introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

PIKE TOWNSHIPPike Township contains much of the watershed area of Anderson Creek and Montgomery Creek, twomajor tributaries to the West Branch Susquehanna River. The extensively forested area in the northernportion of the township that surrounds these two streams is part of the Anderson Creek – MontgomeryCreek LCA (see pg. 33). This large block of contiguous forest habitat, extends from the headwaters ofthese streams almost to the West Branch; Anderson Creek and Montgomery Run are probably the mostcontiguously forested riparian corridors among the tributaries to the West Branch in Clearfield County.However, the health of the aquatic ecosystems of Anderson Creek is seriously impaired by mine drainagepollution. Recommendations for improving the ecological health of the landscape in the township are:restoration to extend the forest corridor along Anderson Creek all the way to the West Branch, perhapsfocusing on a route to the west of Curwensville; stewardship of forested areas, especially in the LCA, toimprove ecosystem health and contiguity; and remediation of water quality problems.CURWENSVILLE BOROUGHThe landscape of Curwensville is mainly occupied by the town of Curwensville. It is bounded byAnderson Creek and the West Branch Susquehanna River. The development of riparian corridors alongthese waterways could provide a public green space and help protect against flood damage, whileimproving ecological contiguity between the Anderson Creek - Montgomery Creek LCA and the river.124