Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan(http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/pamap/index.aspx.g. W 35-Summary groundwater resources of AlleghenyCounty, Pa.h. W-36-Summary groundwater resources of Butler County,Pa.i. W-39-Summary groundwater resources of Beaver County,Pa.j. M 89- Coal resources of Allegheny County Pa.—Part 1, Coalcrop lines, mined-out areas, and structure contours-hasapplicability to mine subsidence and AMD discussions.k. M-90-Coal resources of Butler County, Pa.—Part 1, Coalcrop lines, mined-out areas, and structure contours-hasapplicability to mine subsidence and AMD discussions.Chapter one, page three discussion of topography might beworthwhile to include physiographic section and ecoregionmaps, with the watershed outlined.Although it is implied by the discussion of both physiographicsections and ecoregions in the topography section, it would beuseful to discuss that ecoregions, although also based on floraand fauna, almost exactly coincide with physiographicsections, because the geology is a major control of the floraand fauna.PA Bureau of Forestry has developed a Pennsylvaniaecoregions map. Your discussion of ecoregions shouldprobably use the names and boundaries designated on thatmap.Comment noted. Because only onewatershed is located in one physiographicsection the map was not includedClarification addedDiscuss the data available from PA Geological Survey through Comment notedPAMAP.Chapter two discusses geology, but never addresses why Clarification addedknowing the geology is important. The soils are derived fromthe rocks. Different plants live on different geologic units.Groundwater, and therefore surface water, is controlled by thegeology-both quantity and natural quality. Geology controlstopography. Different units respond differently todevelopment. Geology is the base of the ecological pyramid.That is why ecoregion boundaries largely coincide withphysiographic section boundaries.On page 2-1 and figure 2-1, the legend on the geologic mapand the discussion of the geology have the stratigraphic unitsin the wrong order. Traditionally, units are discussed and listedin order that they occur, and not alphabetically. The Alleghenyis located immediately above the Pottsville, and should bereflected as such on the map’s legend. They also should bediscussed in the proper order in the text.Discuss what characteristics of the geologic units are that makethem distinguishable from each other. You mention that theyhave distinct characteristics but you do not mention what theyare.Soil Associations-As part of the descriptions of the soilassociations, include the parent material. For most, it will beComment noted. Ecoregions used are thoseof the U.S. Forest ServiceFigure and text updated and correctedSection expandedStatement added to the text referringinterested readers to the Soil Surveys forAppendix J. Public Comments Page 6 of 12