introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

Supporting Natural Landscape—Use of chemical weed and pest controls within the watershed of thewetland may harm wetland flora and fauna. The watershed of the wetland contains two majorhighways, I-80 and SR 153, which isolate the wetland on three sides from surrounding natural areas.Highway runoff also contains many water quality pollutants; although studies show these compoundsmainly accumulate within 50 m of the roadside, the high traffic volume and the possibility of localhydrological patterns conducting runoff into the wetland raises concern that pollutants could bereaching the wetland. See Anderson Creek BDA, pg. 100, for further information on road runoffpollution.RecommendationsCore Habitat Area—Based on the area range which amphibians may occupy surrounding thewetland, it is recommended that a full forest canopy be maintained and disturbance to the forest floorbe avoided within 250 m of the wetland edge in order to avoid detrimentally impacting amphibianpopulations. Further surveys to document amphibian and insect species utilizing the wetland are alsorecommended, as these groups are likely to form a significant component of the wetland’sbiodiversity, to provide a baseline to guide future management decisions.Supporting Natural Landscape— Chemical weed and pest controls, as well as other discharges oftoxic materials, should be avoided within the watershed. The wetland should be evaluated todetermine whether highway runoff pollutants are accumulating within it.132