introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

SANDY TOWNSHIPSandy Township falls almost entirely within the watershed of the Allegheny River, except for thenorthern and eastern edges, which drain into the Susquehanna. The township is 77% forested, but only36% core forest habitat. Three large patches of forest in the north of the township connect in Elk Countyto form the SGL #77 LCA (see pg. 32). The landscape along Sandy Lick Creek and the Laborde Branchis unique in the county because its broad topography has facilitated the development of extensivewetlands along these streams. These communities are recognized as the Sandy Lick Creek and LabordeBranch BDAs. Recommendations for improving ecological health in the landscape of the township are:stewardship and restoration of the wetland BDAs and their surrounding landscape, especially focused onmaintaining connectivity of the wetlands with Moshannon State Forest LCA to the east; and stewardshipof forested lands, especially within LCAs, to maintain ecosystem health and contiguity.Sandy Lick Creek & Laborde Branch Wetlands BDADescriptionBetween the dam at Lake Sabula and the city of Dubois, Sandy Lick Creek meanders throughrelatively flat topography, and many wetlands have developed along its banks. Various portions ofthe wetlands have been disturbed by other uses and are not in pristine condition, but do providehabitat for many species, including two features of special concern in Pennsylvania: a heron rookery,and a population of the highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum). The heron rookery is in the SouthWetland core area, while the highbush cranberry is in the Sabula Lake Wetland core area. This BDAalso contains an old railroad tunnel that is used by an animal species of special concern in PA. TheSabula Railroad Tunnel core area is the area of concern for this species. The Laborde Branch joinsSandy Lick Creek just above the city of Dubois, and also contains areas of wetland habitat in itsimmediate watershed, the Laborde Branch Wetlands core area.The wetlands are variable in composition, including many saturated- to hydric herbaceous-dominatedareas, as well as shrub or palustrine forested areas. Native species include: ostrich fern (Matteucciastruthiopteris), marsh St. Johnswort (Triadenum sp.), a bur-reed species (Sparganium sp.), jewelweed(Impatiens sp.), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa).The Great Blue Heron is a species of waterbird which breeds in colonies of up to several hundrednesting pairs. Colonies of nests are called “rookeries;” the birds tend to prefer large, mature oak,beech, and sycamore trees, and may return to the same site for many years. Herons feed primarily onsmall fish. They may forage up to 15 kilometers from the rookery site.See Fulton Railroad Tunnel BDA (pg. 114) for discussion of the Northern myotis (Myotisseptentrionalis) and its habitat needs.Supporting Natural Landscape for this BDA is the immediate watershed of the wetlands, upon whichthe water quality of the wetlands depends.Threats and StressesCore Areas—Several invasive species have sizable populations, but have not yet displaced nativespecies in all areas: Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), reed canarygrass (Phalarisarundinacea), and yellow iris (Iris pseudacris). A heavily trafficked road, SR 255, follows the creekin this area, influencing the natural hydrology of the area and probably resulting in greaterimpoundment of water between the road and the creek. The months of April-June are the herons’134