Page 282 and 283:
Page 284 and 285:
Page 286 and 287:
Page 288 and 289:
Page 290 and 291:
Page 293 and 294:
Page 295 and 296:
Page 297 and 298:
Page 299:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320 and 321:
Page 323 and 324:
Page 325 and 326:
Page 327 and 328:
Page 329 and 330:
Page 331 and 332:
Page 333 and 334:
Page 335 and 336:
Page 337:
Page 340 and 341:
Page 342 and 343:
Page 344 and 345:
Page 346 and 347:
Page 348 and 349:
Page 350 and 351:
Page 352 and 353:
Page 354 and 355:
Page 356 and 357:
Page 358 and 359:
Page 360:
show all

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?