Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

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Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 6. Issues and ConcernsIn Perry Township (Lawrence County), Marshall Township (Allegheny County), and CranberryTownship (Butler County), better ordinances or better enforcement of existing ordinances was requested.Several participants expressed their viewpoints, stating, “You can get away with almost anything inConnoquenessing and Franklin townships,” Marshall has “helter-skelter development,” and “Cranberry isa zoo.” One of the same said, “Those that have ordinances, need stronger ones. Those that don’t havethem, need them.” While one praised Cranberry Township for good ordinances, another criticized its poordevelopment planning. Several participants requested more and/or stronger ordinances to controldevelopment and preserve open space. As one respondent said, “I hate to see the almighty dollar ruling.Land is bought, trees cut, and houses built at costs that ordinary people can’t afford.”In areas with strong ordinances, several noted that zoning prevents constructing buildings betweenhomes and roads, requires neighbor notification when new buildings are proposed, limits the types ofbuildings that can be erected on a piece of property, and designates areas for particular uses, such asagricultural and residential.Many felt that the effectiveness of ordinances depended on the attention of municipal officials. Theynoted that established ordinances were not always followed. For example, a respondent was recentlydismayed when a permit was granted to develop a wetland. While the usual ordinance overseer was outof-town,another official granted the permit, despite existing ordinances prohibiting wetland development.Lax adherence to ordinances, leading to wetland conversion and poorly planned developments, wasmentioned repeatedly.3. Do the recreational opportunities currently meet the needs of the watershedcommunity?Parks/Picnic SitesOverall, parks and picnic areas were found favorable, butunderutilized. Respondents, for the most part, felt parks werewell-used by those who knew about them, but wereoverlooked by a large percentage of the populace. A fewparticipants noted that in general fewer children are seenoutside. Most participants approved of creating more parksand picnic areas, improving current parks (by adding shelters,gardens, etc), and stepping up advertising.Additionally, there was concern that the region’s growingpopulation will soon require more parks and enhancedmaintenance. An Adams Township park was cited as anexample. Although new, it was said to have already fallenshort of residents’ demands. In addition to maintenancedifficulties, park funding was of concern for some participants.Connoquenessing Park providesrecreational opportunities for youth andadultsThey feared or had already noticed park deterioration, due to insufficient funds. Given this realization,one participant suggested focusing funds on better upkeep of existing parks rather than the creation ofnew ones.Hiking/Biking TrailsOverall, the trail situation was seen positively, and some saw no need for more trail work. Most,however, supported more trail development and better maintenance of existing trails. Again, there wasconcern that trails could not accommodate the rising demand of residential development growth.Furthermore, generating volunteers to build and maintain trails was reportedly difficult. One respondentnoted that as properties have developed, some trails were no longer usable. Other concerns included6-26
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 6. Issues and Concernsinadequate signage and disputes about the Butler-Freeport Trail, where some landowners opposed to thetrail were discouraging its use.Trails were said to be generally lacking in Beaver County, Cranberry and Beaver townships, and theCity of Butler. A Butler resident, however, said the number of trails was adequate, while maintenance wasnot.Off-Road Vehicle RidingAccording to participants, no authorized off-road vehicle, or ATV, trails exist within the watershed.ATV riders were purported to frequently ride on private property without acquiring permission. Thisannoyed landowners and can damage sensitive soils and vegetation. One resident called the ATVs“devastating.” Some said the prevalence of posted property signs in the watershed was due, in large part,to ATV trespassing. Contention between landowners and ATV riders was reported as severe in theEllwood City area.Several participants were generally opposed to the sport and had no desire to see designated areasestablished. Others felt that designated ATV-riding areas (not on traditional hiking/biking trails) mayalleviate the private-property infringement problem; and, if carefully placed, may minimizeenvironmental damage and noise pollution. Of those who indicated little to no personal interest in ridingATVs, many still supported an established ATV-riding area. One participant said, “Rather than stringingpiano wire [across trails], we should work together [to develop an ATV facility].” Among supporters,though, concern remained that the watershed lacked sufficient space for an ATV trail system.Scenic Vistas/PhotographyAlthough a few participants thought scenery was sparse, most asserted that the watershed aboundedwith scenic vistas, although many probably have gone unnoticed. Accessing some vistas requires longwalks, so accessibility depended on one’s effort and physical strength. Several respondents hoped to keepsuch vistas somewhat difficult to access, so as to preserve them and the resulting experience for visitors.Still, most supported advertising and better trail maintenance to draw attention to the region’s scenery.Wildlife/Bird WatchingMost participants felt that wildlife viewing opportunities were plentiful, although few places weredesignated for that purpose. Many felt the community could benefit from greater advertisement of theselocations and creation of more wildlife sanctuaries and protected “open spaces.” Others feared that moreattention to these sites would detract from the habitat value and,thus, diminish the resource.Several people noted that a number of recently decliningbird species are returning to the region, including eagles, blueand green herons, ospreys, and songbirds. Improved waterquality was believed to have contributed to this return. Theplight of songbirds was still of concern for some participants. Itwas believed that excess deer and European starlings are outcompetingnative songbirds for habitat and resources.Signs like this one at Camp Kon-O-Kwee, while encouraging traffic tobeware it alerts hikers and wildlifewatchers to potential wildlife viewingareasMoraine State Park was highlighted as a well-known birdwatching area, which could still benefit from advertising. Thepark maintains an osprey hatching facility and nesting housesfor other species. Connoquenessing Creek itself also was notedfor bird watching, with the advice that viewing is best donefrom a canoe. The local Audubon Society was noted as active6-27
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