introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

BECCARIA TOWNSHIPMost of the land in the township is forested, but there are significant challenges to the ecological health ofthe landscape. The pattern of forest cover in the township is very fragmented; while 65% of the townshiparea has forest cover, only 26% is core forest habitat, and 11% is completely roadless core forest habitat.Strip mining and other mining have been extensive in the township, causing habitat degradation and waterquality problems. Clearfield Creek, the township’s major waterway, its tributaries North Witmer Run andBlaine Run, and Muddy Run, which forms the eastern boundary of the township, are all classified asimpaired streams by DEP. The high proportion of land which has been strip mined— ~ 1/5 of the landarea— (WPC GIS calculation, 2004) contributes to the problem of forest fragmentation, because withoutextensive restoration work, formerly stripped areas typically offer degraded habitat conditions for manyspecies and may act as a barrier for the movement of some. Conservation priorities in the landscape ofBeccaria Township would be remediation of water quality problems and forest stewardship to increaseecosystem health.See pg. 31 for discussion of SGL #120 LCA.GLEN HOPE BOROUGHMost borough land is forested; the village of Glen Hope is situated alongside Clearfield Creek, and theborough also contains a substantial area of floodplain along Clearfield Creek. No Natural Heritage Areaswere identified within the borough.IRVONA BOROUGHThe landscape of Irvona borough consists mainly of the village of Irvona. Adjacent to the borough to theeast is the SGL #120 Landscape Conservation Area. All of the Borough land is in the Clearfield Creekwatershed. No Natural Heritage Areas were identified within the borough.COALPORT BOROUGHThe landscape of Coalport Borough consists mainly of the village of Coalport. Coalport is situated on thebank of Clearfield Creek and all borough land is in the Clearfield Creek watershed. No Natural HeritageAreas were identified within the borough.40