Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

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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
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological Resourcesactivity, primarily on the steep south bank of the creek, and unregulated recreation could causeerosion, pressure sensitive species, and lead to further development of the site.Recommendations: This large, unfragmented forest, along with an unfragmented Slippery RockCreek gorge, provides a corridor for migrating birds and other wildlife. Protecting this forestedarea will serve to maintain that corridor for those species. Control of invasive species is alsorecommended to curtail the negative effects they have on the habitat and native species found inthe area.Conservation LandsState ParksMoraine State Park is primarily situated within the Slippery Rock Creek subwatershed, though asmall portion of it does abut the Connoquenessing watershed near the headwaters of Crab Run inMuddycreek Township, Butler County. Muddy Creek, the primary stream feeding Lake Arthur, also abutsthe Connoquenessing watershed near Route 308 in the southeast corner of Clay Township, Butler County.Moraine State Park has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Pennsylvania Audubon, thestate chapter of the National Audubon Society. Lake Arthur and other areas of the park host a variety ofwildlife and habitats. It also serves as an important nearby recreational facility for the residents of theConnoquenessing watershed. Moraine State Park is habitat for rare plant and animal species, contains partor all of four BDAs, and also is part of two LCAs.State Game LandsA portion of the 456-acre State Game Lands (SGL) 164 is within the watershed. It lies withinportions of Donegal, Clearfield, Oakland, and Summit townships, Butler County. SGL 164 is public landmanaged by PGC. Food plots exist within the area, and the land is open for hunting, fishing, andrecreation (PGC 5 ).Important Bird AreasAreas that support critical habitat for a diversity of birdsspecies or species of special concern are designated as IBAsby the National Audubon Society Pennsylvania Chapter. Siteconservation plans are developed to guide conservationinitiatives and management activities based on the specificneeds of the area. While no IBAs exist within the project area,several nearby IBAs surround the region. IBAs are designatedat Moraine State Park, McConnell’s Mill State Park, TheGlades – SGL 95, and Buffalo Creek Valley (AudubonPennsylvania). Conserving critical habitats within theConnoquenessing watershed will support bird migration, andallow for population expansion supporting those IBAs.Bald eagles, like this adult fromelsewhere in Pennsylvania, have beenreported in and near the watershedImportant Mammal AreasSimilar to IBAs, Important Mammal Areas Project (IMAP) designates areas that support mammalspecies of special concern and a diversity of mammal species. IMAP is a partnership of sportsmen,scientists, and conservation groups and professionals. Two IMAs exist near the watershed, CS & M Minein Lawrence County, north of Ellwood City, and Latadomi Environmental Education Center nearWexford, Allegheny County (IMA). Conserving habitats and connecting natural corridors to these IMAswill help to sustain those mammal species that depend on the resources of the region.4-24
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Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

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