introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

GOSHEN TOWNSHIPMost of Goshen Township is forested, and falls within the Moshannon State Forest LCA (see pg. 34), oneof the largest contiguous blocks of core forest habitat in Pennsylvania. Several natural wetlands in theheadwaters of Roberts Run are recognized as the Roberts’ Run Wetlands BDA. In contrast, thesoutheastern and southwestern corners of the township have been extensively strip mined and offerdegraded habitat conditions for most species. Conservation priorities for the township are the stewardshipof the Moshannon State Forest LCA to sustain forest ecosystem health and contiguity, and restoration ofmined areas and impaired waters in the southern corners of the township.Gifford Run Wetlands BDADiscussed under Girard Township—see pg. 81.Robert’s Run Wetlands BDADescriptionThis BDA highlights three wetlands in the headwaters of Robert’s Run. Two of these are mosaics ofdifferent shrub and herbaceous communities, structurally influenced by beaver activity. The third,Cranberry Swamp, is almost completely dominated by cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), withsmall patches of woody growth and other herbaceous species. None of these wetlands can becharacterized using the Fike 1999 vegetation classification, and thus it cannot easily be compared toother wetland types to evaluate their statewide significance. However, they are locally significant asa cluster of minimally disturbed natural wetland habitats embedded in relatively mature, intact forest.Cranberry Swamp Core Habitat Area is dominated almost exclusively by cranberry plants(Vaccinium macrocarpon), which forms a springy mat of continuous cover, up to ½ meter deep.Swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus) is also scattered throughout. Small open areas have soft rush(Juncus effusus), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinacea), three-seeded sedge (Carex trisperma),tawny cottongrass (Eriophorum virginicum), sedge (Carex echinata), and occasional small cinnamonorinterrupted- fern (Osmunda sp.) clumps. Near the center of the wetland, there is a dense stand ofdead tree trunks, and surviving trees, mainly white pine (Pinus strobus) and hemlock (Tsugacanadensis), are scattered. Shrubs are also scattered in this area, including winterberry (Ilexverticillata) and inkberry (Nemopanthus mucronata). The edge of the wetland nearest Caledonia Pikehas a wide band of sedge-dominated vegetation, mainly long sedge (Carex folliculata) but alsopatches of northern awned-sedge (Carex gynandra), and there is a large patch of broad-leaf cattail(Typha latifolia) towards the middle of the wetland. In most areas, the transition to upland forest isfairly abrupt. Much of the perimeter is edged in conifers. To the east the wetland is bordered by adistinctive-looking low but not quite wet forest, mainly yellow birch (Betula allegheniensis), with anunderstory almost completely carpeted in bristly clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum), Hickey’sgroundpine (Lycopodium hickeyi), Sphagnum moss, and Polytrichum moss.The Central Wetland Core Habitat Area includes a variety of vegetation types. At the northern endthere is a sphagnum-dominated lawn; there are patches of hemlock palustrine forest, patches of mixedherb and shrub species, and beaver-influenced meadows and open ponds. The sphagnum lawnincludes round leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and tawnycottongrass (Eriophorum virginicum). Herbaceous species in the mixed herb and shrub areas include:swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus), needle and thread grass (Brachyelytrum erectum), many sedgespecies (Carex canescens, Carex folliculata Carex gynandra, Carex intumescens, Carex echinata,Carex atlantica, and Carex trisperma), soft rush (Juncus effusus), cinnamon fern (Osmunda86