Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological Resourcesarea. Second growth forests occupy the upland area surrounding the lakes. High walls and AMDin some of the tributaries still exist as a result of the past mining activity on the land. The site isutilized by fishermen and for outdoor recreation.Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences have been noted on this site.Threats and Stresses: The remaining high walls in the area could pose a hazard to human safety,and the AMD in tributary streams affects water quality and the health of the natural ecosystem.Recommendations: Using a “hands-off” management approach, the natural areas around the lakescould recover and improve. Reclamation of high walls would reduce the safety hazard and allowmore recreational opportunities. Treatment of AMD impacted waters is needed to improve theoverall water quality and health of the ecosystem.Steifel Park Mine BDASignificance: NotableLocation: North Sewickley Township, Ellwood City BoroughDescription: A rare natural community that supports sensitive species of concern.Rare Occurrences: Supports a sensitive species of concern, a rare natural community, and aPennsylvania threatened plant speciesThreats and Stresses: Human disturbance is the greatest threat to this BDA.Recommendations: Activity should be limited around this site, and human disturbance should bekept at a minimum.Lawrence CountyRock Point BDASignificance: NotableLocation: Wayne Township and New Beaver Borough in Lawrence County and North SewickleyTownship in Beaver County.Description: Located at the confluence of Connoquenessing Creek and Beaver River, this large,contiguous forest area is surrounded by a variety of non-forest land uses. Steep sandstone cliffsand whitewater rapids characterize the area. With anintact canopy and mixture of scrub and open areas inthe understory, the area is described as a red oakmixedhardwoods forest. It is dominated by red maple,sugar maple, American beech, white oak, and red oak.A variety of herbaceous species, native and exotic, canbe found in the understory.Rare Occurrences: No rare occurrences were noted atthis site during the survey, but several rare speciesoccurrences have been reported, yet unconfirmed.Carolina willow had previously been recorded in theWooded, rocky area at Rock Pointsite’s history, though subsequent field visits did notreveal its presence. The site provides valuable foragingand nesting habitat for a federally endangered animal species of concern. Rock Point possessesoutstanding botanical diversity, evident by an unsurpassed spring floral display. A series of rareupland vernal pools have also been found at this site.Threats and Stresses: Invasive exotic plant species, such as multiflora rose, Japanese barberry,and Amur honeysuckle, can compete with native species for space and resources. While Japaneseknotweed, another invasive species, was found to be present upstream. Therefore, knotweed hasthe potential to be transported to the site and compete with native species. Unpermitted ATV4-23