introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

Table 6. Ownership of lands within forested Landscape Conservation Areas.Landscape Conservation AreaTotal AreaPrivateOwnershipArea inClearfieldCountyMoshannon State Forest 253,453 acres 28% 134,300 acresSW Elk State Forest 33,219 acres 69% 3,986 acresCentral Allegheny Front 32,935 acres 77% 1,317 acresSGL #77 25,622 acres 77% 15,166 acresS. Central Allegheny Front 25,171 acres 35% 1,006 acresAnderson Creek – Montgomery Creek 22,687 acres 63% AllBennett Branch Headwaters 17,281 acres 49% AllHaslett Run 16,641 acres 93% AllSGL #120 13,044 acres 73% 9,391 acresMontgomery Run LCA 9,995 acres 48% AllMoravian Run – Alder Run 9,082 acres 99% AllClearfield County LCAsHaslett Run LCAHaslett Run LCA is a contiguous forest block 16,643 acres in size. Its size gives it the potential to hostviable populations of neotropical migrant bird species (~9,000 acres needed), as well as the area-sensitiveinterior forest species the Northern Goshawk (~10,500 acres needed) and the Barred Owl (~17,000 acres).This LCA spans the eastern continental divide between the Ohio and Susquehanna river basins. Thedivide is the highest elevation in the LCA, ~1800 feet. South of the divide, the terrain slopes downwardsinto the valley cut by the West Branch Susquehanna River. Several streams cut steeply through the slopedown to meet the river: Laurel Run, Haslett Run, Curry Run, and Poplar Run. North of the divide, theLCA contains Beech Run and other small tributaries to the East Branch Mahoning Creek. Forest maturityis variable, with some areas in mature and diverse northern hardwood forest and other areas in very youngregrowth.Threats and StressesThis LCA has a high density of fragmenting features— gas wells, access roads, and strip mines—dissecting its edges and embedded within it. The percentage of roadless core habitat is very low for thisLCA, only 18%. This fragmentation increases the area impacted by edge effects, threatening the uniquevalue of the LCA as habitat for interior-forest specialists. Strip mining and gas well development insurrounding areas have also resulted in water quality problems in several of the streams in this LCA.RecommendationsAs fragmentation is an especial problem in this LCA, it is highly recommended that further fragmentationbe avoided and a more contiguous pattern of forest pursued through targeted restoration efforts. Pollutionof waterways by mining discharges and gas extraction activities should also be addressed.30