Draft-Sproul State Forest Resource Management Plan · 1 Draft-Sproul State Forest Resource...
Transcript of Draft-Sproul State Forest Resource Management Plan · 1 Draft-Sproul State Forest Resource...
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Draft-Sproul State Forest Resource Management Plan
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry
May 2018
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The state forest system of Pennsylvania, approximately 2.2 million acres of forest land, comprise
13 percent of the forested area in the commonwealth. The Bureau of Forestry is the steward of
this land, and part of the bureau’s mission is to manage state forests under sound ecosystem
management, to retain their wild character and maintain biological diversity while providing pure
water, opportunities for low-density recreation, habitats for forest plants and animals, sustained
yields of quality timber, and environmentally sound utilization of mineral resources. In 2016, the
bureau revised its State Forest Resource Management Plan (SFRMP), which is the primary
instrument that the bureau uses to plan, coordinate, and communicate its management of the
state forest system. The SFRMP sets forth broad policies, as well as more focused goals and
objectives about state forest resources and values, to ensure that the overarching goal of state
forest management – ensuring sustainability – is achieved.
State forest management is a coordinated effort involving central office program areas and field
staff in 20 forest districts located throughout Pennsylvania. Each district is responsible for
managing wildland fire, destructive insects, and disease on all lands throughout the district –
public and private. The district staff promote wild plant conservation and private forest land
conservation and stewardship. The staff also provide for the protection, administration, and
management of state forest lands within the district.
This Sproul State Forest Resource Management Plan provides an overview of the district and its
operations on state forest land and sets forth a framework for future management of Sproul
State Forest. The planning horizon for this District SFRMP is approximately 5-10 years, after
which time it will be revised to reflect changing conditions and priorities.
The bureau also creates District Activity Plans that describe the management activities the
bureau will take within each district that may affect the public’s use of state forest land. These
are implementation plans that address how goals and objectives in the SFRMP and District
SFRMPs are being achieved. The District Activity Plans are written at the start of each calendar
year and revised mid-way through the year. They are posted on District webpages so that the
public may review and comment upon them.
This Sproul SFRMP is comprised of a District Overview, a listing of District Priority Goals, and a
collection of landscape management unit (LMU) plans, which are described further below.
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District Overview
1) Location and Description
Figure 1-1. Location of Sproul Forest District with state forest land (dark green).
The Sproul State Forest (District # 10) is located in north central Pennsylvania, primarily in western Clinton County and northern Centre County, as well as small portions of Cameron, Clearfield, Lycoming and Potter Counties. The largest of the Pennsylvania’s State Forests, it covers 307,164 acres, or slightly more than 479 square miles.
Sproul State Forest is primarily in the Deep Valley ecoregion of rolling plateau, which features
steep narrow valleys. These valleys were caused by erosion, and the underlying rock structure is
predominately sandstone and shale. This region of Pennsylvania contained ancient virgin forests
before the arrival of immigrants from Europe. The forests were cleared for various forest
products including, lumber, bark, and tannin for leather, chemical wood and paper pulp. These
forests were then abandoned and huge wildfires burned most of the cut over forest. Also,
accelerated erosion and sedimentation caused degradation of watersheds and streams. The
Sproul also has a long history of coal and clay mining. Many of the mines are over 100 years and
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have been abandoned for decades. However, their impact is still evident through scars on the
landscape and polluted streams.
The West Branch of the Susquehanna River splits the Sproul State Forest in approximately half
with approximately 160,000 acres south of the river and 147,000 acres north. On the south side
of the river, the West Branch bounds the south side of the Sproul State Forest on three sides.
Within this area there are about 450 square miles where there is no electricity, permanent
homes, or commercial telephone service. For the Eastern United States, this is certainly a
remote area. The Sproul State Forest offers excellent opportunities for low density, high
adventure, and outdoor recreation. On the north side of the river, a series of forest roads and
trails and SR 44 form the northern boundary.
The Sproul State Forest has a long and interesting history, much of which is associated with the
timber resources of the region originally explored by hunters and trappers. Early settlement
came about with the ascendancy of logging in the 1780s when the need for white pine spar
timbers brought loggers to the area. Many books have been written about spar tree logging and
rafting on the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, the routes by which the logs were floated to
market. Minerals in the form of bituminous coal, clay, flagstone, and gravel, are found in varying
quantities in the Sproul District. These minerals have been exploited at various times in the past.
In some areas the exploitation has been complete and carried to the point where it is no longer
economically feasible to extract certain minerals. Natural gas was discovered in the District
during the early 1950s, setting in motion a new era of mineral activities.
2) District Organization The Sproul State Forest is one of the 20 state forests administered by the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry. It comprises about 13%
of the 2.2 million-acre state forest system. Within the bureau, the administrative responsibility of
the Sproul State Forest is delegated to the district forester, whose office is located at 15187
Renovo Road, Renovo, Pennsylvania 17764. The district forester is responsible for executing all of
the sections of the State Forest Resource Management Plan. Following is an organizational chart
displaying the personnel of the Sproul Forest District.
For administrative purposes, the forest is divided into three maintenance divisions. The Cooks Run
Division is all of Sproul State Forest land west of Paddy’s Run including Noyes Township, the
Sinnemahoning Creek watershed, and north of the West Branch Susquehanna River. The Hyner
Division is all Sproul State Forest Land east of Paddy’s Run, and north of the west branch of the
Susquehanna River, it also includes the State Forest land from the Columbia Gas pipeline southeast
to Lock Haven. The Snow Shoe Division is located south of the West Branch of the Susquehanna
River to the Fish Dam Run, from there the Snow Shoe Division follows PA 144 to Shoemaker Ridge
Road and intersects the Pennsylvania Power Light Powerline southeast to Laurel Run.
The purpose of creating divisions within the Sproul State Forest is to appropriate forest fire
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protection and forest maintenance workloads equally. Each division is responsible for maintaining
approximately 100 miles of state forest boundary line, 110 miles of state forest roads, and 100,000
acres for forest fire protection. Each division also contains specific forest recreation facilities.
There are eight foresters assigned to the Sproul State Forest. They are responsible for the day to
day management of their assigned areas. Five of the foresters work full time on state forest land
management on approximately 45,000 acres with a recreation program responsibility as their
primary other duty. Three of the foresters spend approximately half their time on state forest
land management on approximately 20,000 acres with their other assigned program area being
their primary focus. These areas are cooperative forest management with private landowners,
forest fire protection and natural gas program management. DCNR Rangers, clerical staff and
administrative staff have District wide responsibility.
3) Acquisition History Prior to Europeans settling Pennsylvania, dense forests nearly covered the entire state, with the
exception of a few natural meadows in the lowlands and scattered rocky areas in the highlands.
These seemingly inexhaustible timber tracts provided the early settlers with raw materials to
produce charcoal for the iron and steel industries, ties for railroads, fuel wood and chemical
distillation wood, as well as lumber for homes, buildings, furniture, barrels and boxes. The settlers
Sproul Forest District Organizational Chart
Eq. Opr. B
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Seasonal:
Eq. Opr. B 3
S.S Laborers 10
Mtn Repairman II 4
Forest Maintenance
Supervisors
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Fire Forester 1
Service Forester 1
Forest Fire Wardens
Foresters
Forest Assistant Manager
Management Foresters 5
Gas Foresters 1
Seasonal:
Forest Technicians 2
Interns 1
Forest Assistant Manager Administrative Assistant
1
Clerk Typist 2
1
DCNR Rangers 2
District Forester
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never envisioned that such forests could ever disappear. However, as Pennsylvania’s increasing
population turned forest land into farms, and as expanding industries consumed more and more
wood, the amount of standing timber grew smaller. Then, in the late 1800s, awareness began to
grow that the forests were not inexhaustible. Large tracts of land once covered with virgin forests
had been cutover and abandoned by the owners. Forest fires burned uncontrolled throughout
much of the cutover area. Between 1860 (when Pennsylvania led the nation in lumber production)
and 1900, (when it had to import lumber to fill its needs) various efforts were made to halt the
depletion of the forests. The future wood supply and the restoration of once-forested areas
greatly concerned conservation-minded citizens.
In 1887, the Pennsylvania General Assembly authorized the governor to appoint a committee to
examine and consider the subject of forestry in Pennsylvania and report its findings at the next
regular session of the legislature. In 1888 a Governor’s Commission was appointed to study the
forest situation. Authorized by the legislature once again, the governor appointed a second
commission in 1893. As a result of these studies, in 1895, Dr. J. T. Rothrock was appointed
Commissioner of Forestry in the newly created Division of Forestry in the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture.
In 1897 the legislature passed an act authorizing the purchase of unseated lands for forest
reservations, thus marking the beginning of the Pennsylvania State Forest System. This act
provided for the acquisition of not less than 40,000 acres in the headwaters of each of the main
rivers of Pennsylvania, mainly the Delaware, Susquehanna, and Ohio, providing the land selected
shall be of a character better suited to the growth of trees than to mining or agriculture, and that
50% of the area have an elevation of not less than 600 feet above sea level. In 1898, 7,500 acres
of land in Clinton County became the first land purchased under this new act.
Major purchases that followed were the Pardee and Wolverton tracts totaling 34,832-acres in
1900. In 1908, another 16,824-acres were acquired in the T. T. Thomas and the Lycoming Timber
and Lumbering tracts. The 13,640-acre S. N. Williams tract was acquired in 1929. During the 30’s
another 24,472-acres were acquired from the Kato Coal Company and from Munson and
Merriman. Seventeen other tracts ranging from 2,025 to 6,389-acres in size were acquired during
intervening and subsequent years prior to 1960. Since then, small parcels have been acquired or
exchanged to eliminate interior holdings or to modify exterior boundaries.
Several major land acquisitions on the Sproul State forest have added thousands of acres. These
acquisitions are significant to the concept of ecosystem management—providing continuity and
connectivity and reducing fragmentation. In 1982, there were no private developments on
interior holdings or adjacent to the Sproul State forest. In the last 30 years, 25 developments have
been established. This has resulted in private land previously open to public use being closed.
Additionally, new roads and facilities have been constructed within large blocks of forest, causing
fragmentation of the forest ecosystem.
A complete table of land acquisitions can be found in Appendix B.
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4) Historical Land Use and Disturbance
The forest includes the southern half of the "Black Forest of Pennsylvania" which was noted for
its three quarter million acres of dense hemlock and white pine. These species were primary
components of the virgin forest over most of the forest. Associated in smaller stands and in
some cases in mixture were primarily the oaks, chestnut, and pitch pine. Northern hardwood
species were found in valleys and other moist sites.
White pine, the primary species of the Black Forest, seemed to have reached its maximum
development along stream banks of the larger tributaries. In the Sproul State Forest, the banks
of Hyner Run and Young Woman’s Creek had some of the finest stands of white pine
throughout its range (Braun 1950). Fringes of the range for red pine penetrate the forest. This
species is found along the rims of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Sinnemahoning
Creek valleys; it can also be found in isolated spots on the plateau and in the stream bottoms.
Tamarack swamp contains boreal species, which are far south of their natural range: tamarack,
or American larch (for which the swamp is named), balsam fir, red and black spruces.
By the early 1900’s, at the end of the railroad logging era, the last virgin white pine was being
rafted down the Susquehanna and the last hemlock had been cut to supply bark to local
tanneries and lumber to saw mills. Except for isolated patches left by loggers because they
were cull, inaccessible, or had been burned over, very little virgin timber remains. Today, it is
possible to drive for many miles and not see one pine or hemlock; only hardwoods in an area
that 100-years ago produced some of the finest pine forests in the northeastern United States.
"The forest vegetation of the Allegheny uplands has been so profoundly modified by lumbering
and fire that for the most part it bears little resemblance to the original cover" (Braun 1959).
Various hardwoods, primarily the oaks and chestnut predominated the new growth. In more
severely burned areas, little except scrub oak, bracken and sweet fern, are to be found, even
today. Prior to 1908, forest fires often raced unchecked except by rain. Buildings and private
property were protected by simply setting backfires. The Sproul State Forest lost large acreages
to fires between 1920 and 1924. The largest recorded loss on State Forest land was in 1934
when 18,087-acres burned. Other considerable acreages were burned in 1941 and in 1950. In
1990 The Two Rock Run Fire burned 10,000 acres. About 90 percent of the trees within the fire
area were killed.
In some areas of the plateau, herds of cattle and burning by stockmen delayed the new growth
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for some decades. Stock raising was abandoned in the late 1800’s. Poor accessibility, sub-
marginal range, and severe winters made this enterprise unprofitable.
Bituminous coal mines flourished at Kato, Revelton, Bitumen, Eagleton, and in the Two Mile Run
Area in the early 1900’s. Neighboring hardwood coppice stands were cut repeatedly to provide
mine timbers. These mines were all drift or deep mines. From the 1950s through the early
1980s many areas were strip mined for their coal reserves. This has left the District with many
areas where one seam of coal was strip mined while the underlying seams were deep mined.
Clay mines existed in the Renovo, Farrandsville, and Orviston areas. These mines provided
material for the brick factories in those areas.
The chestnut blight had established itself in the forest by 1920. It resulted in depleted stocking
in most of the oak stands. From 1930-until recent years, an over populated deer herd virtually
eliminated natural and artificial regeneration over much of the forest.
In 1970 and 1971 a catastrophic epidemic of insects, the oak leaf roller complex, attacked large
areas of oak timber at high elevations (generally, above 1,900-feet) in the Forest. Trees
defoliated by these pests succumbed to girdling by another insect, the two-lined chestnut
borer, and the root rot fungus, Armillaria mellea. In 1972, the torrential rains of Hurricane
Agnes arrested the momentum of this insect infestation. Latest estimates reveal that over one
million acres were defoliated in 1970-1971. Tree mortality due to that defoliation exceeded
150,000-acres in the Sproul State Forest.
In 1977 the gypsy moth became established on the forest. By 1981, the moth had reached its
peak when 203,516-acres were defoliated. Tree mortality in varying degrees has occurred over
much of the forest since then due to this and sequential defoliations. During the past 8 years
there have been no major infestations of gypsy moth resulting in widespread defoliation and
subsequent tree mortality. The last major wave of gypsy moth related mortality occurred in
2009/2010. Commercial timber was salvaged and most salvaged areas have regenerated with
forest growth.
On May 31, 1985, a tornado devastated 10,024 acres of timberland in the forest, resulting in five
million dollars’ worth of timber damage. The storm also destroyed 76-miles of hiking trails,
closed 22-miles of state forest roads, destroyed one fire tower and one leased forest campsite.
This was part of a series of tornados, which devastated eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Although the damage to the forest was significant there were no injuries or deaths on the forest.
In April 1990, the largest wildfire in Pennsylvania over the past 75years occurred on the Sproul State Forest. This wildfire burned 10,000 acres of State Forest land in ten hours. Approximately 90% of the trees in the path of the fire were killed. This event transformed a multi-tiered, multi-structured high forest into a huge seedling/sapling forest. The fire cost $80,000 to extinguish, and produced an economic loss of $3 million. Reforestation efforts are ongoing. This includes planting of native hardwood and conifer seedlings and wildlife shrubs.
The 1980s through the present saw a major development of natural gas related infrastructure.
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While drilling and development of natural gas occurred on the Sproul since the early 1900s, the first wave of development occurred in the 1950s with the drilling into the Orskinay formations. This was followed by the development of the Leidy and Tamarack Natural Gas Storage Fields in the 1960s. The development of the storage field led to the first interstate pipelines to deliver natural gas to the field and then to the final consumer. The 1980s and 1990s saw the development of the Council Run Shallow Gas Field in the Elk Sands Formation. This shallow field led to over 500 shallow gas wells, the associated road and pipeline network and the leasing of over 100,000 acres of the State Forest. Starting in 2009 the Marcellus Shale Play was developed using horizontal drilling and fracking technology. This play was mostly across land previously leased for shallow gas development. Over 40 well pads and associated roads, pipelines, water impoundments and compressor stations have been constructed for this play.
5) Physiography and Geology The Sproul State Forest is located north of the Allegheny Front. It consists of three eco-regions:
Deep Valleys, Allegheny Front, and Pittsburgh Low Plateau. The Allegheny Front runs along the
southern edge of the forest and the Pittsburgh Low Plateau makes up a small portion in the
southwestern corner of the forest. The Deep Valleys eco-region, which covers most of the
district, extends northward from the Allegheny Front past the northern boundary of the Sproul
State Forest.
The topography of the Allegheny High Plateaus section is rugged and irregular and characterized by high, broad-topped plateaus that have been deeply dissected by dendritic stream patterns. The stream-cut valleys are V-shaped with steep sides and narrow valley floors. Most of the ridges reach an elevation of 1,700 to 2,000 feet with a few reaching above 2,300 feet. The highest point in the forest district, Fisher Hill, is found within this physiographic section on state forest land. This point (2,375 feet above sea level) is located in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County and is reached by driving one-half mile west on PA 144 from its intersection with Jews Run Road, then walking one-quarter mile south to the summit of the ridge. The lowest elevation is also found within the Allegheny High Plateaus section at the point of confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, near the city of Lock Haven. Here the elevation is less than 540 feet.
The Pittsburgh Plateaus Section is much less rugged than the Allegheny High Plateaus section.
The topography of the Pittsburgh Plateaus section is made up of gently rolling hills with average
ridge elevations ranging between 1,600 to 1,900 feet and maximum elevations exceeding 2,200
feet in places. The lowest elevations (900 to 1,400 feet) are found along the North Fork Beech
Creek and Black Moshannon Creek in Centre County. The average relief ranges from 300 to 500
feet.
The Allegheny Mountain section is characterized by angular, steep-sided hills with maximum
elevations of 2,200 to 2,400 feet. The average relief is 600 to 1,000 feet. The drainage systems
here, like other parts of the plateau, are dendritic patterns. The Appalachian Mountain Section
consists of successive narrow ridges and broad or narrow valleys whose trends are northeast.
The surface expression is the result of multiple base-level erosions followed by a recent uplift.
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The uplift renewed the stream’s power to erode. As a result, the more resistant rocks remain
today as ridges while the softer rocks have been eroded to form valleys.
The linear valley cut by Bald Eagle Creek and the northern half of Bald Eagle Mountain both
characterize the physiography of the Valley and Ridge Province. The highest elevations are
found along the ridge of Bald Eagle Mountain and average 1,600 feet, while the lowest
elevations of 550 to 600 feet are noted along the West Branch Susquehanna River and along
Bald Eagle Creek. The drainage systems here, as in other parts of the Ridge and valley, are
characterized by trellis-like patterns. The main channels flow across the less resistant rocks, thus
creating valleys while the smaller tributaries join them from the adjacent hillsides at nearly right
angles. Bald Eagle Creek is a fine example of trellis drainage.
The forest district is drained by the West Branch Susquehanna River and its tributaries including
Moshannon, Sinnemahoning, Kettle, Beech and Bald Eagle Creeks. The West Branch
Susquehanna River courses northeastward more or less parallel to the predominant structural
trends. At a point near the town of North Bend, Clinton County, the river changes direction to
the southeast, thus dissecting the land surface at an angle normal to the major structure. All the
streams in the forest district are part of the Susquehanna River drainage system whose waters
ultimately flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
Geology
Stratigraphy
The rocks exposed in the Sproul State Forest District range in age from Silurian to Pennsylvania. The Silurian and Devonian rocks crop out in the Allegheny Mountain Section forming linear outcrop bands trending northeastward. Within the Forest District, the Silurian System is represented by the limestones and shales of the Keyser-McKenzie Group. This group has been divided into five formations. The Devonian rocks also crop out in the stream valleys along the anticlinal axes in the central and northern part of the Forest District. The Mississippian and Pennsylvanian rocks are also exposed in the dissected plateau sections. These nearly flat lying sedimentary rocks include the ridge- forming Pocono sandstones and the valley-forming Mauch Chunk shales, both of Mississippian Age. The resistant Pottsville sandstones, and coals of the Allegheny Group are of Pennsylvanian Age and crop out on the plateau.
Structural Geology
The predominant surface structural features in the Sproul Forest District are a series of folds whose trends are to the northeast. The down folds that cross the Forest District includes: Kettle Creek, Clearfield- McIntyre, Jersey Mills, and Snow Shoe synclines. The adjacent up folds include: Chestnut Ridge, Hyner, and Ferney anticlines. These folds are generally parallel to similar structures in the plateaus sections. The subsurface structure of the Forest District is characterized by a general regional dip of the beds to the southeast toward the center of the old Appalachian depositional basin. The folds increase in size and complexity toward the southeast due to thrust faulting.
The Hyner anticline is a regional extension of the Laurel Hill anticline of southwestern
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Pennsylvania. Its attitude is asymmetrical to the southeast, a condition common to folds of northern Pennsylvania. A prominent domal structure on the Hyner anticline is noted on subsurface structure maps. The dome has a surface closure of 500 feet, a length of 31 1/2 miles, and width of 4 1/2 miles. The dome is delineated as the area enclosed by the 1,900-foot contour as measured on a structure map based of a conglomerate member within the Pocono Formation.
The Ferney anticline is a structural feature approximately 26 miles long and from 2 to 7 miles wide. This, like the Hyner anticline, is an asymmetrical fold with the southeast limb dipping more steeply than the northwest limb. The Ferney anticline may be considered a secondary high on the Hyner structure owing to the low structural relief of the Ferney northwest limb. Slightly west of the intersection of the Ferney fold axis and the West Branch, Susquehanna River is a structural saddle. The Ferney anticline rise away from this saddle both to the southwest and northeast.
A small dome, near the southwestern terminus of Ferney anticline, in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, is delimited by the closure of the 1,400-foot contour, as measured on the base of a Pocono Conglomerate mapping datum. The surface closure is less than 100 feet and the length and width are 2 1/2 miles and 1 mile respectively. The fold plunges southwestward to a point near Three Rock Run, Curtin Township, Centre County, where it ends. The northeast section of the anticline exhibits a complicated structural picture. From surface data on the Pocono Conglomerate mapping datum, it appears that the fold axis bifurcates near Springers Corners, Clinton County, resulting in two diverging anticlinal axes on either side of a shallow synclinal axis. The Ferney anticline dies out in Lycoming County.
The major synclines crossing the Forest District -Clearfield-McIntyre, Jersey Mills, and Snow Shoe, are all nearly parallel to the trend of the Hyner and Ferney anticlines. Dips become very flat toward the axes of the Clearfield- McIntyre and Jersey Mills synclines, however, the flattening is not so pronounced in the Snow Shoe syncline.
Numerous faults have been noted within the Forest District. For example, in Burnside Township, Centre County, a fault of undetermined dip strikes N 10° W across the northeast trending folds. A fault of this type, which cut normal to predominant structural trends, is called a transverse fault. The east block moved down, relative to the west block, producing a vertical displacement of 300 feet. Another fault, located near Whetham, Clinton County, strikes N 60° E and dips about 500 E.
With the start of Marcelus Shale drilling approximately half the District received highly detailed 3d seismic sampling and surveying. The mapping resulting from these operations showed a number of previously unknown or minor faults. Drilling operations were suspended north of Six Mile Road in Chapman Township due to large fault in that vicinity. Two pads were constructed on Grugan Hollow Road in Noyes Township approximately a quarter mile apart due to a large fault running between them. A pad along Coon Run Road in Noyes Township was not drilled and reclaimed due to another fault.
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Soils
The Pennsylvania Soil Survey, conducted by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
maintains an Internet site with specific information on Pennsylvania soils and links to other
organizations and sources of information. The Bureau of Forestry currently uses the county soil
surveys published by the NRCS for soil series information when planning management activities.
District personnel consult soil survey maps when planning management activities having the
potential to affect soil resources. The Map Compilation and Digitizing Center at Penn State
University is working to digitally capture soil survey data for Pennsylvania counties. The Bureau
of Forestry is in the process of incorporating this data into its GIS library.
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) was organized in 1950 to
serve as a collective voice of Pennsylvania's conservation districts, which are grass-roots
organizations focusing on land and water conservation issues at the county level. The District
works primarily with the Centre and Clinton County Conservation Districts on a number of
projects from stream side vegetative buffers on private farmlands to road rehabilitation issues
within the State Forest. The district also cooperates with the conservation districts on
educational programs.
There are a number of different soil series found on the Sproul State Forest. For the most part
the soils are moderately deep, well drained and rocky. In some areas the soils are sandy and
droughty. Soils located in headwater areas and along streams tend to be poorly drained and
wet. All the soils are unglaciated, acidic and relatively thin in relation to the underlying bedrock.
The soils present on site drive the management techniques and species diversity the site will be
managed for. Primary soil series include the Buchanan, Cookport, DeKalp, Hartleton, Laidig,
Leetonia and Pope. The District has over 5,000 acres of altered soils in the form of strip mine
spoil piles. These sites are heavily impacted and require a variety of techniques to make them
productive forests and wildlife habitat.
Pennsylvania Climatological Data
North Central Pennsylvania’s climate is classified as humid continental. Average annual
precipitation is 45 inches and is well distributed throughout the year. Snow cover of an inch or
more averages 62 days. Average annual snowfall is 30 inches occurring from late November
through March. Daily summer high temperatures average 83 degrees F and exceed 90 degrees F
only occasionally during the summer. Temperatures fall below zero on an average of only once
annually. The length of the growing season averages 140 to 150 days annually. The average
annual temperature is 48 degrees F. The Average January temperature is 25 degrees F and the
average July temperature is 70 degrees F. Climate and shallow droughty soils are two reasons
timber on the Sproul State Forest grows a little slower than other parts of Pennsylvania.
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6) Eco-regions The Sproul State Forest lies in the following Ecological Unit Delineations:
Deep Valleys
The Deep Valleys Section consists of many very deep, steep-sloped valleys that are separated by
narrow, flat to sloping uplands. In the deepest valleys, the stream at the valley bottom is more
than 1,000 feet below the top of an adjacent upland. At the head of a valley, the valley merges
with the upland with only a few 10’s of feet of elevation difference between the valley bottom
and the upland. The valley slopes are always steep in the main part of the valley. In most valleys
the slope is fairly uniform from top to bottom. In some valleys the slopes have a large-scale,
stairstep appearance. This appearance results from erosion of sandstones and shales, rocks with
different resistances to erosion. The sandstones are resistant to erosion and form very steep
slopes and flat steps on the slopes. The shales are much less resistant to erosion and form
sloping risers between steps. The Deep Valleys Section occurs in north central Pennsylvania in
Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, and Potter Counties and small parts of adjacent counties.
Allegheny Front
NOTE: Allegheny Front Section
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The Allegheny Front forms the boundary between the Ridge and Valley Appalachians to its east and the Appalachian Plateau locally called the Allegheny Plateau to its west. The Allegheny Front begins in central Pennsylvania just northwest of the town of Lock Haven and extends southwest paralleling, Bald Eagle Mountain. The Allegheny Front Section consists of rounded to flat uplands cut by shallow to moderately deep, angular to rounded valleys. The topography is developed on sandstones, siltstones, and some conglomerates. The rocks are nearly flat lying. Local relief is generally less than 300 feet, but can be as much as 600 feet. Elevations in the Section range from 880 to 2,625 feet. Most of this Section is in Clearfield and Centre Counties, but small parts of it occur in Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Blair, and Cambria Counties.
Pittsburgh Low Plateau
The Pittsburgh Low Plateau Section consists of a smooth undulating upland surface cut by numerous, narrow, relatively shallow valleys. The uplands are developed on rocks containing the bulk of the significant bituminous coal in Pennsylvania. The landscape reflects this by the presence of some operating surface mines, many old stripping areas, and many reclaimed stripping areas. The local relief on the uplands is generally less than 200 feet. Local relief between valley bottoms and upland surfaces may be as much as 600 feet. Valley sides are usually moderately steep except in the upper reaches of streams where the side slopes are fairly gentle. Elevations range from 660 to 1,700 feet. Some of the land surface in the southwestern part of the Section is very susceptible to landslides. The Section covers much of western and southwestern Pennsylvania. It includes all of Greene, Washington, and Armstrong Counties, most of Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Westmoreland, and Indiana Counties, and parts of Lawrence, Venango, Elk, Cambria, and Fayette Counties.
7) Conservation Landscapes Throughout Pennsylvania, seven large regions are working together to drive strategic investment
and actions around sustainability, conservation, community revitalization, and recreational
projects. Known as conservation landscapes (Figure 7-1), these collaborations are found in
regions where there are strong natural assets, local readiness and buy-in, and state-level
investment and support. Founded on the regions’ sense of place and resource values,
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conservation landscapes motivate citizens and elected officials to take on the challenge of
effective land use planning, investment, civic engagement, and revitalization.
Figure 7-1: The seven Conservation Landscapes in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Wilds is
situated in the northcentral part of the state.
Driven by the values of conservation, sustainability, and community revitalization, conservation
landscapes are built on several ingredients:
• Presence of DCNR-owned lands -- Large blocks of state parks and forests provide the
foundation for the landscape and a staffing presence
• Sense of place -- Regions with a sense of place and identity in many cases are based on
shared landscape not political boundaries
• Readiness -- Often driven by opportunity or threats such as changes in the economic
base, depopulation, or sprawl
• Engagement -- Civic engagement process that brings people of the region together to
identify common values and concerns
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• Strategic investments -- State agencies with regional and statewide partners provide high-
level leadership, financial support, and technical assistance to build better communities,
to conserve identified values and to invest in “sustainable” economic development
There are currently seven conservation landscape partnerships within Pennsylvania. The Sproul
State Forest lies within the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape, in the northcentral part of the
state. The land mass of the northcentral Pennsylvania landscape covers 25 percent of the state
and holds about 4 percent of its population. The amount of public land in the region -- more than
2 million acres -- is comparable to Yellowstone National Park.
The Pennsylvania Wilds heralds the significant outdoor experiences and rural community
character found in a 12-county region in northcentral and northwestern Pennsylvania. The
Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape offers:
• Tremendous outdoor adventures
• Abundant wildlife
• Hundreds of miles of land and water trails
• Rich lumber and oil history
• Charming small towns
• “Authentic” experiences
The vision of the Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape is to help revitalize rural
communities through sustainable tourism development -- all while inspiring a stewardship ethic
in residents and visitors. Since being launched in 2003, the effort has had a significant and
positive impact on both the businesses and communities in the region and partnerships have
been a hallmark of this success.
• The partnership has led to increases in the region related to:
• Overnight leisure travel
• Trip lengths
• State park attendance
• Small business start-ups
• Job creation
• Tax revenues in the region
• The Pennsylvania Wilds has been a national model for similar efforts around the country.
The Pennsylvania Wilds has been guided by a group of 40 organizations representing federal,
state, and county government; tourism and cultural interests; education, economic development
and the private sector. For more than a decade, the partners in the area have worked to:
• Ensure stewardship of the public lands and character of the region’s communities
• Support and grow private businesses such as accommodations, services, and locally-
made products
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• Promote the renewal of the region’s communities and appropriate community planning
• Invest in public infrastructure to enhance the visitor experience
The PA Wilds is a landscape rich in recreational and cultural assets (Figure 7-2) including:
• The largest elk herd in the northeast
• Some of the darkest night skies in the country and a Dark Sky Preserve at Cherry Springs
State Park
• Rich oil and lumber heritage
• Authentic small towns
• Elk Country Visitor Center -- operated in partnership with the Keystone Elk Country
Alliance, located in Benezette
• The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle -- a 16-room eco-friendly nature inn voted one of the best in
the country
• Elk Scenic Drive -- 23 viewing sites that provide parking and opportunities to view elk and
other wildlife
• Pennsylvania Grand Canyon -- Leonard Harrison and Colton Point state parks, sit on
either side of the Pine Creek Gorge, a 18-mile rugged area with depths in excess of 1,000
feet from the rim to Pine Creek
• Pine Creek Rail-Trail -- extends 62 miles south from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey Shore in
the Tiadaghton State Forest along Pine Creek; the trail is used primarily for bicycling,
walking, and cross-country skiing
• Kinzua Bridge State Park -- featuring a new visitor’s center and pedestrian walkway where
visitors can stroll 600 feet out on the remaining support towers of the former longest and
tallest railroad viaduct structure that was partially destroyed by a tornado
• 16,000 miles of waterways, including two National Wild & Scenic Rivers -- the Allegheny
and the Clarion -- the West Branch of the Susquehanna, and many more
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Figure 7-2: Cultural and recreation features of the PA Wilds.
The PA Wilds is a 12 ½ -county area that offers tremendous outdoor experiences, some of the
best in the nation, with 29 state parks, 50 state game lands, 8 state forests, abundant wildlife
and hundreds of miles of land and water trails. The amount of public land in the region — more
than 2 million acres — is comparable to Yellowstone. The region is home to the largest elk herd
in the northeast, some of the darkest skies in the country. Nature draws many to the region, but
visitors also come to experience the area’s rich oil and lumber heritage and authentic small
towns. The PA Wilds is surrounded by major tourism markets. More than 50 million people live
within a day's drive of the region, making it an attractive place to for many people to hunt, bike,
hike, camp, fish, canoe and more. DCNR launched the PA Wilds CLI in 2003 in collaboration with
DCED and the county governments of the region. Partners aimed to revitalize communities,
create lasting economic opportunities and improve quality of life all while inspiring a stewardship
ethic in residents and visitors. What began as a vision shared by state agencies and elected
officials on both sides of the aisle by 2017 has transformed into a grassroots effort involving
dozens of partners and champions at the local, state and federal level.
The Sproul State Forest has participated in the PA Wilds from the program’s inception. Among
numerous projects the District has undertaken to support the PA Wilds program are the
construction of several scenic vistas, the Bakers Run Canoe Launch, the East Branch and
Cranberry Swamp Loop Hiking Trails, the hang glider landing zone on the McDonald purchase
and the Long Fork Loop Trail in partnership with Hyner Run State Park. Numerous other projects
have been and continue to be undertaken to enhance and promote “The Wilds’. The City of Lock
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Haven and Clinton County are positioning themselves to be the eastern gateway to this region.
The following is a list of areas and places on or adjacent to the Sproul State Forest, which are of
geologic, biologic, or historic interest.
8) Land Cover, Forest Ownership, and Other Public/Protected Lands
Figure 8-1. Acres of land cover types from National Land Cover Database for entire
district.
050,000
100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000400,000450,000
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Figure 8-2. Percentage of forested vs. non-forested land within Sproul Forest District and the
ownership breakdown of the forestland (public vs. private), (based on US Forest Service FIA plot
data: https://www.fia.fs.fed.us/).
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Figure 8-3. Public/protected lands within entire district.
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Figure 8-4. Gross forest loss and forest gain 2011-2016 (based on US Forest Service FIA plot data:
https://www.fia.fs.fed.us/) by land-use categories for (a) the entire state; and (b) within Sproul
Forest District. The colors in forest gain represent the type of land cover FROM WHICH the
forestland came (e.g. agricultural could be an old farm field that gained enough tree cover in that
period to now be classified as forest). Similarly, colors in forest loss represent the categories TO
WHICH forestland was converted (e.g. agricultural could be a forest that was cut and converted to
pasture).
State Parks
Recreation is receiving increasing emphasis in the management of the Sproul State Forest. Three
state parks offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities. State Parks in the area include
Kettle Creek, Hyner Run, and Bald Eagle State Parks. They were originally State Forest lands that
have since been set aside for park use. They are included in the inventory because of their
impact on the surrounding State Forest land. The Bureau of Forestry administers the state forest
picnic areas. Below are descriptions of each.
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Jesse Hall State Forest Picnic Area
Jesse Hall State Forest Picnic Area is located along PA 144 about two miles south of South Renovo. The facilities include picnic tables, fireplaces, some pavilions, drinking water, and two latrines with holding tanks that were installed in 1983. Attendance is light and split between local people and transient use.
Kettle Creek State Park
Kettle Creek State Park is located about seven miles north of PA Route 120 and the village of
Westport along L.R. 18003. The Park includes about 1,793 acres of state park and U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers land and adjoins State Forest land on all but the north side. The focal point of
the park is a 160-acre lake impounded by the Alvin R. Bush Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers constructed this dam for the primary purpose of flood control. As a result, the
highway in the park is subject to annual spring flooding. The impoundment provides a swimming
beach and boat launching and mooring sites. Other facilities in the Park include picnic areas,
food concessions, sanitary facilities, drinking water, play areas, and camping facilities. Two
campgrounds provide about 85 sites. One of these campgrounds is about two miles below the
Bush Dam along the east shore of Kettle Creek. The upper campground has modern facilities,
while lower does not.
There is a trailhead for the Sproul State Forest equestrian trail located near the Beaverdam Road.
The Bureau of State Parks provides latrines and parking for day use. Equestrian groups can camp
in the area overnight with a letter of authorization from the park manager. Snowmobiling is
permitted on designated trails and roads at Kettle Creek Park. There is limited trail head parking
near Bearfield Hollow.
The PA Game Commission in cooperation with the Bureau of State Parks has developed some
high quality herbaceous openings between the Kettle Creek Road and Kettle Creek in the vicinity
of Beaverdam Run. This is part of the Kettle Creek Complex of herbaceous openings for elk and
other wildlife species. Hunting and fishing are popular in and around the park. Kettle Creek is a
trout stream of exceptional quality and the park is a focal point of much of the fishing pressure.
Warm water fishing is good in Bush Dam, which also receives a lot of pressure during ice fishing
season. Also, Kettle Creek vista on State Forest land west of the park, offers a scenic view of the
impoundment.
For more information, go to the State parks website at:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/kettlecreek.asp
Hyner Run State Park
Hyner Run State Park is located on Hyner Run Road six miles west of its intersection with PA
Route 44 and approximately three miles north of Hyner and PA Route 120. The park is
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completely surrounded by the Sproul State Forest and is named for Hyner Run, which flows
through it. It consists of 156 acres. The Williams Company Natural Gas Pipeline delineates the
Southern Boundary. The Northern boundary is the First Energy/New York Gas and Electric Power
Line Right a Way. Originally a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Hyner Run was originally used
only as a picnic area, until 1958 when a swimming pool was constructed. Other improvements
since then include a bathhouse, picnic facilities, sanitary facilities, a rental cabin and a
campground.
Associated with Hyner Run State Park is the Hyner View State Park. It is adjacent to the State
Forest and overlooks the Susquehanna River. This scenic lookout receives intensive recreational
use. The Pennsylvania Forest Fire Wardens’ Memorial Plaque is located at this vista. It is also
the site of the original Flaming Foliage Festival and the access road was the site of a sports car
race held during the period of 1958 to 1963.
In 1976, a Special Use Agreement was executed by the Department to allow the Central Regional
Hang Gliding Competition to be held at the vista. The gliders, after launching from the vista, land
at an old airfield just east of the river bridge below on the southwest side of the river. From
1977 to 1983, the World Cup Hang Gliding Competition was held there. Although it still receives
good use, the development of more sites elsewhere in Pennsylvania and the northeast has led to
a downward trend in the use of this site. In 2013 a second landing field was developed by the
District on the recently acquired McDonald property between the West Branch and Route 120 at
the base of the view.
The Donut Hole Trail passes through Hyner Run State Park, as well as the trailhead for the Long
Fork Day Hike Loop Trail. The Jack Paulhamus/Garby Trail which links the Chuck Keiper and
Donut Hole State Forest Hiking Trails passes through both Hyner View and Hyner Run State
Parks. Hyner Run State Park is also a focal point for the Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail
System.
Trout fishing in Hyner Run and adjacent streams such as Young Woman’s Creek is another form
of recreation associated with the park. Similar to Kettle Creek State Park, attendance has
fluctuated fairly widely in recent years.
For more information, go to the State parks website at:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/hynerrun.asp
Bald Eagle State Park
Just off PA Route 150 and accessible by Interstate 80, the Bald Eagle State Park is located
midway between Milesburg and Lock Haven. The rugged Bald Eagle Mountain and Allegheny
Plateau enhance the beauty of the 1,730-acre lake that features unlimited horsepower boating.
Hiking and butterfly trails make for a grand experience if you like to observe wildlife. Swimming
is available at the sand beach. In 2010 the Nature Inn was developed in the Park. This 50 room
motel has proven to be very popular.
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The existing recreational facilities result from a joint flood control project developed by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the former Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.
Recreational facilities are situated around the 1,730-acre lake, which extends nearly 8 miles
upstream and includes 23 miles of shoreline. The lake is drawn down in mid-November for flood
control purposes and returns to summer recreational level by the middle of May each year.
Fishing, hunting, boating, and day use recreation are all popular uses at the Park. It is the busiest
of the State Parks located in the District. In 2010 the Nature Inn opened in the park. This LEED
certified hotel was one of the main focal points of the PA Wilds.
For more information, go to the State parks website at:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/baldeagle.asp
State Game Lands
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is another state agency that manages significant
forest and land resources. The PGC land holdings within the Sproul State Forest share common
boundary lines with the State Forest, use the District’s road network for access into significant
portions of the game lands and work with the District on a number of habitat projects. There are
five State Game Lands within the boundaries of the State Forest and another close by.
State Game Lands 89
State Game Land 89 is located in Colebrook, Gallagher, and Woodward Townships, within rural Clinton County. The Game Land is one contiguous tract. Deeded acreage is 10,571 acres. Most of SGL 089 lies on the steep side hills of Lick Run. Lick Run is designated as a "Wild and Scenic River" with elevations ranging from 700 feet at the southern end to 1900 feet near the northern boundary. The game land can be accessed from the Carrier and Hazard Roads from the north at Haneyville and from the south at Farrandsville. The Carrier Road is a State Forest Road open to public travel year-round. The Carrier Road is not plowed or maintained in the winter and it is used as a snowmobile trail. On the eastern side of the game land the Hazard Road is a state game land road and is closed to travel most of the year. The Hazard Road is open to public travel from October to the Middle of January and in the month of May for hunter access. State Game Land 92 State Game Land 92 is 5,278 acres located entirely in Boggs, Howard, and Curtin Townships, Centre County. SGL 092 has an adequate amount of access to every compartment. Topography varies with very gentle slopes to steep side hills. SGL 092 is totally forested, with the exception of some small herbaceous openings planted annually and periodically that are adjacent to Game Land Rd. and Greens Run Rd. SGL 092 is bounded on all sides by forest, agricultural and residential lands. The Game Land is mostly covered with hard and softwood stands nearly 100% of the acreage is forested. Those areas not forested consist of a small area of wildlife food plots. These forests represent home to many forest loving birds and mammals.
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State Game Lands 100 State Game Lands No. 100, consists of 20,303 acres, located in Burnside and Snow Shoe Townships, Centre and Cooper Township, Clearfield Counties. The terrain is typically hilly with broad level areas. This Game Lands contains a miles of river frontage along the east bank of West Branch of the Susquehanna River between Karthaus and Keating. This Game Lands has receive extensive strip mine reclamation work and is home to a herd of approximately 75 elk who are frequently found on the adjacent Sproul State Forest. The District and PGC are also cooperating on a Landscape Scale Restoration project in Bougher and Fields Run drainages. State Game Lands 103 State Game Lands No. 103, consists of 8,993 acres, located in Rush, Snow Shoe and Union Townships, Centre County north of Bellefonte. The game lands is on the Allegheny Front escarpment between Interstate 80 and Route 504. The terrain is steep and rocky, bisected by Wallace Run and is heavily forested. Wallace Run and several small streams also provide good native trout fishing. The District’s fire protection boundary with neighboring Moshannon State Forest is the Governor’s Road. The Sproul State Forest is responsible for all fires to the north of Route 504 and east of the Governors Road which encompasses the bulk of this game lands. State Game Lands 255 State Game Lands No. 255, consists of 2,278 acres, located in Liberty and Marion Townships, Centre County and Bald Eagle and Porter Townships, Clinton County between Bald Eagle Creek and Nittany Valley on Bald Eagle Mountain. The terrain is extremely mountainous with rock outcrops and primarily forested. This game lands lies on the edge of the Sproul State Forest between Beech Creek and Mill Hall. The most prevalent game species found here are deer, bear, turkey, grouse and gray squirrel. State Game Lands 321 State Game Lands No. 321, consists of 3,254 acres, located West Keating Township, Clinton County. The terrain is typically hilly with broad level areas. The majority of this game lands consists of reclaimed strip mines. This game lands was created in 2001 by the purchase of the former Kelly Estate by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The property was then divided between the PGC and DCNR. The PGC took procession of the predominately former mine lands while DCNR took procession of the river side hill along the west bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. State Game Land 323 State Game Land 323 consists of 2,967 acres located in Boggs, Howard, Marion, and Spring Townships, on the Bald Eagle Mt., entirely within Centre County. Situated in two distinct compartments separated by Interstate 80, these lands are totally forested and mountainous, bounded on the east and west by agricultural and residential lands, and on the north and south by contiguous forested tracts. The game land is mostly covered with hard and softwood stands nearly 100% of the acreage is forested. Those areas not forested consist of a small area of wildlife food plots and several large rock and boulder fields. Topography varies with very gentle slopes to very steep side hills. SGL 323 has limited access. State Route 1006 provides access to
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Compartment 2 in the middle of the northern side where a gated road provides PGC administrative access. This road is open to the public during the hunting seasons. Hunting pressure is not excessive due to the relative inaccessibility and steep terrain of most of the game lands.
9) Population Centers There are no population centers immediately adjacent to the Sproul State Forest. Its location
northwest of the Allegheny escarpment in Clinton County embraces two-thirds of that county’s
area but less than 13% of its population. This population reached a peak of 11,800 in 1920. By
1965, it dropped to the level it had in the 1870’s, and by 1985, it reached the level of 5,135. The
immediate surrounding areas of the Sproul in Clinton County have a population from the 2010
census to be approximately 2,500 out 39,000 for the county. The Centre County population has
an even smaller percentage living near the forest.
The economy of the area in the vicinity of the forest has been and will most likely to be
dependent on its land resources. Resource extraction and storage of natural gas provide a
significant number of jobs. Forest based recreation has unlimited potential for economic
development. There are well over 1,000 recreational camps in the area. The natural beauty of
public lands makes this a desirable place to live. Interstate 80 is a major connecter to population
centers.
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Figure 9-1. Map of public lands, population centers, and land use types (aggregated from
National Land Cover Database).
10) Forest/Plant Community Types
State Forest lands serve as examples in promoting the conservation of native wild flora and are managed to provide habitats that support a diversity of native plant communities and species. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources currently has responsibilities for the management and protection of Pennsylvania native wild plants. This authority was given to the Department in 1982 with the passage of public law # 157 cited as the Wild Resource Conservation Act (P.L. 597, No. 170) (32 P.S. 5301-5314). The Bureau of Forestry has administered the plant program according to provisions of the Act since 1983. Regulations titled, Conservation Of Pennsylvania Native Wild Plants (Title 17, Chapter 45) establish various programs to inventory, monitor, and manage plant species that occur naturally in the commonwealth. The regulations were last updated in 2017.
Figure 10-1. Acreage of state forest land in this district by aggregated forest type. The forest
types are described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRM.
Allegheny Hardwoods, 485
Conifers, 14726
Northern Hardwoods,
28765
Other, 18771
Other Hardwoods, 12139
Other Oak, 206830
Red Maple, 14800
Red Oak, 10638
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Figure 10-2. Species composition (top 5 species) of all stems over 4.5 inches dbh in the forest
communities that have over 15 Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) plots in a district. For more
information and summaries of the bureau's CFI data, see the online interactive tool here:
https://pa-forestry.shinyapps.io/cfi_explorer/
(a). Sproul State Forest has over 31,000 acres of mixed oak-mixed hardwood forests, which
comprises about 10% of total state forest acreage in this district.
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(b.) Sproul State Forest has over 180,000 acres of dry oak-heath forests, which comprises about
59% of total state forest acreage in this district.
(c.) Sproul State Forest has over 10,000 acres of red oak-mixed hardwood forests, which
comprises about 3% of total state forest acreage in this district.
Flora Inventory
The Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) maintains locational and biological
information on vascular plant species listed as Pennsylvania Extirpated, Pennsylvania
Endangered, Pennsylvania Threatened, Pennsylvania Rare, and Tentatively Undetermined. The
Pennsylvania Flora Project at the Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania has prepared dot
maps from herbarium specimens of the vascular flora the database can be searched
geographically or taxonomically. This information contains confirmed and historic locational
information.
The Bureau's Resource Inventory and Analysis Section has recorded vascular plant species on the
inventory plots. Species lists exist for all forest districts from all of these inventories has been
combined to provide species lists on State Forest lands that can be specialized for either Districts
or Ecoregions. An inventory is never complete. Specific groups such as lichens and mosses have
been overlooked in the above inventories, for various reasons. Very little information exists on
these groups of plants. Inventories for plants classified as Pennsylvania Vulnerable (Ginseng,
Panax quinquefolius, Golden-Seal, Hydrastis canadensis, and Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium
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pubescens) need to be conducted to identify populations that can be managed for sustainable
harvest.
Public Wild Plant Sanctuaries
The Wild Resource Conservation Act also provides that the department may protect wild plant
species that are in jeopardy of population decline by acquiring or designating areas previously
acquired as public wild plant sanctuaries. Any area of publicly owned land that supports a viable
population of native plant species of special concern, or contains suitable habitat for viable
growth of native plant species of special concern and is known to have historically supported
such species, or the areas contains suitable habitat for viable growth and reproduction of native
plant species of special concern which may be transplanted or the area supports an exemplary
Pennsylvania native wild plant community may be nominated as a public wild plant sanctuary.
There are four Public Wild Plant Sanctuaries on the Sproul State Forest:
Invasive Species
The following plants are the most prevalent species on the Sproul State Forest
The Japanese Knotweed is probably the invasive plant, which is spreading faster within parts of
the Sproul State Forest. The plant grows in thick bamboo like stands along railroad rights of way,
but it is also found in limited areas of the plateau region in the Cattaraugus Road, West Branch of
the Susquehanna River Valley and Kato vicinities.
Mile-a-Minute Weed is an annual vine that has arrived in the last several years. It is established
in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River valley on private property and seems to be
spreading rapidly. This plant has the ability to over top small trees and completely take over a
site. It has numerous hard berry like seeds that are dispersed by birds and have the ability to
remain viable for a number of years in the seed bank.
Autumn olive is a small shrub or small tree approximately twenty feet tall. It is most prevalent
along pipeline corridors and strip mines in the State Forest. Japanese barberry is found
throughout the forest in dense understory stands. Young Womans Creek, Hyner Run and Swamp
Branch are several areas with heavy concentrations in the understory. Japanese silt grass is
found along the majority of the Districts public roads, but rarely is found more than ten feet
from the ditch line. Multiflora rose is found throughout the forest as an occasional species, but
no dense stands of this plant occur. There are a number of other non-native plant species found
on the State Forest.
Species of Special Concern
State Forest Land serves as a refugia role for Rare, Threaten, and Endangered species. The
Sproul State Forest with its large compact acreage is uniquely positioned to serve this role.
There are at least seven (7) different species found throughout the Sproul that are on listed in
this index. Where these plants exist management operations are adjusted and implemented to
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help enhance growing conditions and other life requirements these plants need. The goal is to
help these populations to grow and expand while maintaining healthy, viable populations.
11) Oil, Gas and Other Minerals
Figure 11-1. Acres of subsurface ownership/status on state forest land within the district.
Acreage figures are derived from bureau GIS data, not acreages specified in lease or
subsurface agreements. Severed Gas Rights Acres include only severed rights lands
where the subsurface ownership has been verified. Partially severed areas that have
been leased are counted as DCNR Issued Lease Acres, as opposed to Severed Gas Rights
Acres.
There is a long history of natural gas production in the vicinity of the Sproul State Forest. The
first recorded gas wells the District is aware of were drilled in 1903 in the vicinity of the Hyner
Bridge. Both privately owned and state-owned lands in this Forest District have produced large
volumes of natural gas from the deep Devonian age Oriskany sandstone at depths of 5700-7400'.
Smaller quantities of gas have been produced from the shallower Upper Devonian age
sandstones at depths of less than 5000'. Some gas has been produced from the deep Lower
Silurian age Tuscarora sandstone at a depth of 10,759-10,974', and some gas has been produced
from the deep Upper Ordovician age Oswego sandstone at even deeper depths of 12,900-
13,030'.
While the occasional well was drilled between 1900 and 1950, the next big drilling boom occurred in 1950s in the vicinity of the village of Leidy in the northwest part of Clinton County. This drilling boom involved the Oriskany sandstone and a number of wells were drilled in the
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northwestern portion of the State Forest. Although quickly depleted, that portion of the Sproul within the Leidy field contributed a considerable portion of the 2.6 million dollars collected by the Commonwealth in rentals and royalties up to 1960. Shallow Upper Devonian gas has been produced in small quantities from Sproul State Forest lands in the vicinity of Keating, Pennsylvania; and from an old well at the headwaters of Camp Run, Keating Township, Clinton County; and from the Hammersley Fork and Leidy shallow gas fields in Leidy Township, Clinton County.
Both Texaco's deep Oswego gas discovery and Amoco's deep Tuscarora gas discovery within the Sproul State Forest District show that the Appalachian Plateau Province has deep gas producing potential in this part of central Pennsylvania. On December 24, 1979, an Oil and Gas Lease for State Tract 285 was successfully bid by Texaco, Inc. Drilling began on August 10, 1981 with a target depth of 19,500 feet. The objective of the well was deep gas reservoirs located in sedimentary rock formations deposited about 450-500 million years ago. The Grugan gas field has produced significant quantities of gas from the Upper Ordovician age Oswego Sandstone at depths of 12,900' to 13, 030'. This well initially produced Oswego gas at a rate of 3847 MCF per day. Drilling was completed in July of 1982 after reaching a depth of 19,360 feet. Drilling and completion costs were reported to be as high as 20 million dollars. While this well produced economically amounts of gas for a number of years, it was plugged several years ago.
Besides the deep Texaco Oswego gas discovery, Amoco in the Appalachian Plateau Province
made another significant deep gas discovery. In 1977 Amoco discovered the Devil’s Elbow gas
field with its #1 Texas Gulf well in Boggs Township, Centre County, approximately eight miles
northwest of Bellefonte. This well has produced sizeable volumes of natural gas from the Lower
Silurian Tuscarora sandstone at a depth of 10,759 to 10,974'. It initially produced Tuscarora gas
at rates in excess of 20 million cubic feet per day without stimulation by fracking.
In the Marsh Creek Kato area, exploration and development is concentrated on shallow wells of
about 2,000-4,500 feet underground. In August 1982, Eastern States Exploration Co. completed
drilling Well #1 on Tract #231, located in Boggs Township, Centre County. Since 1982 there have
been nearly 500 shallow gas wells drilled within the Council Run gas field. Most of these gas
wells have produced economic quantities of natural gas. Additional gas exploration and
development has occurred on private land adjacent to the Sproul State Forest in the Beech Creek
area and also on State Game Lands 100.
In 2003 there was interest in a deep shale layer known as the Trenton Black River formation
which lays approximately 12,000 to 16,000 feet beneath the surface. While this play was major
news for approximately one year, ultimately it fizzled out due to the deep depth of the formation
and lack of drilling technology to adequately explore it.
In 2008 interest in the Marcelus Shale formation under the State Forest exploded. In the course
of a couple of years over forty well pads were constructed along with water impoundments,
roads and pipelines. The subsequent over supply of natural gas outstripped demand resulting in
dramatically lower gas prices bringing drilling and exploration operations in this formation to a
halt. The Burkett Shale formation above the Marcelus also has received exploration activity.
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32 tracts of the Sproul State Forest land has been leased for oil and gas exploration and development either through leases granted by the state where it owns the oil and gas or through leases granted by private oil and gas owners where the State does not own the oil and gas, but does own the surface. Most of the state-owned oil and gas rights on Sproul State Forest land are presently under lease from the Department to a variety of oil and gas lessees; i.e.: Alta, Exco, Range Resources and XTO for Marcelus Shale, Dominion for the Leidy Storage Field and Diversified Gas and Oil Corporation and Capital Oil and Gas for shallow natural gas. These lease holdings account for approximately 120,000 acres of State Forest Land.
Associated with the development of natural gas from underground reservoirs has been the
construction of pipelines and roads to service the well heads. The Leidy Storage Field has eleven
major gas transmission lines servicing it. These large diameter pipelines are critical to the flow of
natural gas to and from the storage field. All the tracts that have been developed have gathering
and mid-stream lines that serve to get gas from the well head to the transmission line. Along
with the pipelines have come compressor stations and a greatly expanded administrative road
network. All of this gas infrastructure has led to increased fragmentation of the forest.
Shallow Gas Development
In 1982, Eastern States Exploration Company discovered a significant natural gas deposit in the
Elk Sand Formation, Upper Devonian gas field in Boggs Township, Centre County. In this field
significant quantities of “shallow" gas has been produced from Upper Devonian sands. Since
then, over 500 natural gas wells have been drilled on the Sproul State Forest. Over 400 of these
gas wells are productive. This has resulted in a transformation of a continuous forest to smaller
blocks of forest segmented by pipelines and roads. This exploration effort has produced many
millions of dollars in revenue for the commonwealth.
Marcelus Shale
In 2008 the development of horizontal drilling and fracking operations using high volumes of
water made natural gas bearing rock layers that were previously uneconomical to drill,
economical to drill. This lead to a major exploration and drilling program on the State Forest. On
the Sproul, much of the Marcelus Shale exploration occurred over lands that had been previously
leased through the Elk Sands Play. The sequential price drops for natural gas have made the
formations under the Sproul uneconomical to drill again. The last major drilling operation of the
Marcelus Play occurred in 2011.
Leidy Storage Field
In the 1950s there was a major gas play in the Sproul that was centered around the Oriskany
Sandstones. This play only lasted for several years and by 1957 the gas fields were depleted,
then the wells ceased to produce economical amounts of natural gas. In the 1960s, because of
the unique geologic strata underlying the area, it was discovered that the Oriskany Sandstone
made an excellent storage medium for natural gas. Oriskany sand on the Wellsboro anticline
lead to the development of the Leidy, Greenlick, Tamarack and Downs Storage Fields which covers a
35
significant area near Tamarack in the northern part of Clinton County. All of these Oriskany gas
fields in combination with several others nearby is one of the largest natural gas storage facilities
in the country.
Of the four Oriskany gas storage fields the two smaller ones, the Tamarack and Downs fields, are completely within the confines of the District and two larger fields are only partly in the District. The gas storage lessee, Dominion injects natural gas into the Oriskany sandstone more than one mile down into the ground during the "low demand" months and withdraws it during the "high demand" winter months. Annual gas withdrawals from these fields amount to approximately 84 billion cubic feet of gas. The Leidy Compressor Station, located at Tamarack, is the most visible feature of this natural gas storage process. The Leidy storage field is the largest natural gas storage field east of the Mississippi River and is capable of storing over 100 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Hard Minerals
Coal and hard mineral mining has occurred historically across significant portions of the Sproul
State Forest. The Bituman deep mine covers more than 3,000 acres and operate from the 1890s
until approximately 1920. Other deep mines were developed near Westport, Renovo and
Orviston. Then in the 1950s, 60s and 70s many areas were strip mined for coal. In a number of
cases there are strip mines on the surface and sixty to eighty feet underground an old deep mine
working. The combination of deep and strip mines in many areas has resulted in a number of
streams being polluted with acid mine drainage. The strip mines received varying degrees of
reclamation with some supporting fully stocked stands of trees to others being barren shale.
The other major historical use of hard minerals from State Forest land has been the rock that
was mined for use in refactories. Refactories are essentially brick or terra cotta sewer pipe
manufacturing facilities. Stone was mined, hauled to the refactory, broken in sand sized pieces
formed into the final product and then harden in a kiln. Renovo, North Bend, Lock Haven, Mill
Hall, Monument, Orviston and Clarence all had refactories in the early to mid-1900s. Starting
around 1950 the various companies ceased operations till only the brick factory in Clarence
remains. In some cases stone was mined for the refactory and an associated coal seam was also
mined for that resource. At the present time there are two large abandoned clay mines in the
District in need of reclamation.
Severed Rights
Approximately 24,000 acres of the Sproul State Forest have the surface and subsurface rights
severed from one another. In these areas the Commonwealth owns the surface and another
entity or individual owns the subsurface. In these areas the subsurface owner has primacy over
the surface owner. The Litke Estate which was purchased in 2002 accounts for almost half of
this severed acreage. The subsurface rights on this acreage will revert to the Commonwealth in
2027. The Texas Gulf/Elfin Forest purchase of 1991 accounts for 2,200 acres of severed
subsurface rights. This lack of subsurface ownership is the primary reason the Maurice Goodard
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Wild Area was withdrawn for consideration. The lack of ability to control the subsurface
development would severely impact the values the wild area would be primarily managed for.
The other factor affecting minerals ownership is the separation of oil and gas rights from the coal
and other hard mineral rights. Primarily through four property purchases the Murphy Estate and
North American Refactories purchases of 1991, the Litke purchase of 2002 and the Butter’s
Living Trust purchase in 2006 the Commonwealth acquired large hard minerals ownerships
estates along with the property. The Murphy and Butter’s Estates had the vast majority of the
coal and hard mineral rights in the area around Renovo and Bituman. Likewise for the Litke
Estate for the area around Orviston. The ability to consolidate the hard minerals ownerships
with the property purchases and already existing State Forest Land has greatly enhanced the
District’s ability to deal with the many legacy issues resulting from the former mining operations.
12) Water
a) Major Watersheds
Figure 12-1. Map of major (Hydrologic Unit Code 4) and minor (Hydrologic Unit Code 8)
watersheds within entire district. Write about major watersheds and where they drain to.
It can be stated without reservation that water is one of the most valuable resources of the
Sproul State Forest. Water, like timber, is a renewable resource when properly managed.
Through careful planning and management, forests can produce clean water while at the same
37
time providing many other resources. There are two watershed associations within the Sproul
State Forest. The Kettle Creek Watershed Association is spearheading work on AMD in lower
Kettle Creek with the main emphasis on Two Mile Run. The Beech Creek Watershed Association
is focused on massive AMD problems in Beech Creek. Personnel from the Sproul State Forest
work with both groups.
The West Branch Susquehanna River and its tributaries including Moshannon, Sinnemahoning,
Kettle Creek, Beech Creek, Young Womans Creek, Hyner Run, Lick Run, and Bald Eagle Creeks
drain the forest district. The West Branch Susquehanna River courses northeastward more or
less parallel to the predominant structural trends. At a point near the town of North Bend,
Clinton County, the river changes direction to the southeast, thus dissecting the land surface at
an angle normal to the major structure. All the streams in the Forest District are part of the
Susquehanna River drainage system whose waters ultimately flow into the Chesapeake Bay.
Scenic Rivers
Lick Run, in Clinton County, was designated as a Scenic River under the Pennsylvania Scenic
Rivers System by Act No. 1982-324, December 17, 1982. The 15 mile main stream and five
tributary streams were classified. The segments on State Forest land are classified as follows:
1. Lick Run main stream, headwaters to Pennsylvania Game Commission gate on Hazard Road at Farrandsville—wild.
2. West Branch Lick Run, headwaters to Lick Run—wild.
3. Robbins Run, headwaters to Lick Run—scenic.
Lick Run is located about seven miles northwest of Lock Haven. The Carrier Road, a State Forest
road, parallels it on the west and crosses it near its headwaters. The waters of the stream are
classed as Exceptional Value by DEP water quality standards. Lick Run begins as a small spring
near Lucullus, at an elevation of about 1,900 feet. It flows southward through 15 miles of
rhododendron, hemlock, and mixed hardwood forest before reaching the Hazard Road above
Farrandsville at an elevation of 646 feet. It drops an average of 84 feet per mile and is
characterized by stretches of running water, short deep pools, and occasional meanders.
b) Major Municipal Supplies
There are many streams of pure water, including some within municipal watersheds on State
Forest land. The Borough of Renovo depends on 10,108 acres of State Forest land for its Paddy’s
Run reservoir. The reservoir for the Borough of South Renovo is on the 4,180 acre watershed of
Hall’s Run. Orviston has 874 acres of its watershed on the Forest. The village of Monument is
using a spring gallery water system on State Forest land near Green Run. There is also a water
storage tank for Snow Shoe on State Forest land.
All surface water supplies must be filtered. This has shifted the technology of water supply from
surface reservoirs to wells, and spring gallery collection systems. Impoundments in the Hayes
38
Run Watershed that supplied Orviston and the Queens Run Watershed that supplied Lock Haven
area have been disconnected from their former systems. Likewise the Renovo Borough
impoundment in Drurys Run has been disconnected from the system. These disconnects were
more a function of changing regulations and filtering requirements than over water quality
issues.
Water Systems
Table 12-1: Municipal impoundment located on Sproul State Forest land. This system does not provide for chlorination or filtration.
Municipality Impoundment area (acres)
Capacity (gallons)
Watershed area (acres)
South Renovo
1.5 1,600,000 6,591
Table 12-2: Impoundments located on private lands but with portions of the watershed within Sproul State Forest lands
Municipality Watershed Watershed area on state forest land (acres)
Renovo Duruy Run 5,924
Renovo Paddy Run – McNerney Run 7,839
39
Table 12-3: The table below displays the municipal water impoundments located on the Sproul State
Forest
Municipal Impoundments on the Sproul State Forest.
Municipality
Impoundment area (acres)
Capacity (gallons)
Watershed area (acres)
Annual supply (million gallons)
South Renovo
1.5
1.6 million
4,180
54
Monument Spring collection
gallery
15,000
100
5
Table 12-4: The table below displays the impoundments located on private lands, but with
portions of the watershed within the Sproul State Forest.
Existing Impoundments near the Sproul State Forest
Municipality Watershed area on state forest (acres)
Renovo 10,108
Former Existing Impoundments near the Sproul State Forest
Municipality
Watershed area on state forest
(acres)
Queens Run
1,482*
Orviston
2,063*
Ground Water Inventory
40
Directly or indirectly, all Pennsylvanians ultimately depend on ground water for drinking water.
As demands for potable water increase, it is imperative that the Bureau of Forestry understands
the factors affecting ground water quality and quantity. The District is constantly looking for
opportunities, particularly with strip mine rehabilitation projects to improve ground water
conditions.
c) Fish and Boat Commission Stream Habitat Prioritization
d) Acid Mine Drainage and Abandoned Mine Lands
Acid mine drainage has contaminated some of the major streams in the area: the West Branch
Susquehanna River, Beech Creek, and Sinnemahoning Creek. Cook’s Run and Kettle Creek are
contaminated for short distances upstream from their mouths. Smaller streams contaminated
by acid mine drainage include Crowley Run, Milligan Run, Two Mile Run and its tributaries, the
South Fork Tangascootac Creek, Stony Run, and Drury’s Run.
The District has undertaken a number of acid mine drainage abatement projects incorporation
with PA DEP and other interested partners. Major large-scale landscape level restoration
projects have occurred in the Kettle and Cooks Run Watersheds. There are several more
planned projects in these watersheds that will occur as funding becomes available. These
projects consist of excavating the mine spoil to the pit floor, adding large amounts of alkaline
addition to the overburden and replanting the site with a mixture of trees and food plot mixes
41
for wildlife. Other projects included passive treatment systems on streams and stand
conversions on strip mines.
Degraded Water Bodies and Mitigation Efforts
Table 12-6: The table below lists the AMD polluted waters within the Sproul State Forest.
Name
Miles
Beech Creek 30 Big Run 10
Little Birch Island 3
Camp Run, 2
Cooks Run 1
Crowley Run 2
Drurys Run 3
Huling Branch 3 Loop Run 4
Lower Three Runs 3
Middle Branch-Two Mile 3
Milligan Run 2
Rock Run 2
Sandy Run 2
Sinnemahoning Creek 9 Stony Run 6 W. Branch Susquehanna River 60
Tangascootac Creek, South Fork 10
Two Mile Run 6
Kettle Creek 2 Total 163
e) River Islands
The Bureau of Forestry also has management responsibilities of all unwarranted and unpatented
rivers islands in the State. These islands offer some excellent recreational opportunities. Today,
the Bureau partners with several volunteer groups that design, develop and maintain river
islands trails throughout the Commonwealth. These volunteers also serve as trail stewards for
maintenance, monitoring resource impacts and tracking public us e. Many of these river island
groups produce maps and brochures describing the trail. The trail maps will show access sites
and river islands designated for day use and primitive camping.
There are a number of river islands between Lock Haven and Karthaus on the West Branch of the
Susquehanna River. Only three of these islands have been determined to have been properly
42
ceded by the Commonwealth for private ownership. All the other islands are considered part of
the Sproul State Forest. For the most part many of these islands are small, less than a half-acre
in size and regularly flooded. Overnight camping by canoeist and other boaters is permitted.
13) Harvest Allocation The bureau created a harvest allocation model that sets timber harvest schedules for state forest
land in each district. The goals of the model are to promote and maintain desired landscape
conditions, create a diversity of successional stages and native forest communities, balance the
age class distribution, and provide a sustained yield of quality timber. The model uses the
bureau’s forest inventory data, economic information, bureau policies, and desired ending target
forest conditions to develop timber harvest schedules that best meet the bureau’s silvicultural
and timber management goals. A detailed discussion of the harvest allocation model can be
found in the 2016 SFRMP, beginning on page 93.
Figure 13-1. Chart of comparison between actual harvest accomplishments and harvest
allocation model goals from the first decade of implementation of the harvest allocation model.
Rows from left to right represent: Overstory Removals (even-aged), Shelterwoods (even-aged),
Intermediate Treatments (even-aged), Two-age and Uneven-age Buffer Treatments, and
Salvage/Miscellaneous.
Table 13-1. Comparison between actual harvest accomplishments and harvest allocation model goals
from the first decade of implementation of the harvest allocation model.
43
HARVESTED AREA (ACREAGE)
All Planned Forest Treatments
Salv
ag
e/ M
isc.
All H
arv
es
ts
R
em
ov
als
(Ev
en
-ag
ed
)
Sh
elt
erw
oo
d
(Ev
en
-ag
ed
)
Inte
rmed
iate
(Ev
en
-ag
ed
)
Tw
o-A
ge &
U
ne
ven
-Ag
e B
uff
er
Tre
atm
en
ts
To
tal
Executed Contracts '04-'13
7,195 6,014 939 1,459 15,607 1,242 16,849
Forest Plan Goal '04-'13 4,673 8,475 960 1,250 15,358 0
% of Plan Goal Achieved 154% 71% 98% 117% 102%
The bureau is presently in the second harvest allocation period of the model. The district’s
timber harvest goals for the second period are shown in the table below.
Aggregated Forest Community Type
Site 1 Fully-stocked
Site 1 Under-stocked
Site 2 Fully-stocked
Site 2 Under-stocked
Site 3 Fully-stocked
Site 3 Under-stocked
Totals
Shelt OR Shelt OR Shelt OR Shelt OR Shelt OR Shelt OR Shelt OR Int Buffer
Northern Hardwoods 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
960 1,250
Allegheny Hardwoods 10 15 0 0 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 17
Red Oak 39 70 2 3 289 521 0 4 0 0 0 0 330 598
Other Oaks 41 18 3 0 2,324 7,044 347 378 1,030 425 0 0 3,745 7,865
Red Maple 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other Hardwoods 0 0 0 0 0 125 0 48 0 0 0 0 0 173
Conifers 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 56 0 9 0 0 0 87
Totals 90 106 6 3 2,621 7,713 347 485 1,030 435 0 0 4,093 8,743 960 1,250
44
Table 13-2. Target shelterwood (Shelt), overstory removal (OR), intermediate (Int), and buffer treatment acreages for the second decade of the timber harvest schedule, aggregated by forest type, site class, stocking level, and treatment. Additional shelterwood treatments for 3 or more stage shelterwoods are not represented in these targets.
14) Economy and Forest Products Industry The economy of the area in the vicinity of the forest has been and will most likely to be
dependent on its land resources. Resource extraction and storage of natural gas provide a
significant number of jobs. Forest based recreation has unlimited potential for economic
development. There are well over 1,000 recreational camps in the area. The natural beauty of
public lands makes this a desirable place to live. Interstate 80 is a major connecter to population
centers.
Due to the vast forest reserves within the Sproul State Forest, it would help the employment
situation of the area if several smaller wood product industries and/or recreation type industries
could relocate in the area. This also would tend to stabilize the employment situation. By
diversifying its industries, perhaps the situation of massive unemployment could be avoided.
This area has been variously referred to as "the Big Woods" and Pennsylvania’s "Last Frontier."
Between 1850 and the early 1900’s, millions of board feet of white pine "Spar Trees" were rafted
down the Susquehanna, and tons of hemlock bark went by rail to tanneries and logs to sawmills.
Other industries like furniture manufactures, kindling wood manufactures and wood chemical
factories also took advantage of the vast timber resources. Because of the rugged terrain and
poor transportation network, primary manufacture of wood products within the Sproul was
limited to a tannery at North Bend and sawmills at Cook’s Run, North Bend, Baker’s Run and
Farrandsville. The bulk of timber went to Lock Haven and points east.
Today’s forest composition has changed from a predominance of white pine- hemlock to 90%
oak and other hardwoods. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, massive oak mortality
occurred due to oak leaf roller defoliation. Hardest hit areas were oak stands between the 1,800
and 2,100-foot elevation. Massive salvage sales were conducted in these areas. Some of these
salvage areas have failed to regenerate, while others are returning with almost 100% red maple
reproduction.
Since 1978 the gypsy moth has made its mark on the area. The Sproul has received several
episodes of heavy defoliation followed be tree mortality. These episodes seem to occur at least
once a decade. The last major gypsy moth related mortality event occurred in the 2009 to 2011.
This event resulted in a number of timber sales to salvage the lost economic value and to
regenerate the affected stands. The District is also losing its white ash component to emerald
ash borer. There have been several timber sales directed at salvaging this species. In May of
1985, a devastating tornado ripped a ¼ to one-mile wide, 28-mile long path of destruction
45
through the center of the Sproul State Forest.
Timber sales of green stands and salvage operations provided employment for local logging
business. The District strives to produce a number of timber sales each year to meet our harvest
allocation goals. The timber sales typically are offered with a variety in their size, species
composition and quality. The goal is to provide several sales per year that interest large, small
and mechanized logging operations. Logs produced by the Sproul State Forest are sawn in over a
dozen different mills throughout Northcentral Pennsylvania. Veneer logs are also sold, however
most of those logs leave the area in log form with no value added secondary processing.
The pulpwood business has been very erratic for the last fifty years. International Paper closed
its operations in Pennsylvania. Proctor and Gamble imports pulp for its pulp operations,
Westvaco has left the Commonwealth. Viking Energy, which used to burn wood chips as a fuel
for electric generating, was sold and the new owners are converting the facility to natural gas.
Pulpwood markets were nearly non-existent until about twenty years ago.
At time the Bureau of Forestry became certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the
resulting certification was a boon to pulpwood marketing. The Domtar paper mill in
Johnsonburg has an almost constant need for pulpwood produced from FSC certified forests.
Much of the pulpwood produced on the Sproul finds its way to this mill. The Glatfelter mill in
Spring Grove, Verso Mill in Luke Maryland, the American Eagle mill in Tyrone and several other
mills in New York use all use varying amounts of pulpwood produced from the Sproul.
Other pulpwood is used for solid wood products or products that mimic solid wood. Firewood is
a major product produced from pulpwood. Many of our smaller logging contractors sell
firewood to local homeowners for hundreds of dollars per tri axel load. There are two particle
board mills in the region located in Mount Jewett and Clarion. These mills use mill residue and
pulpwood to produce their products.
Soft coal and fire clay mines once played an important role in the area’s economy. Today, the
operable deposits of these minerals are all but exhausted in the area. Little evidence remains of
the once thriving coal camps at Cook’s Run, Bitumen, Revelton and Kato. However, large
quantities of coal still remain underground. Refractories at Monument, Orviston, Farrandsville
and Drury’s Run that produced, bricks and sewer pipes have ceased to exist.
Coal and clay are located in the Allegheny and Pottsville Groups of the Pennsylvania stratum,
which occurs at high elevations on the Plateau in this area. On Sproul State Forest land, one
deposit consists of a narrow band on the north side of the river extending downstream as far as
Paddy’s Run. Another band follows Beech Creek downstream from the Snow Shoe area, ending
at the mouth of Hayes Run. From there it runs northeast (bounded on the north by Bakers’ Run
and Rattlesnake Run watersheds) to the Coudersport Pike. However, only clay was mined north
of the Susquehanna River in this strip of Pennsylvanian age deposits. Today no active mines exist
to extract this mineral resource and the only remaining refractory still operating is located at
Clarence.
46
While once a major industry within the Forest, coal stripping operations have now become a
minor influence on the area economy. In 1978, Avery Coal Company built a multi-million dollar
coal wash plant at Cooks Run. This plant has since been removed and the land reclaimed and
returned to the Commonwealth. Currently limited quantities of coal are produced during strip
mine reclamation projects. These projects have been providing limited employment for the last
decade as work slowly progresses to address the thousands of acres of mine scars from the
1950s and 1960s. Projects to address acid mine drainage damage to waterways also provides
limited employment opportunities. The District still has close to a dozen proposed projects that
are awaiting funding and completion. Sandstone occurs in abundance on the Forest, and
flagstone can be found locally. However, neither has been quarried on a commercial basis in the
Forest.
15) Wildlife
The state forests will be managed to ensure the conservation of a diversity of native wild forest animals and the provision of suitable habitats for these creatures. The first comprehensive management plans for State Forest lands were developed in 1949. Most forest resources were adapted to fit in with timber management as time and money allowed. It became apparent that there must be a formal plan for the protection, development and use of all forest resources. The current plans recognize fauna as an integral part of the forest ecosystem that are highly valuable and that should be sustained.
State Forest Land serves as a refugia role for Rare, Threaten, and Endangered species. The
Sproul State Forest with its large compact acreage is uniquely positioned to serve this role.
There are at least ten (10) different species found throughout the Sproul that are on listed in this
index. Where these animals exist management operations are adjusted and implemented to
help enhance growing conditions and other life requirements these animals need. The goal is to
help these populations to grow and expand while maintaining healthy, viable populations.
Elk Range Expansion
In 1998, elk were trapped from the Elk State Forest and transferred to the Sproul State Forest near Bitumen. In 1999, elk were introduced into the Hevner Run Drainage north of Kettle Creek State Park. In the year 2000, elk were reintroduced in the New Garden area on State Game Land 321. In the early 2000s a major program was undertaken to improve foraging habitat for elk by establishing herbaceous openings. This wildlife habitat improvement work not only benefits elk, but also many other wildlife species.
The elk range has since expanded to the area outside of Snow Shoe and the area around Tamarack. The herd outside of Snow Shoe has grown to the point that 6 to 10 tags have been issued for the last several elk hunts. DCNR, PGC and other interested parties are working on a plan to move the herd north away from Interstate 80 and attempt to keep it west of farmland in the Marsh Creek Valley.
Black Bears
47
During the 1970-1984 management period, it was forecast that the black bear population would remain relatively stable. Only a slight increase was anticipated. However, the population increased dramatically toward the end of the period. Accordingly, the bear harvest increased to the point that Clinton County typically is contention for the most bears harvested during the general rifle hunting season. Currently bear hunting is actually drawing more visitors to the State Forest than deer hunting.
The PGC has had a long running black bear research program on the State Forest for the last twenty five years. Multiple bears are trapped each year, tagged and females equipped with a radio collar. Each winter the dens of radio collared sows are visited and reproductive data obtained. Currently some of the sows in the study can trace their pedigrees back five generations on the female side of the family tree. Bears tagged as cubs on the Sproul State Forest have been harvested from fourteen different counties.
Whitetailed Deer
White tail deer are the premier big game animal in the Commonwealth. There are more individuals hunting deer than all the other species combined. The large deer herds that existed in Northcentral Pennsylvania in the 1920s through the 1950s led to the establishment of many of the leased campsites found on the State Forest. The deer population during past management periods rose above the carrying capacity of the area. This led to the establishment of a heavy competing understory of undesirable vegetation. Currently 92 percent of the State Forest is in a condition that the forest would most likely fail to adequately regenerate if a stand replacing event occurred. While the deer herd has remained fairly stable in recent years, it is still somewhat above the carrying capacity. The District is using programs like DMAP and opening gated administrative roads for deer hunting seasons in an attempt to better manage the deer herd across the landscape.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Reptile and Amphibian Protection Areas
In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, certain Natural Areas have been designated as amphibian and reptile protection areas. The taking, catching, killing, and possession of any species of amphibian and reptile within the designated Natural Area boundary is prohibited. The Tamarack Swamp, East Branch Swamp, and Cranberry Swamp Natural Areas have been given this designation.
16) Wildland Fire
a) Wildfire Suppression
The Bureau of Forestry has been mandated by Commonwealth law since 1915 to control all
wildfires. The Sproul State Forest has a history of large wildfires including the largest in State
history at over 45,000 acres in the 1930s. The 1990 Two Rock Run damaged 10,000 in one day.
The last large wildfire occurred in 2006 when the Bear Trap Fire in Noyes Township, Clinton
County damaged 1,500 acres. The District maintains a current Forest Fire Control and Resource
48
plan, which provides the district with a standard, constantly revised, action and resource study
assembled in one place to facilitate the dispersion of information.
The District’s fire protection area is one of the smallest in the state. It is also one of the most
rural with only twelve volunteer fire companies providing emergency response for the regions
citizens. The District’s staff are usually called upon to preform initial attack on wildfires and most
years the three fire towers will be the first to report a wildfire ignition. The District staff also will
take the lead on any wildfire where suppression efforts will extend beyond the first couple of
shifts. The remote steep topography of the District coupled with few residents allows many
wildfires to grow to more than 100 acres in size fairly often. The District will suppress all
wildfires with an emphasis on fire fighter safety through sound risk management. The District
will work with volunteer fire companies, volunteer fire wardens, and county emergency
management agencies in a cooperative manner to suppress all wildfires and other emergencies
like search and rescue.
b) Prescribed Fire
The District has recently implemented a prescribed fire program. The current goals of the
program are to provide maintenance and regeneration of rare scrub oak ecosystems and
preparing sites for silvicultural treatment. Our plan is to provide training opportunities for our
own employees and individuals from other agencies and organizations. The goal is to increase
our capacity for both prescribed fire and wildfire suppression and in several years be able to
manage prescribed fires without bringing individuals in from other Districts. One major issue
affecting the District’s use of prescribed fire is our role as initial attack providers on wildfires.
Many days the weather and other conditions suitable for prescribed fire also make the potential
for a wildfire to grow large. The District’s priority will always be to manage a wildfire first with
prescribed fire playing a secondary role.
The District is partnering with the PA Game Commission with funding from the U.S. Forest
Service on a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant (LSR). This LSR Unit is in the Ridge Road and
Kato LMUs. The grant also includes the northwestern portion of State Game Lands 100. Both
agencies are cooperating on prescribed fires within the grant area. The LSR Unit is
approximately 3,000 acres in size and will be used to test techniques that can be applied to
other sites within the Sproul State Forest and neighboring Districts.
The District has undertaken a number of prescribed fires in recent years. The main focus has
been the restoration of scrub oak ecosystems in the Wolf Run and Allen Dam areas. These
projects have the financial and management interest of partners like the Ruffed Grouse Society
and National Wild Turkey Federation who have helped with establishing the control
lines. Another project was the establishment of an elk food plot in the Logway Run area
converting 25 acres from a cold season grass mix to a warm season grass mix. Other fires are
planned in cooperation with the PGC in the area of Fields Ridge Road and SGL 100.
49
17) Major Forest Health Issues Climatic-related Environmental Concerns
Acid precipitation is a long-term and complex concern that has potential negative impacts on
Pennsylvania's water and forest ecosystems. While the extent and significance of its effects are
not yet fully defined, Pennsylvania receives some of the most acidic precipitation in the country
originating from industrial centers in Chicago and the Ohio Valley regions. Although many forest
soils in Pennsylvania are naturally acidic, the added effects of acid precipitation are changing soil
chemical properties and affecting the health of some tree species. As soils become more acidic,
calcium and magnesium (important for tree nutrition) become less available to trees, and
aluminum, which is toxic to trees, becomes more available. The buffering capacity of soils is
highly variable, thus complicating efforts to understand the impacts of acid deposition on forest
ecosystems.
Climate change is impacting the Commonwealth’s ecological and recreational resources. As the state’s leading conservation agency, DCNR will use the best available science to develop and implement climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies within each of its bureaus to minimize these impacts and serve as a role model for the citizens of Pennsylvania. DCNR is in a unique position to help the Commonwealth reduce risk and adapt to climate change. This will require a new conservation paradigm that focuses on managing for change, preserving ecosystem services, and recognizing the need to reevaluate conservation goals and policies in response to climate change. The department’s land management practices can also directly mitigate atmospheric carbon as well as ensure that our public lands remain resilient and can adapt to a changing climate. Pollution-related Environmental Concerns
Pollution from abandoned coal mines and oil and gas wells is a problem on some state forest
sites. The sources of many of these pollutants have not been fully documented. Funds are
needed to take appropriate remedial measures on these sites. The District has an inventory of
sites that need work and is working with interested parties as funding becomes available to
repair these damaged sites.
Illegally deposited waste and litter threaten ecosystem health on State Forest land. The Bureau
of Forestry has developed a grants program for education, enforcement and clean-up strategies
for illegally deposited waste and litter. Working with PA Cleanways, Clinton County Cleanscapes
and other interested partners utilizing the Forest Beautification Act and other funding sources,
the over a half dozen illegal dumping areas on the Sproul State Forest have been remediated.
Land development adjacent to State Forest land can pose a threat to forest health through
fragmentation and parcelization. There is a potential for surface and ground water
contamination due to sewage system failure, excessive storm water run-off, and increased
50
potential for wildfire due to careless burning. The spread and introduction of destructive forest
agents (e.g., insects and diseases) from adjacent lands are also a concern.
Invasive Plants
Invasive plant is a name for a species that has become a weed pest, a plant that grows
aggressively, spreads, and displaces other plants. Invasive plants tend to appear on disturbed
ground, and the most aggressive can actually invade existing ecosystems. Invasive plants are
generally undesirable because they are difficult to control, can escape from cultivation, and can
dominate whole areas. In short, invasive plant infestations can be extremely expensive to
control, as well as environmentally destructive. Invasive plants are noted for their ability to grow
and spread aggressively.
Invasive Insects and Diseases
The forests of the Sproul State Forest have been and continue to be impacted by invasive insects
and diseases. The impacts started occurring over one hundred years ago with chestnut blight
and continue today with emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid. Each insect and disease
event has changed the species composition and health of the forest. Chestnut blight, gypsy
moth, beech bark/nectria complex, emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid have been
and currently are the major contributors to forest health problems. Gypsy moth defoliations
have been a major driver of the timber sale program for the last forty years. The last major
defoliation event of 2009 and 2010 resulted in widespread mortality across thousands of acres.
The overarching goal is to keep the state forest as healthy and resilient as possible in the face of
increasing threats.
18) Major Recreational Uses
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Figure 18-1. Acres of state forest land in this district by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
(ROS) classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to
characterize land by types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the
2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Recreation is an opportunity for economic activity within the Sproul State Forest. The Kettle Creek State Park, Hyner Run State Park, Jesse Hall Picnic Area, and the Bucktail State Park are all located within the Sproul State Forest. Bald Eagle State Park at Blanchard, the Sinnemahoning State Park at Sinnemahoning, and the Ole Bull State Park at Cross Fork are also nearby. There are 540 miles of trails varying in suitability for hikers, cross-country skiers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, and ATV enthusiasts.
The results published in this report are a compilation of the data collected at numerous State Forest recreation sites during the period of October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012 (n = 1,395 interviews with Forest visitors). Besides the basic visitor use survey, three supplemental surveys were used to query visitors about their satisfaction levels, economic expenditures, and recreation experiences.
This report provides a summary of the characteristics, behaviors, and attitudes of visitors to the Sproul State Forests in north central Pennsylvania from 2011 and 2012. The results indicate that most State Forest visitors are repeat and frequent users, and have many years of experience in the forests. About three-fourths of the respondents in the Forest reported making their first visit to the Forest before the year 2000. Sproul State Forest has more “frequent visitors,” showing an average of about 31 visits to the Forest per year. Secondly, visitors in the Sproul were more likely (60%) to be day users. Activities that were popular in the Sproul included fishing and driving for pleasure.
Other Zones, 205,235
Primitive, 117
Semi-Primitive, 77,750
Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized, 22,347
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Regarding satisfaction levels, most respondents were clearly satisfied with their recreation experience and with the satisfaction attributes listed in the survey. State Forest visitors were most satisfied with the scenery and attractiveness of the forest. They also reported very high feelings of safety while in the Forest. The data suggest that there is room for some improvement in the provision of information for recreation, adequacy of signage and condition of forest roads and trails.
The economics section of the study asked visitors about their monetary expenditures in and near the State Forests. Nearly half of the forest visitors indicated that they would have gone somewhere else to do the same activity if they had not been able to visit the State Forest, indicating that they were serious about pursuing their recreation activities on that trip. Most of the respondents indicated that they spent some money within 50 miles of the forest on their current trip. The largest expenditures reported were for gasoline and oil, food/drink at restaurants and bars, and groceries with Sproul State Forest visitors spending approximately $80.51 per trip.
The experience section of the study was given to about one-third of the visitors, providing rich data about visitor attitudes, motivations, perceptions, and management preferences. The data clearly show that State Forest visitors are interested in experiencing the outdoor natural surroundings available in the forest areas. Relaxing out of doors, getting away from the routine, and other nature-based social activities are very important to these recreationists.
Visitor responses to potential management options were examined to ascertain support or opposition to various management alternatives. The highest degree of support was seen for additional wildlife viewing areas or opportunities. Visitors’ interest in various types of trails tended to reflect their activity interests. For example, although many visitors showed little or no interest in specific types of trails, such as ATV or snowmobile trails, those kinds of trails were very important to notable segments of visitors pursuing these motorized activities. Respondents also attached relatively high importance to signs directing them to recreation facilities and printed interpretive information. Only about one-fifth of visitors in the Forest obtained information about the area they visited during their trip or in preparation for it. These visitors were almost equally divided between those who sought information before leaving home and those who obtained information after arriving at the Forest. Most of those who sought information found it helpful in planning their trip.
The majority of visitors in the forests reported that Marcellus shale-related activity had not affected their use of or recreation experience at the State Forest. Among those reporting that their use of the State Forest had been impacted by shale-related operations, the most common responses reflected traffic-related issues, concerns with hunting, and general environmental concerns including pollution, habitat destruction, and water quality, as well as changes in landscape, noise pollution, and crowdedness and loss of a relaxing and serene environment. Among those reporting that gas drilling activity had not affected their use of the State forest, many indicated that they had not noticed the activity or had not noticed it in the areas they visit, or that the drilling activity doesn’t bother them, hasn’t changed their use or doesn’t affect their activities. Responses to the experiential impacts of Marcellus shale-related
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activity tended to reflect the same themes as the answers to the questions about the impacts of shale-related activity on visitors’ use of the Forests. Sproul State Forest visitors were slightly more likely to indicate that Marcellus shale-related activity had affected either their recreation use or their recreation experience at the State Forest.
State Forest Hiking Trails
Two major hiking trail systems have been developed, tying in a number of small trails. One is the
Chuck Keiper Trail System, consisting of two loops, one 30 miles and one 20 miles. The Donut
Hole Trail System extends from Farrandsville near Lock Haven to Hyner Run State Park westward
to the Cameron County Line. From this point, the hiker can hook onto the Bucktail Trail System.
Each system has multiple parking areas, and the trails are well marked. Both of these designated
State Forest Hiking Trails are heavily used. Hikers come from all across Pennsylvania and many
other states. Comments received from hikers directly, on sign-up boards, and by mail have been
very favorable. These trails have been listed in many hiking publications. That, plus
communication between hikers has led to ever increasing use.
District Trails
District trails are marked and maintained according to standards established by the districts. .
They are of great local importance for accessing State Forest land. These trails are generally
open to a wide variety of user groups, not just hikers. Therefore, they are sometimes referred to
as shared-use or multi-use trails. Bureau of Forestry personnel maintain these trails with
considerable volunteer help on some segments. Many district trails appear on public-use maps
and separate maps have been developed for some shared-use trails.
http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Sproul/Pages/default.aspx
Two-day hike loop trail systems have been developed and marked. The Long Fork Trail loop starts
at Hyner Run State Park. It utilizes part of the Donut Hole Trail (marked in orange), and the Long
Fork Trail marked in blue. The hiker is strenuous, but it offers campers at Hyner Run and day hikers
a complete loop trail with trail head parking. The Butler Hollow Loop is located in the vicinity of
Kettle Creek State Park. There is trail head parking south of the dam. The trail utilizes Alice’s Trail
(blue) the Donut Hole Trail (orange) and the Butler Hollow Trail (blue). The path also provides
access to the Kettle Creek vista. Two connector trails were developed to link the District’s State
Forest Hiking Trails with others in neighboring Districts. The Jack Paulhamus/Garby Trail connects
the Chuck Keiper Trail and the Donut Hole Trail through Hyner View State Park. The T Square trail
connects the Donut Hole Trail with the Black Forest Trail in the neighboring Tiadaghton State
Forest. Many other District trails exist and are open for use.
Interpretive Trails
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Most sites have a trail-head parking lot and information signs maintained by Bureau of Forestry.
Maps and/or guidebooks for each trail are available at district offices. The Sproul State Forest
has one interpretive trail. This trail is a forest management demonstration area off Eagleton
Road. The trail is intended to provide the public with natural resource, historical and forest
management practice information. There is an interpretive trail brochure or interpretive signs
on the trail.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes and other non-motorized mechanized equipment are permitted on most local
State Forest trails. These trails are maintained by the local forest district and forest conservation
volunteers. Most local State Forest trails are open to mountain biking. Only Natural Areas, some
portions of Keystone Hiking Trails and certain other areas posted closed are off limits.
Sproul State Forest has established the Eagleton Mine Camp Shared Use Trail. The trail has been
designed for a non-vehicular recreational use. These include mountain bicycling, hiking,
horseback riding, show shoeing, and parts can be used for cross country skiing. There are
parking areas available. Most district trails also permit mountain biking. Those not permitting
mountain bikes will be posted as closed to that activity. The only areas closed to bicycles on the
Sproul State Forest are the Chuck Keiper Trail and Donut Hole Trails. Bicycle riders will find some
challenging slopes and riding surfaces, but relatively little single-track technical riding is available.
Bicycle tour riding is very scenic on PA Route 120 and PA Route 144.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is a rapidly growing activity on State Forest land. Only Natural Areas, Keystone
Hiking Trails and certain other areas posted closed are off limits to equestrians. Although these
trails were designed for horses, other trail users are welcome. These horse or equestrian trails
have large trailhead parking areas and maps are available at district offices. Many existing old
woods roads, logging railroad grades and snowmobile trails may be used for horseback riding. Two trails developed specifically for horseback riding are the Eagleton Mine Camp Trail and the Kettle
Creek Horse Trail. Camping on site is available at Kettle Creek through the park office.
Hang Gliding
Much of the Bureau of Forestry’s ground is located on steep mountainsides. Few recreation
groups prefer this part of State Forest land but, one group requires it, hang gliders. A famous
hang gliding area is located at the Hyner View State Park Picnic Area. The Hyner Hang Gliding
Club has an agreement with the Bureau of State Parks and the Bureau of Forestry to utilize DCNR
land as both a launch and landing site. The club currently utilizes private property along the
West Branch of the Susquehanna River for a landing zone. This leads to occasional disputes with
the property owner over its use. In 2010 the Bureau of Forestry obtained the lands of the
McDonald Estate near the Hyner Bridge. The old farm fields on this property were developed as
an alternative landing site. The current agreement with the hang gliding club has them taking off
from State Park Land and Landing on State Forest Land.
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Snowmobiling
The Bureau of Forestry has a toll-free number listing snow conditions across the state and a
website: It is up-dated twice a week by each district during the winter months. There are a
number of snowmobile trails which are groomed during the winter season. The trails are located
at Hyner Mountain, Dry Run Road, the Columbia Pipeline and the Montour Road/Dominion
Pipeline. These trails are heavily used during the winter riding season. In addition, numerous
State Forest roads are open for joint use (snowmobile vehicle) during the winter.
The Hyner Mountain system is made up of ten miles of trail for snowmobiles only and a number
of miles of joint use state forest roads. Parking is available at six locations along the Coudersport
Pike, PA Route 44, between Robbins Run and the Benson Road, with sanitary facilities available
at the first lot north of the Hyner Road. Additional parking is located at the junctions of the
Hyner and Ritchie Roads, and at Hyner Run State Park, which also has sanitary facilities available.
The Dick McKinney Trail which was developed to connect areas along the Carrier Road that were
severed from the trail system by Marcelus Shale drilling operations is part of the Hyner trail
system. Both short and long loop runs are available. The trail is groomed throughout the
season.
The Dry Run Trail system was developed to connect the Hyner trail system to the Young Womans
Creek area. These areas were severed by Marcelus Shale drilling operations and their use of Dry
Run Road. As part of the mitigation strategy worked by the Bureau of Forestry, XTO Corporation
constructed the trail paralleling Dry Run Road reconnecting the areas. The trail is groomed
throughout the season and parking is available in several locations.
The Columbia Pipeline Trail system is the main trail system for the southside of the river. The trail
is primarily focused on the pipeline right of way and the public joint use roads that it crosses.
There are no services or restaurants nearby. There are several parking lots located along Route
144 that access this trail system. The Montour Road Dominion Pipeline Trail system is similar.
However, it does link to Kettle Creek State Park and into the Susquehannock State Forest Trail
system which will evidently lead to the village of Wharton. The trail can be accessed from Route
120 near the Cooks Run Maintenance Headquarters.
All-Terrain Vehicle Riding
It is the intent of the Sproul State Forest to provide a riding area for ATV’s, rather than simply a
trail. The district has two designated ATV trails which incorporate “open ride areas”. These areas
are designed to use existing coal strip roads that were constructed prior to the All Surface Mining
Act and unreclaimed strip mine areas. Many of these roadways interconnect to form loops of
various lengths. Riders will encounter a wide range of terrain and different types of surface
conditions. Area users must exercise good judgment and have considerable knowledge of the
capabilities of their machine to safely negotiate some areas.
There are two designated areas located on the Sproul State Forest. The Whiskey Spring ATV
Area is located in the Two Mile Area and the Bloody Skillet ATV Area is located on the Litke Tract.
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The trails are open from Memorial Day weekend to weekend prior to the start of archery deer
season and then from the day after flintlock muzzleloader deer season until April 1. The Sproul
State Forest has managed an ATV area in a designated part of the Two Mile Run Watershed for
approximately 30 years. During this time, trail head parking, and many erosion and
sedimentation controls have been installed. This area offers many different riding surfaces and
challenges for more skilled riders.
Bloody Skillet ATV Trail was developed on approximately 1,200 acres of the Litke Tract near the
village of Orviston. Three parking areas were developed and restroom facilities were installed. A
connector trail was developed to link this riding area into the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails trail
system allowing riders access into the Snow Shoe/Clarence area. This area offers many different
riding surfaces and challenges for more skilled riders.
State Forest administrative roads within the ATV trail areas will be closed to licensed motor
vehicles during the ATV season. These roads are then open for autumn and spring hunting
seasons. When the roads are open for licensed motorized vehicular travel, the ATV trail is closed
to ATV use. ATV use elsewhere within the Sproul State Forest is prohibited unless otherwise
authorized in writing by the District Forester.
Off Road Motorcycle and Vehicle Riding
Off Road Motorcycles licensed and registered street legal and other licensed vehicles under the motor vehicle code are permitted on all State Forest roads open to public motor vehicle use. Licensed and unlicensed off road motorcycles may only be operated on State Forest trails posted as being "open" specifically for their use. No such trails are presently designated on the Sproul State Forest. Also no off road motor vehicle trails are presently designated on the forest. There are two events “specially-permitted organized events”, the Dirty Daubers Ride and the Brandywine Enduro where off road motorcycles have access to specific portions of the State Forest. Birding/Nature Observation Bird watching and nature observation are uses that occur throughout the 2.1 million acres of
State Forest land. The best locations for these activities depend on the habitat requirements of
the species involved. The Audubon Society has designated certain areas of State Forest land
with unique or unusual bird species as Important Bird Areas. A large percentage of the State
Forest Land on the southside of the District forms a 160,000 acre Important Bird Area. These
parts of the State Forest have particularly large and unique habitats for some unusual bird
species. Most State Forest lands have diverse habitats and support great numbers of birds.
Hunting and Trapping
Hunting and trapping is permitted on State Forest land, and shall be in accordance with
Pennsylvania Game Commission Rules and Regulations, unless otherwise posted.
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Any person with a mobility disability can complete an “Application for Permit to Use Mobility
Device on DCNR Property” form in order to utilize a Powered Mobility Devices on DCNR
Property. Individuals interested in obtaining permission will need to acquire an application and
permission from a District Forestry Office, or State Park Office. Office staff should provide both
the permit and the policy for mobility device permits, in order for permittees to determine the
specifics on rules for their mobility device. Necessary permits from the Pennsylvania Game
Commission are required if hunting from a licensed motorized vehicle.
The Sproul State Forest is part of what is considered the big game hunting section of Pennsylvania. Due to the vast expanses of forested land and limited human encroachment, the Sproul is considered relatively wild by most forest users. All species associated with wild areas in the Northeast are present within the Sproul State Forest. Species of primary concern from the recreational point of view include white- tailed deer, black bear, and wild turkey. These three big game species are a major recreational use on the Sproul State Forest. Most leased forest camps are used during the big game hunting period in the fall. This same fact is also true for the many camps on private land throughout the district. Temporary camping reports show that more than 60% of the temporary camping under a permit is done during the period of the big game hunting season. To a lesser degree, squirrels, rabbits, and ruffed grouse are important sport hunting species. Bobcat, muskrat, fox, coyote, and beaver trapping are done throughout the district. While most of this trapping is done for economic reasons, trapping can be considered a recreational pastime.
Fishing
The Sproul State Forest contains many excellent trout streams and the entire district can be considered as a cold-water fishing area. While warm water fishing is currently limited, a great potential exists. This potential is the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna, running through the district for 60 miles, would be a great source of warm water fishing, should the acid mine drainage into the river be abated. The water quality in the West Branch has dramatically improved in recent years. The river now boasts populations of small mouth bass, catfish and other warm water species.
Trout Lakes
The Alvin R. Bush Dam is the only major trout lake in the Sproul State Forest. The 160-acre lake allows electric motors only and is stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout for winter fishing, as well as pre-season, and weekly in-season. Ice fishing at Alvin Bush Dam is a major winter sport along with the annual trout season opening weekend.
Warm Water Fishing
Kettle Creek above Two Mile is the only warm water stream in the Sproul State Forest not impacted by acid mine drainage. It flows for 20 miles through the forest and contains smallmouth bass, catfish, yellow perch, suckers and bluegills. Both the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and Sinnemahoning Creek also contain fishable populations of these species. While their water quality has greatly improved in recent years, the fishery is still impacted by
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acid mine drainage and is not at its full potential.
Cross-Country Skiing
The Hiding Bear cross-country ski trail, established on Hyner Mountain. The trail is not groomed.
Parking is available at the intersection of Hyner and Ritchie Roads. The Hiding Bear Ski Trail was
expanded by utilizing gas pipeline parallel to Ritchie Road and the Old View Road. This will bring
the skier to Post Draft. From there the skier can travel to an inactive deep gas well, or continue
on the Snowmobile Trail to Hyner View. An additional loop connects the Ritchie parking lot, a
natural gas pipeline, the NYEG/Penelec Power Line to a vista overlooking Hyner Run. The loop
then continues to Pat’s Ridge Road using a retired timber sale haul road.
Canoeing/Kayaking/Boating/Rafting
The West Branch of the Susquehanna River provides an excellent opportunity for canoeing and
primitive camping in the Sproul State Forest. The West Branch enters the Forest at Karthaus and
extends to Lock Haven. Canoeists generally put in at Clearfield or Karthaus and float to Keating,
Renovo, North Bend, Bakers Run or Lock Haven, the maximum distance being 93 miles.
Numerous undesignated camping sites are used on the south side of the river; however,
adequate public access is lacking, especially upriver from Renovo. The river is navigable from
early spring to mid-June or later into the summer following periods of hard rain. Additional
public access and designated campgrounds are being considered for future development.
The National Park Service, Lumber Heritage Region, Susquehanna Greenways and other interested partners including the Sproul State Forest are cooperating on the Susquehanna River Water Trail for non-powerboat recreation on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from Cherry Tree to Shamokin Dam. The route is broken into 16 sections with maps for each section. The portion of the water trail flowing through the Sproul State Forest is found within section 6 through 10 of the map series. This is one of the more remote parts of the water trail with the part from Karthaus to Keating being the most remote. This is found on maps 6 and 7.
This water trail lacks public access and primitive camping areas along the way. Fortunately, the Sproul State Forest has a canoe access area at Karthaus near PA Route 879. This access area has room for 12 vehicles and there is an ADA accessible privy and 3 primitive camping spots. Downriver from Karthaus is a scenic and wild stretch of river. There are many loops, which act as screens so that paddlers have a sense of isolation from their fellow paddlers. In 2011 a second canoe access area was added near the mouth of Bakers Run. This access has room for approximately a dozen vehicles and a privy. This access is only fourteen river miles upstream of Lock Haven and sees significant day use
At Keating there is an access along Sinnemahoning Creek by the railroad bridge. This is a difficult place to disembark since it is necessary to paddle upriver against current to Sinnemahoning Creek. A better disembarking site is located on the left bank of the West Branch near Moores Island and Moss Landing. There is an existing ford with an access road from East Keating Township Road 306. All these accesses are located on private land. There is room for a parking area between T306 and the RJ Corman Railroad.
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This section of the West Branch is perhaps the finest stretch of flat water canoeing in the United States. The many loops in the river, the steep canyon walls, and no roads parallel to the river add to the remoteness of the trip. The West Branch from Karthaus Run to Keating is a scenic and a remote and wild river, except for the railroad, which runs a few trains per week. From Keating down river, past Cooks Run, Renovo, North Bend, and Hyner, the road, railroad and homes detract little from the rugged scenery. The biggest deterrent to the quality of the canoeing experience is the acid condition in the river due to upstream coal mines. The Sinnemahoning Creek, which contains 31 navigable miles from Emporium to Keating in the spring of the year, also provides an opportunity for canoeing.
A growing number of canoeists making float trips down the West Branch Susquehanna River.
Additional access and camping facilities are being considered along the river. The main hindrance
to the development more river access is the need to cross railroad rights of way and private
ownership of several key locations that are suitable for river access development.
Leased Campsites
Within the Sproul State Forest, there are 523 leased campsites. At one time, these were used only
as hunting camps, but year-round use is increasing. Facilities for temporary recreational vehicle
camping are found at Alvin Bush Dam, Hyner Run State Park, and Kettle Creek State Park. A dozen
campsites were developed in the Young Womans Creek Watershed. These campsites are for
trailers with self-contained toilets. Camping is permitted in most parts of the State Forest with
bear and deer seasons seeing the most use. Backpack camping is permitted on State Forest land
with users of the State Forest Hiking Trails providing much of this type of use.
Scenic Driving
Scenic features of rugged mountain beauty attract many tourists. This is particularly true during
the spring season when the mountain laurel blooms, and also during Renovo’s Flaming Foliage
Festival in the fall. The Sproul State Forest with its network of forest roads has many that are
especially scenic and classified as scenic drives. There are approximately 300 miles of road open
to the public. With improved access to the Sproul State Forest from the metropolitan areas of the
east coast, recreational use of the Sproul State Forest is expected to increase. The Forest is only
a short drive north on PA 144 from the Snowshoe exit of Interstate 80. "The Sinnemahoning Path"
(Pa. 120, northwest of Lock Haven) passes through the Bucktail State Park, to commemorate the
Bucktail Regiment, a Civil War Unit from the area. The first 45 miles of this drive passes through
the Sproul State Forest.
PA Route 120
PA Route120, also known as the “Bucktail Path,” snakes about 50 miles through the Forest in a
more or less east-to-west direction. It traverses the valley floor along the West Branch
Susquehanna River and Sinnemahoning Creek. This area, from "mountain rim to mountain rim
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across the valley," was designated by Act 301, June 2, 1933, as the Bucktail State Park. It
commemorates the Bucktail Regiment, a group of mountaineer riflemen, who mustered in the
area and floated to Harrisburg on log rafts to protect the State Capitol during the Civil War.
Route 120 is a Commonwealth designated Bucktail Scenic By Way from Lock Haven to
Emporium. The portion of Route 120 from Renovo to Driftwood has a dual designation as the
Bucktail Scenic By Way and the Elk Scenic Drive. Efforts are underway to extend this dual
designation into Lock Haven. State Forest land within the Bucktail State Park, about 11,677 acres
of the Sproul State Forest, was designated as a State Forest Natural Area by the State Forest
Commission in 1970. While most of the highway is on private land, most of the scenic ridges
along it are State Forest land.
Numerous scenic stretches of the West Branch and Sinnemahoning waters are visible from the
road. Wildlife ranging from wild turkeys to black bear can be seen. The mountain scenery varies
with the seasons but is always interesting. The highway has some fairly long uninhabited
stretches. But civilization intrudes at Hyner, North Bend, Farwell, Renovo, Drury’s Run,
Shintown, Westport, and Keating.
PA Route 144
PA Route 144 runs from north to south through the Sproul State Forest for 46 miles—of which
approximately 26 of these miles are adjacent to State Forest land. At the northern end, the
highway follows Kettle Creek for a short distance, and then climbs out of the Kettle Creek valley
toward the Village of Tamarack, at an elevation of 1,695 feet. Descending along Drury Run, the
road winds its way south to Renovo and the Susquehanna River, within the Bucktail State Park.
Traveling through Renovo, PA Route144 crosses the Susquehanna River, goes through the
Borough of South Renovo, and up Hall’s Run to the ridge top near State Camp. The remaining
portion follows the ridge-top, which is the dividing line separating drainage areas of the
Susquehanna River and Beech Creek, southward to the Borough of Clarence.
PA 144 from the Borough of Renovo to Interstate 80 outside of Snow Shoe has been designated
as a Pennsylvania Scenic Byway, the Elk Scenic Drive. This required concurrence from Burnside
Township Centre County, Beech Creek Township Clinton County, Noyes Township Clinton
County, Centre County Commissioners, Clinton County Commissioners and local representatives
of the State Legislature. The only restriction is a prohibition on outdoor billboard advertising.
Since all of the land adjacent to the PA 144 Scenic Byway is public, rules and regulations prohibit
this activity.
As part of the PA Wilds program two vista sites were constructed. At both sites a short access
road was built from PA 144 to a parking area. The vistas are accessed by short walking trails
from the parking areas. The first site is located at Dennison Fork at the Fish Dam Wild Area. This
site is also considered as an excellent star gazing area on dark nights. The second site is located
near the intersection of PA 144 and Dehass Road. This site also required an access road from PA
144 to a parking area. A short looped walking trail enhances the viewing experience. The vista
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highlights the Big Run Watershed to the Allegheny Front and Bald Eagle Ridge.
During late June and early July, the mountain laurel blooming is spectacular along PA 144. The
district advertises this as a scenic automotive tour that include a loop on State Forest roads using
Penrose Road, Coon Run Road and parts of Beech Creek Road. This route is marked with
temporary signs. There are no permanent habitations along the road south from Halls Run for
25 miles. About ten miles south of Halls Run is a monument to the Commonwealth’s first Game
Refuge.
Coudersport Pike
The Coudersport Pike, a combination of PA Route 44 and PA Route 664, runs through the Sproul
State Forest from Lock Haven north to the forest boundary with the Susquehannock State Forest
at the Benson Road. The Pike also serves as the boundary between the Sproul and the
Tiadaghton State Forest to the east. Many camps are located along the Pike. Scenic views
abound year round, but public use is heaviest in the fall during the foliage coloration. Wildlife
can frequently be seen from the road, including deer, turkeys, and bear.
Hyner View Picnic Area Road
The Hyner View Picnic Area Road goes from Hyner Mountain Road (L.R. 18040) to the picnic
area. It is a macadam road built by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The Bureau
of State Parks maintains it. The road follows the edge of the mountain from Hyner Run to the
top of the ridge above the Susquehanna River at the Hyner Bridge on PA 120. Along with the
vista, the road’s four-mile length provides many opportunities to catch glimpses of the
Susquehanna River valley below.
Old Growth Auto Tour
An auto tour of old growth forests in Pennsylvania was developed in 2004 featuring many of the
remnant old growth forest stands left in Northcentral Pennsylvania. This tour was developed in
cooperation with Audubon and the PA Wilds Program. The tour utilizes three stops in the Sproul
State Forest. The Bucktail Natural Area, Cranberry Swamp and the Old Growth Management
Area along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River between Karthaus and Keating.
Vistas
Throughout the forest various man-made and natural vistas occur. They make the forest more
attractive for the motoring public and the trail hiker. The area around these vistas is kept as
undeveloped and as aesthetically pleasing as possible. At present there are 19 vistas on the
Sproul State Forest.
Vistas on the Elk State Forest
Vista Name Location Distance of View
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Big Rocks Barneys Ridge Road 4 Grugan Hollow Grugan Hollow Road 4 Kendig Point Grugan Hollow Road 10 Hyner View Hyner View State Park 30 County Line Jerry Ridge Road 6 Sinnemahoning Keating-Karthaus Road 8 Beaver Dam Montour Road 6 Cooks Run Crowley Road 5 Kettle Creek Kettle Creek State Park 35 Beaver Dam-Left Branch Montour Road 3 Lushbaugh Montour Road 3 Sugar Camp Sugar Camp Road 2 East Ferny Road East Ferny Road 5 Fields Ridge Road Fields Ridge Road 5 Yost Ridge Road Yost Ridge Road 5 Renovo View Renovo View Road 5 Mountain panorama Pfoutz Valley Road 35 Fish Dam Fish Dam Road 12 Two Rock Run Route 144 12
Miscellaneous Recreational Activities
Many miscellaneous activities occur on State Forest land. These include astronomy, dog
sledding, geocaching, gold panning, jogging, hang gliding, ice-skating, orienteering, photography,
rock climbing, rappelling, sleigh riding, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, spelunking,
swimming, snorkeling and tubing. Gold panning is regulated by a 1996 policy administered by
the Minerals Section. Geocaching is another activity and the Bureau of Forestry, Recreation
Section maintains a policy dealing primarily on the placement and maintenance of caches. The
Sproul State Forest accommodates almost every activity suited to a rather large, publicly owned
land base. Mushroom hunting and berry picking are popular in parts of the forest. All these and
more are permitted uses of State Forest land. Many of these sports are not actively managed,
but nonetheless they are enjoyed in the wild and peaceful setting of State Forest land.
19) Cultural and Historic Resources Table 19-1. Counts of cultural features in Sproul state forest. Cultural features are documented
as part of routine landscape exams. More information on landscape exams can be found in the
SFRMP, p. 67.
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First Purchase Monument
This monument, located along the Right Branch of Young Womans Creek Road at Bull Run,
commemorates the first purchase of State Forest land in the Commonwealth. This purchase
occurred in 1898 and consisted of 312 acres and 69 perches in Chapman Township, Clinton
County. The total cost of the purchase was $40.74—an average price of about thirteen cents per
acre.
Forest Fire Warden’s Monument
This monument and plaque is located at the Hyner View State Park Picnic Area. It was donated
by the Forest Inspectors’ Association in 1965 to commemorate 50 years of service by volunteer
Forest Fire Wardens in the protecting and preserving of our natural resources.
First Game Refuge Monument
Located along PA Route 144 near Dennison Fork, this monument and plaque commemorates the
first Commonwealth designated Game Refuge in Pennsylvania. From 1905 to 1946 this area was
set aside with all but official access prohibited. Disturbance of wildlife in these areas was illegal.
The monument itself was erected through the cooperation of the old Department of Forests and
Waters, Bureau of Forestry; the Pennsylvania Game Commission; and the Western Clinton
County Sportsman Association.
Log Slide at Petes Run
When the virgin timber was removed from Petes Run area, just south of South Renovo Borough,
a log slide was installed to speed the logs from the hollow to the Susquehanna River. Rafts were
then made at the river to take these logs to their market. By facing and staking logs into
position, other logs could be moved by water and gravity in this semblance of a shoot. While
part of the log slide is on private land, much of it is on State Forest land. Over time, some
sections have been salvaged or have deteriorated to the point that the slide cannot be seen.
However, the area where the slide was located is visible.
Incline from Bitumen to Milligan Run
During the period the deep mines operated in the vicinity of Bitumen, a coal company town, an
incline was used to transport the coal. Bitumen, located on the ridge top between Kettle Creek
and Cooks Run, found it necessary to transport the coal to the railroad siding along Cooks Run.
An incline was installed from Bitumen into the railroad spur at Milligan Run (just below the
current Cooks Run Maintenance Division headquarters complex). This incline currently serves as
a right-of-way for power and telephone lines. Although deteriorated, the incline and some of
the structures still exist.
Kato
An abandoned coal town of the New York Central Railroad, this "Ghost Town" is located off PA
144 at the intersections of the Panther and Kato Orviston roads in Centre County. This coal
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company town reached its peak in approximately 1890 when the deep mines were operating.
Several of the foundations of old company homes still exist and can be found. The remains of
other operational structures are still visible. The roadbed of the New York Central Railroad still
exists through Kato. There are seven railroad bridges and one small tunnel along the old right-
of-way.
Revelton—Iron Furnace and Town
The Revelton Iron Furnace, located at Tangascootac Creek and Furnace Run is the site of the
furnace and an abandoned community, which was also a coal mining town called Revelton.
Today only the furnace, which dates back to approximately 1853, exists.
Alter Rocks
Located just off PA Route 120 at Mill Run, this unusual rock structure served as an Native
American lookout point. Currently, private individuals in the vicinity place a teepee and cut-out
Native American on top of the lookout during the summer months.
Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) Camps
There were eight CCC camps on or near the Sproul State Forest. Camps were located in Cooks
Run, Two Mile, Shingle Branch, Hyner, Farandsville, Salt Lick, Kato and State Camp. The remains
of the foundations and some of the camp infrastructure still remain. The site of the State Camp
location is the best preserved. A local boy scout is planning on constructing a short interruptive
there as part of an Eagle Scout project.
This Points of Interest list only includes items visible to the recreational user. History has played
a major role throughout the Sproul State Forest. The Susquehanna River supported Native
American Indian tribes during various periods. Volumes have been written on these native
communities and their conflicts with the early trappers and settlers. Commerce within the area
also owed its history to the river and its tributaries. Because of the wild nature of the country,
there is an abundant supply of history concerning wildlife and mountaineer types who originally
explored and settled within the area. Before and during the Civil War, the Sproul State Forest
was within the Underground Railway System. Many escaped slaves were escorted through this
area on their way to Canada and freedom.
20) Special State Forest Designations
a) Supra Areas
Elk Management Area
The majority of the District’s Landscape Management Units have the potential to be managed
for elk. Currently viable populations of elk are found in the Alvin R. Bush, Bucktail, Kato, Keating,
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Kettle Creek, Montour and Ridge Road LMUs. Elk are expanding their range and occasionally
using the Grugan Hollow and First Purchase LMUs. The district expects elk to continue their
range expansion and some point in the future they will be using the entire District. Timber
harvests occur regularly across all these units, creating a mosaic of successional stages.
Numerous timber sales coupled with pipelines, well pads, reclaimed strip mines and wildlife
openings scattered throughout District provide ample opportunities to manage for elk and other
wildlife species. Specific elk management plans are found in the Appendix of this plan.
b) Special Resource Management Zone
As part of the district resource management plan the Sproul State Forest has designated the following
two tracts as Special Resource Management Zones.
Southside Important Bird Area
A large percentage of the State Forest Land on the southside of the District forms a 160,000-acre Important Bird Area. All or parts of the Bucktail, Grugan Hollow, Kato, Keating, Prince Farrington and Ridge Road LMUs are part of this area. These parts of the State Forest have particularly large and unique habitats for some unusual bird species. Most State Forest lands have diverse habitats and support great numbers of birds. This wide variety of habitats help to support not only mature forest dependent species like scarlet tangiers, but also early successional species like golden winged warblers. Other birds species like golden and bald eagles, cericlan warblers and northern harriers which are all listed as species of concern can be found in this area. The District has not developed any special management plans for this area. There is enough varied habitat created and preserved through regular management activities to keep this area viable for numerous species of birds.
Foley Tract
The Foley Tract located in Leidy Township, Clinton County in the Alvin R. Bush LMU. This tract
was purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2003 as part of a larger purchase from
the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Portions of this tract and others that were purchased at
the same time are proposed for inclusion into the Tamarack Swamp Natural Area. The Western
Pennsylvania used grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase the Foley
Tract and with that grant funding came deed restrictions which basically read like the Bureau of
Forestry’s Natural Area guidelines.
The portion of the Foley Tract south and west side of Route 144 exhibits numerous uses which
conflict with long established Bureau of Forestry management guidance related to Natural Areas.
These conflicting uses include two (2) natural gas storage wells and their access roads, a
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telephone line right of way, an old woods road, a major gas transmission line and a power line.
Various utility companies access and maintain their infrastructure in this area. These conflicting
uses coupled with an indefinite Natural Area boundary which would follow the old boundary line
and not a natural feature argue for its exclusion from the Tamarack Natural Area expansion. This
area will be typed in our internal zoning as “Special Use”, which will ensure it is managed in
accordance with our Natural Area guidelines, even though it cannot be officially designated as
such.
c) High Conservation Value Forests State forests are certified under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. FSC certification prioritizes
the protection of particularly valuable forest ecosystems and introduced the concept of high
conservation value forests (HCVFs) to ensure identification and proper management of forest areas with
exceptional conservation value.
Table 20-1. Acres of High Conservation Value Forest by category. To comply with Principle 9 of the FSC U.S. Forest Management Standards, the bureau evaluated and assessed areas for inclusion as HCVFs. The BOF believes all state forest lands are of highest conservation value. The areas which have been identified as HCVFs are mapped and managed in a manner that will maintain and/or enhance the values for which they have been designated. More information about HCVFs can be found in the SFRMP, p. 64
HCVF Category Acres
1.1, areas legally protected or managed primarily for concentrations of biodiversity values that are significant at the ecoregion or larger scale
282
2.1, significant large landscape-scale forest where viable populations of most if not all naturally occurring species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance?
7,401
2.2, areas significant to biodiversity conservation at the ecoregion scale because it contains landscape-scale biodiversity values that are not present on other forests due to landscape-scale habitat modifications on surrounding lands
7,401
3.1, old growth stands
166
3.3, rare, threatened, or endangered ecosystem
184
4.1, areas providing a source of community drinking water
436
6.2, areas with cultural features created intentionally by humans
2
d) Wild and Natural Areas The bureau has long recognized the value and need for setting aside unusual or interesting area of state
forest land. The Conservation and Natural Resources Act, Act 18 of 1995, states that “The department is
authorized and directed to set aside, within the state forests, unusual or historical groves of trees, or
natural features, especially worthy of permanent preservation, to make the same accessible and
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convenient for public use and to dedicate them in perpetuity to the people of the state for their
recreation and enjoyment.” To this end, the bureau designates Wild Areas and Natural Areas.
The objective of a Natural Area is to protect areas of scenic, historic, geologic, or ecological significance,
which will remain in an undisturbed state, with development and maintenance being limited to that
required for health and safety.
The objective of a Wild Area is to set aside certain areas of land where development or disturbance of a
permanent nature will be prohibited, thereby preserving the wild character of the areas.
Further information on Wild and Natural Areas is found beginning on page 56 of the SFRMP.
Table 20-2. Total acreage of Wild and Natural Areas on state forest land within Susquehannock state
forest.
Sproul Name Acreage
Natural Areas Bucktail State Park Natural Area 15,436.6
Cranberry Swamp Natural Area 160.1
East Branch Swamp Natural Area 186.3
Tamarack Swamp Natural Area 264.3
Natural Area Total 16,047.3
Wild Areas Burns Run Wild Area 2,475.8
Russell P. Letterman Wild Area 5,033.7
Wild Area Total 7,509.5
Total 23,556.7
21) Interpretive Plans
Central Theme:
An interpretive plan was developed for the District in 2015. This plan encourages exploration and participation in low impact recreation within the Sproul State Forest. The districts goal is to develop engaging experiences that promote intellectual and emotional connections between the resource and visitors, and communicate the ongoing challenges of balancing natural resource use with society’s needs, wants and desires. To foster an appreciation and understanding of the history of Pennsylvania’s forests and their role in our lives. Foster an awareness and encourage sustainable use of resources by communicating, promoting and modeling good stewardship and best management practices. Support effective partnerships with local communities that benefit the community, the resource and the visitor.
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The Sproul State Forest is dedicated to interpreting the history and natural treasures we
conserve, along with messaging regarding responsible steward and use of the forest within
available means to do so. The Sproul State Forest connects the past with the present through
sound ecosystem management, retaining the wild character and biological diversity while
providing pure water, opportunities for low density recreation, habitats for forest plants and
animals, sustained yields of quality timer and environmentally sound utilization of mineral
resources.
Subthemes: The Sproul State Forest provides sustainable use and conservation of natural, cultural, and historical resources.
• Indiscriminate logging had denuded the hills and devastated important ecosystems by the early 1900’s. DCNR’s forerunner agencies purchased these “waste” areas and protected them while the forests regenerated.
• Civilian Conservation Corps members were instrumental in many state parks and forestry projects in the 1930’s and 40’s. The Sproul State Forest was the site of the eight CCC camps.
• Numerous projects are being undertaken to rehabilitate the effects of coal mining from the last century.
• Today, the recovered forests and waters typify the rugged beauty of the PA Wilds region, and provide visitors with an impression of Pennsylvania’s wilderness, as it once existed.
• Visitors can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities on sustainable trails and volunteer can help maintain and protect the forest ecosystem.
• DCNR is committed to the management and eradication of invasive plant and insect species that threaten the ecosystems of the PA Wilds region.
• Visitors can enjoy elk and other wildlife viewing.
The primary opportunities identified on our district’s interpretive plan follow:
Opportunities
• Create access/parking for fisherman/boaters/handicapped visitors to the water’s edge
• Create access/parking for handicapped hunters as appropriate
• Create access/parking for all visitors while interpreting the gas and other activities
• Maintain and upgrade our current infrastructure. Evaluation Strategies We will continue to evaluate with comment cards and personal interactions with visitors, phone contacts, etc. to assess our effectiveness and make changes as needed.
Implementation Plan The Sproul State Forest has been proactive and has planned for the implementation of this plan with education and other information to assist visitors in understanding the Central Themes. These
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installations are designed to provide education, such as describing the role of timber management or prescribed fires to the public, or information, such as acid mine drainage remediation.
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District Priority Goals
The 2016 SFRMP set forth Principles, Goals, and Objectives that focus on the variety of
resources, uses, and values of state forest land. These Principles, Goals, and Objectives were
organized around 12 Resource Chapters:
• Communications
• Timber and Forest Products
• Native Wild Plants
• Wildlife
• Water Resources
• Soils
• Geologic Resources
• Wildland Fire
• Forest Health
• Recreation
• Infrastructure
• Cultural Resources
The Principles, Goals, and Objectives in the SFRMP apply universally across all of state forest
land. Due to their broad application, they were written in relatively general terms. This District
SFRMP provides an opportunity to prioritize goals that are more specifically applicable at the
district level. The District Priority Goals that follow provide points of emphasis for state forest
land management within Sproul State Forest over the next 5-10-year planning horizon.
• Timber Management: Timber management activities will occur on all 8 LMU’s to meet
the district’s timber allocation goal. Priority will be given to areas of tree mortality
caused by contributors such as fire, gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, etc. The District is
committed to reaching our harvest allocation goals.
• Oil and Gas Management: Currently the Marcellus gas play is at a standstill. The District
goal is to remain in contact with lease holders and plan for added infrastructure and
pipelines. The district will continue to rehab where possible and monitoring the plugging
on the shallow wells in the First Purchase, Kato and Ridge Road LMU’s. The District will
work with the major transmission natural gas pipelines to manage their corridors.
• Acid Mine Reclamation: Majority of the projects will occur in the Alvin R. Bush, First
Purchase, and Kato LMU’s. The district will work with lead agencies such as DEP and
Susquehanna River Basin Commission who have the expertise in this area. The
overarching goal will be to improve water quality in streams impaired by acid mine
drainage. Emphasis will be placed rehabilitating old strip mine sites making them
productive forest land and wildlife habitat. Of lesser importance will be installing
infrastructure which brings with it increased maintenance burdens and costs.
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• Hard Minerals Management: The District will provide small quantities of sandstone and
flag stone for private landowners for home projects and stone pits will developed as
needed to support land management activities in all LMUs. Coal will be removed in
limited quantities as needed to support strip mine reclamation and acid mine drainage
remediation projects in the Alvin R. Bush, First Purchase and Kato LMUs.
• Insect and Disease: White Ash (73 trees) will be chemically treated on five sites
throughout the district. Treatment will be on a 3 to 4 year cycle and the goal is to retain
the white ash component on the district. The sites are located on the Grugan Hollow,
Ridge Road, Alvin R. Bush, and Carrier Road LMU’s. Annual ground and air surveillance
will occur to detect insect damage, frost damage, etc. The District will also work with the
Division of Forest Health on hemlock management schemes.
• District Infrastructure: Forest fire towers at Tamarack, Coffin Rock, and Snow Shoe will be
replaced. A new maintenance building is scheduled for the Snow Shoe and Hyner
Maintenance Divisions.
• Road Maintenance & Boundary Line: Three maintenance divisions each maintain 100+
miles of road. Sensitive areas in the Alvin R. Bush and First Purchase LMU’s will be a
priority for the application of DSA due to their proximity to streams. Boundary line will
continue to be remarked on a 5 year rotation and a priority given to recent purchases.
• Recreation and Special Events: The district plans to enhance existing recreational
opportunities which include two ATV trails (Bloody Skillet and Whiskey Springs), two state
forest hiking trails (Donut Hole and Chuck Keiper), two canoe launches ( Bakers Run and
Karthus), and two horse/bike trails ( Kettle Creek and Eagleton Mine Camp). Special
events such as the Hyner View challenge occur from April through October on the
district. These events will be limited to one per weekend to avoid user group conflicts
and supply an adequate staff presence.
• Wildlife: Continue working with the PGC in the eastern expansion of the Elk herd. Food
plots will be installed/maintained in the Alvin R. Bush, Kato, Keating and Ridge Road
LMU’s. The district plans rotational prescribed fires in scrub oak stands in the above
mentioned LMU’s. The district will be following through on the plan developed for a LSR
(Landscape Scale Restoration) grant. This involves multiple treatments (prescribed fire,
mowing, etc.) over multiple years. The district will continue to monitor three DMAP
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areas located in the Carrier Road, First Purchase, Kato, Prince Farrington, and Ridge Road,
LMU’s. The option to remove or add DMAP areas is available to the district.
• CFM: Cooperate with local, state, and federal agencies on the Chesapeake Bay Riparian
Buffer Initiative. Continue to provide forestry assistance to private landowners within
Clinton County. Continue to provide educational programs, job fair events and other
community events with requested presence and materials.
• Wildfire: Continue fire suppression in a safe manner and keep district staff current with
annual trainings. Increase prevention and public awareness. Provide training for fire
wardens and volunteer fire companies so they remain a useful asset. Continue to
develop capacity with the prescribed fire program targeting wildlife and timber sale
regeneration projects.
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Landscape Management Unit Plans
With the 2016 revision of the SFRMP, the bureau introduced the LMU concept to facilitate
consistent, structured, and integrated resource management and planning across large
landscape units on state forest and adjoining lands. LMUs were delineated for all state forest
land in 2016-2017. The LMU, which complements other ecological delineations, now serves as
the primary unit for landscape-level planning and management on state forest lands. LMUs help
the bureau facilitate planning on a landscape scale that has ecological context, incorporate
multiple forest uses and values, and promote ecological analysis. The units also serve as a tool to
facilitate cooperative management with adjoining forest districts, landowners, and agencies. An
explanation of how LMUs were delineated is found in the 2016 SFRMP on page 62.
The bureau has developed LMU Plans for every LMU containing state forest land. The LMU Plans
for LMUs within Sproul Forest District are found below. Each LMU Plan contains three elements:
an overview, priority goals and profile.
• Overview – a 1-2-page narrative describing the LMU and its key features;
• LMU Priority Goals – a list of points of emphasis for state forest land management within the
LMU, similar to the District Priority Goals, but at the LMU level; and
• Profile – tables, charts, and accompanying text that more fully describe the LMU’s
characteristics.
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Alvin R. Bush Landscape Management Unit
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Overview The Alvin R. Bush LMU is home to various recreational opportunities centered around Kettle Creek State
Park which serves as a launching point. The LMU is 83,498 acres in East Keating, Leidy, and Noyes
Townships, Clinton County A horse back camping area is available at the park and trails lead to state
forest land. Whiskey Springs ATV area is one of the most used trails in the state system. The Donut Hole
Hiking Trail traverses through the LMU and can be accessed from the park. Coal mining dates back to the
turn of the century and practices associated with the mining have brought about numerous projects on
the landscape dealing with acid mine drainage. By far more work has been done dealing with mine
reclamation on this landscape than any other in the district. A $10 million acid mine abatement project
occurred in 2013 - 2015 to help alleviate acid mine drainage in Huling Branch Run. The project was led
by the Bureau of Abandon Mine Reclamation. Dominion Gas operates one of the largest natural gas
storage fields in the world beneath this landscape.
Priority Goals 1. Timber: A priority in this management LMU is the sound Silviculture management of the timber
resources within the boundaries of this LMU. The goal is to provide a sustainable flow of quality
timber to market, while providing consideration to wildlife habitat. This goal will be achieved
by concentrating timber sales in large group areas instead of widely scattering single sales
throughout the management LMU.
2. Wildlife: This LMU was the initial location for the elk expansion into the Sproul State Forest.
There have been ongoing efforts within this unit to improve the forage quality for Elk which
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have also benefitted additional wildlife species. All management activities within this LMU,
whether, silvicultural, pipeline and mine reclamation or water quality, have a component geared
toward benefiting wildlife species and habitats.
3. Water Quality/ Reclamation: There have been numerous projects within this LMU to improve
the water quality of streams affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). There has been extensive
coal mining activity within this LMU, both horizontal deep mine and surface mining which has
greatly affected the surface water quality of the streams located in this LMU. There are future
abandoned mine land reclamation and water treatment projects which are being planned to
improve the condition of areas affected by AMD and all projects take into consideration the
priorities of this LMU.
4. Recreation: This LMU is centered around Kettle Creek State Park and associated Alvin R. Bush
Dam and the resulting Kettle Creek impoundment lake, with the adjacent Whiskey Springs ATV
Trail, and Donut Hole hiking trail. The Nationally Recognized Kettle Creek Trout Fishery and
smaller native brook trout streams in the heart of the expansive North Central Pennsylvania
public land holdings and the many leased forest campsites and private cabins located in this
LMU provides an attraction for a great many of the outdoor-oriented public. This LMU will be
continued to be managed with the great many varied public interests in mind.
5. Wild Plant Sanctuaries and HCVFs: A priority goal is to help preserve and retain our rare natural
communities and wild plant sanctuaries. In this LMU we have one rare natural community,
consisting of roughly 164 acres. Also, in this LMU there is one Wild Plant Sanctuary that consists
of roughly 216 acres. Then, with these areas we will manage the invasive species that are trying
to penetrate its boundaries to help keep them pristine. Finally, with these 2 areas of interest we
will devote to preserving the beauty and authenticity of these communities and sanctuaries.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 64,499
LMU Total 83,498
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
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Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Across the LMU the dominant land cover is Deciduous For est.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Some Z1 classification roads are Route 120, Route 144, Kettle Creek Road, Cooks Run Road, and
Bitumen Mt. Road.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 156
Biking 54
Equestrian 54
X-Skiing 64
ATV I 49
ATV II 49
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 275
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 93
Z2 - Drivable Trail 32
Z3 - Administrative Road 85
Total 210
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The 700 miles of trails shows the largest amount of recreational opportunities available
on the LMU. Our most well -known hiking trail in this LMU is the Donut Hole trail. The
majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are either timbersale haul roads
or leased forest campsite access roads. The public use roads are all graded and well -
maintained roads for the public to access. Some of these p ublic use roads are Cooks Run
Road, Crowley Road, 2 Mile Road, Quarter Mile Road, and Sandy Run Road.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Scarlet and White Oak are the main Oak species on the LMU. Timber management
activities will be undertaken on these types of stands.
Conifers, 4,045 Northern Hardwoods,
3,824Other, 3,186
Other Hardwoods, 3,603
Other Oak, 48,075
Red Maple, 1,298Red Oak, 1,542
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Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management activities will occur on the Site 2 stands. As for the site 0 stands, food plot
maintenance will be a priority.
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Site 2 stand acreage is a direct correlation to the acreage of commercial (M C) stand acreage.
H, 636
L, 20,993
M C, 40,735
M N, 1,250
N, 264 S, 90 U, 1,042
W, 93
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone,
commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
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Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111-120 years. Silvicultural treatments
will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Warm Water Stream 1
Mine reclamation projects are in place to enhance water quality and this is a priority on the LMU. Also,
on the Exceptional Value and High-Quality streams are good for native trout fishing. Some EV and HQ
streams are Kettle Creek, Cooks Run, Drury Run, and Paddy Run.
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
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The LMU has the widest variety of recreational opportunities in the district. Hiking and
ATV riding are among the most pop ular in the LMU.
Table 5. Core forest value for state forest land in this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of
100 that expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense
areas of fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Alvin R Bush 94.5
The score falls within the 74th percentile of all state forest LMUs making it one of the least
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
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84
Bucktail Landscape Management Unit
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Overview The Bucktail LMU consists of almost 63,000 acres of land in Cameron and Clinton
counties. The LMU was delineated by following the legislative boundaries of the Bucktail State
Park Natural Area and the Square Timber Wild Area. The Commonwealth of PA owns and
manages approximately 34,000 of these acres through two state forest districts, the Elk and the
Sproul State Forests. Private landowners account for the remaining 29,000 acres. The area is
almost exclusively in the Deep Valleys ecoregion. This ecoregion is typified by steep, fertile
drainages that generally run east to west and the land base in the Bucktail LMU is no exception.
Due to the good growing sites, the majority of the land is forested with northern hardwood and
Allegheny hardwood timber stands.
The overriding factor of this LMU is the designation of the Bucktail State Park Natural
Area. The natural area provides a scenic drive along State Route 120 from the town of
Emporium, through Renovo, to Lock Haven. This corridor winds its way through a narrow
stream valley following the old Sinnemahoning Trail that was created by American Indians. The
state owned natural area lands have been set aside to preserve the viewshed for travelers and
to ensure the forest continues to act as a good buffer for the many miles of exceptional value
and high-quality streams that can be found here.
Approximately 8,000 acres of this LMU reside in the Square Timber Wild Area. This is
another area where normal timber management policies have been suspended and the area is
managed solely for non-motorized recreation. The main draw for users to this wild area is the
well-maintained hiking trail system that allows for backpack camping and hunter access.
Wildlife viewing, especially of the growing elk herd in this LMU, is also enjoyed by visitors.
There is also a unique area found within the Bucktail Natural Area that has been named
the Johnson Run Natural Area. This area consists of 216 acres of old growth hemlock and white
pine.
This LMU is also unique due to the presence of a major river—West Branch Susquehanna, and river islands and major river tributaries. Floodplain scour communities exist on these islands, a rare community type.
The differences between this LMU and a typical LMU where timber management is
more intensive will continue to increase as time goes by due to the specific management
policies for Natural Areas. It is expected that the flora and fauna will vary in numbers and type
as the forest ages. The main management goal of this LMU is to allow visitors to drive and hike
through forest stands that will stay unaltered by people.
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Priority Goals 1. Maintain the Square Timber Wild Area as a core forest and preserve its unique wild
character.
2. Conserve the Johnson Run Natural Area for the old growth and treat a portion of the old
growth hemlocks to protect against hemlock wooley adelgid infestation.
3. Protect the historical areas, such as the coke ovens and Memorial Springs.
4. Attempt to control Japanese knotweed, and other invasive plant species, in cooperation
with Sinnemahoning Invasive Plant Management Area (SIPMA).
5. Collaborate with partners on maintenance of Big Run Trail and Square Timber Trail.
6. Maintain the scenic viewshed of the river corridor and pursue acquisitions to extend it.
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Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 34,072
LMU Total 62,889
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
The land base in this LMU is dominated by forest cover, with very little development or open
space.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 37
Z2 - Drivable Trail 9
Z3 - Administrative Road 26
Total 72
State Route 120 is the main highway through the Bucktail State Park Natural Area which
provides the public a beautiful scenic drive, for those that would like to experience the scenery
at a slower pace there are the drivable trails and roads for non-motorized travel as well.
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Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 48
Biking 2
Equestrian 1
X-Skiing 2
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 31
Several hiking trails have portions in this LMU including the Square Timber Trail,
Big Run Trail and Bucktail Path to name a few. A few trails allow for biking,
horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
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21,992 acres, or 65%, of the land in the Bucktail LMU supports oak forest types.
The remaining land base is a mixture of northern hardwoods and conifer forests.
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
This LMU consists of more than half (58%) the acres that are of Site class 2, and
more than a quarter being of a Site 3, and only 6% are a Site 1.The remaining acres
are Site 0.
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
75% of this area is Natural Area (N) and 16 % is Wild Area (W). Other zones in this LMU are
Limited Resource (L) with about 1500 acres, Land where zoning is unknown (U) with 738 acres,
Multiple Resource consisting of about 600 acres, 8 acres of Anthropogenic site (H) and 1 acre
designated Special Resource (S). This means that guidelines for Wild and Natural Areas
dominate land use and management within this LMU.
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
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Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The age class for the Bucktail LMU is mostly mature forest aging 100 to 120 years.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total (miles)
Undesignated 59
High Quality Waters 88
Perennial Cold Water Streams 3
Exceptional Value Waters 61
Total 211
All the small streams that feed into the Driftwood Branch and the Sinnemahoning Creek are of
Exceptional Value making the Driftwood Branch exceptional as well. From the borough of
Driftwood downstream the Sinnemahoning Creek is considered to be high quality.
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Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classifications
(2012). ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by types of
recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to Semi-
Developed and Developed zones.
Because of the LMU running along the stream/road corridor, 56% of this area consists of other
zones that are or could be developed but are mostly too steep to do so and are in the
natural/wild areas where development is prohibited. The remaining area is considered some
type of semi-primitive or primitive recreation.
Table 5. Core forest index value for state forest land in this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value
out of 100 that expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from
dense areas of fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Bucktail 93.7
The score falls within the 32nd percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the more
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land. This is mainly due to Route
120 traversing the LMU, as well as the other miles of roads (see Table 2).
93
94
First Purchase Landscape Management Unit
95
Overview The First Purchase LMU is named for it being the first State Forest Land purchased. There is a monument
marking such at Bull Run. The LMU is 65,463 acres located in Chapman and Grugan Townships, Clinton
County. Timber is high quality red oak on the tops of the deep valleys and northern hardwood type on
the sidehills. The oak type transitions to northern hardwoods near the boundary with the
Susquehannock State Forest. White Ash salvage sales, where accessible, were conducted in 2015 after
Emerald Ash Borer caused extensive mortality. Hyner Run State Park is located on the southwestern
corner of the LMU and offers an excellent access point for snowmobiling and hiking the Donut Hole
Trail. The Marcellus impact has been higher on this LMU than any other in the district. There are gas
pipeline compressor stations on Pat’s Ridge Road and the Dry Run Road. The district and XTO company
worked together to build a snowmobile trail adjacent the Dry Run Road to eliminate
vehicle/snowmobile safety issues.
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Priority Goals 1. The LMU has some of the best quality timber in the District. The shelterwood method will be
used to regenerate these stands. Through the use of fencing, herbicide, mowing, and crop tree,
these tools will assist us in these endeavors. With the preponderance of stands regenerating to
black birch, crop tree has already been used with preliminary results being very optimistic.
2. First Purchase monument. This historic monument is the highlight of this LMU. The district will
work with The Clinton County Economic Partnership to promote and market this historic relic.
3. Laurelly Fork Trout Nursery. This is one of the oldest trout nurseries in the State. This nursery is
currently managed by the Western Clinton Sportsman’s Association. The district will continue to
support the nursery in their endeavors.
4. Young Woman’s Creek watershed. Both Right Branch Young Woman’s Creek and Left-Hand
Branch Young Woman’s Creek lie within this LMU. Both are well known for their trout fishing
statewide! Many stream improvement projects were done on these streams. Our plan is to work
with the Pennsylvania Fish Commission and Western Clinton Sportsman’s association to restore
one old stream improvement project per year if possible.
5. The Donut Hole Trail. This trail is one of 18 state forest hiking trails located within this LMU. The
district will continue to work with The Keystone Trail Association, Pa Trail dogs and Hyner
maintenance crew to keep this trail maintained and one of the top hiking trails in the state!
6. Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail. The plan is to keep this trail open in the winter, to provide a
prime economic asset for all businesses along the Coudersport Pike.
7. Eastern States 100 and Hyner Half Marathon. These two trail races occur on this LMU. The
district will continue to work with The PA Trail dogs so both races continue to be a resounding
success.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 41,821
LMU Total 65,463
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
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Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Across the LMU the dominant land cover is mostly Deciduous Forest. Forest type transitions from oak to
northern hardwood to the north in the LMU.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
The majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are either timbersale haul roads or leased
forest campsite access roads. The public use roads are all graded and well-maintained roads for the
public to access. Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail is located on this LMU and is a great public
attraction.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 161
Biking 60
Equestrian 59
X-Skiing 51
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 182
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 120
Z2 - Drivable Trail 16
Z3 - Administrative Road 84
Total 220
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The main hiking trail that travels in and through this LMU is the Donut hole trail, which stretches for
miles and miles. Also, most of the snowmobile trails are located on the joint use roads. Some of those
roads are Dry Run Road, Hyner Mountain Snowmobile trail.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
This LMU has the most diversity in any LMU. The majority consists of Black Cherry, Sugar
Maple, White Ash, and other Northern Hardwoo ds species. The oak component mainly
consists of White and Red Oak.
Allegheny Hardwoods, 485
Conifers, 4,638
Northern Hardwoods, 17,872
Other, 2,122
Other Hardwoods, 3,991
Other Oak, 17,730
Red Maple, 5,561
Red Oak, 7,634
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Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the
potential quality of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non -forested lands or forested
lands where the vegetation has not yet been typed. Other site classes are described on
p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management activities will occur on the Site 2 stands. As for the site 0 stands,
food plot installation and maintenance will be a priority.
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
The commercial stands (M C) are where silvicultural treatments are concentrated.
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
H, 551
L, 21,881
M C, 34,948
M N, 2,452
M U, 93N, 0
S, 34 U, 75
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
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The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111-120 years. silvicultural treatments
will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total (miles)
High Quality Waters 7
Exceptional Value Waters 154
Total 161
Native trout fishing opportunities are excellent and accessible. Some EV and HQ streams
include the highly recognized right and Left -hand branches of Young Woman’s Creek, and
Hyner Run.
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Snowmobiling and hiking the Donut Hole trail are among the most popular recreational activities in this
LMU. Many trail challenges occur through this LMU as well and is a great attractant to the public. Leased
Forest Campsites, hunting, and wildlife viewing are other recreational opportunities.
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Table 5. Core forest value for state forest land in this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of
100 that expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense
areas of fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
First Purchase 96.4
This score is the highest within the district. The score falls within the 91st percentile of all state
forest LMUs least fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
Grugan Hollow Landscape Management Unit
103
Overview The LMU is 29,207 acres in Grugan, Noyes, and Chapman Townships, Clinton County. The Grugan Hollow
LMU has deep hollows and transitions from the heath forest type in the Prince Farrington LMU, to the
south, into a predominant red oak timber type. Private land surrounds half the perimeter of the LMU
but there are no interior holdings. The Chuck Keiper Trail and Little McCloskey Snowmobile Trail are on
the LMU. Cranberry Swamp Natural Area, a recommended site for the PA Wilds, has a loop trail
accessed via the Chuck Keiper Trail. Shallow gas development has occurred along with a few Marcellus
pads with minimal impact. Coffin Rock Fire Tower is located on the southwestern edge of the LMU.
Silvicultural practices in the form of shelterwood treatments dot the LMU with most requiring fencing to
aid regeneration of the stands.
Priority Goals 1. Timber Management: A variety of timber types are found across the Grugan Hollow LMU.
Everything from the purest red oak mixed hardwood stands to laurel choked dry oak stands. A
variety of silvicultural treatments have been used to create diverse habitat in this LMU. The
main goal for the Grugan Hollow LMU is to balance the age class distribution across the LMU.
The following objectives will be used to reach our goal; Three stage shelterwood method,
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treating competing vegetation with herbicide and mechanical treatments, supplemental tree
planting, woven wire deer exclosures to protect regeneration from deer browsing, and
introduction of prescribed fire to reduce competing vegetation and provide wildlife habitat.
2. Wildlife Habitat: Due to the commercial timber sale activity over the last 20 years there is a
variety of age classes across the LMU. This variety has helped increase the species richness of
this section of the Sproul State Forest. Early and late successional species are thriving in the
Grugan Hollow LMU. Gas exploration has also been beneficial to some species of wildlife. Gas
well pads and pipelines serve as wildlife openings and have created some much needed edge
habitat for wildlife. This LMU serves as the some of the best black bear habitat in Pennsylvania.
In fact, it has been referred to as the hub for the black bear breeding population in
Pennsylvania. Bears thrive due to our diverse silviculture treatments and a large component of
impenetrable mountain laurel covered ridges and steep rocky rhododendron covered sidehills.
Our goal is to continue to manage the forest to provide habitat for all species of wildlife to thrive
in this LMU.
3. Water Quality: The headwaters of several exceptional value trout streams can be found in The
Grugan Hollow LMU. Native brook trout can be found in these streams. Most are not easily
accessed due to the steep sidehills that surround them. This has led to a stable trout population
in many of these streams. The district will continue to protect the headwaters of these streams
by careful consideration of management activities.
4. Recreation: The Chuck Keiper Trail meanders through this LMU. It also splits to make a loop trail
around the Cranberry Swamp Natural Area. The Cranberry Swamp is a unique bog area that has
some old growth hemlock near its edge. It is a popular area for wildlife viewing. Our goal is to
continue to protect and maintain the trails in this LMU so that our citizens can continue to enjoy
the unique backcountry type hiking experience that they provide.
5. Wild Plant Sanctuaries and HCVFs: A priority goal is to help preserve and retain our rare natural
communities and wild plant sanctuaries. In this LMU we have one rare natural community which
is located at the Cranberry Swamp, and consists of roughly 11 acres. In order to maintain the
integrity of this ecosystem we will manage the invasive species such as glossy buckthorn,
Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, and phragmites that threaten to spread throughout the
LMU. Finally, with this area of interest, we will devote to preserving the beauty and authenticity
of these communities and sanctuaries.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 26,618
LMU Total 29,207
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
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Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Developed open space is electric transmission power lines, gas transmission pipelines, and well pads –
both Marcellus and shallow.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP. Some of the Z1 Roads include Grugan Hollow Road, Petes Run Road, Cranberry
Swamp road, and Boggs Ridge Road.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 29
Z2 - Drivable Trail 10
Z3 - Administrative Road 54
Total 93
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Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 45
Biking 0
Equestrian 0
X-Skiing 0
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 23
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
The majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are timbersale roads, leased
forest campsite roads, or gas well access roads. The public use roads are all graded and
well-maintained roads for the public to access. The most well -known hiking trail in this
LMU is the Chuck Keiper trail, which stretches for miles and miles across the landscape.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Conifers, 481
Northern Hardwoods,
2,957Other, 921
Other Hardwoods, 139
Other Oak, 21,297
Red Maple, 812Red Oak, 11
107
Red, Scarlet, White, and Chestnut oak are the predominate species on this LMU. The
conifer component increase will be a priority in conjunction with timbersale activity.
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the
potential quality of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non -forested lands or forested
lands where the vegetation has not yet been typed. Other site classes are described on
p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Most of the timber operations in this LMU take part on the site 2 areas. Site 3 stands are
treated in conjunction with site 2 stands where feasible.
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
The commercial stands (M C) are where most of the silvicultural treatments occur.
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
109
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111-120 years. silvicultural treatments
will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the LMU to create a diversity of structure
and habitat across the landscape.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Warm Water Stream 1
Total 63
Native trout fishing opportunities are plentiful on the LMU. The district plans to let nature
determine the course of the streams. To ensure t he natural beauty no man- made
structures will be introduced. Some EV and HQ streams include Boggs Run, Mill Run,
Bakers Run, and Halls Run.
110
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Leased Forest Campsites, hunt ing, and wildlife viewing are the key recreational
opportunities on the LMU. Cranberry Swamp Natural area is highlighted through the PA
Wilds. Little McCloskey snowmobile Trail is located in this LMU.
Table 5. Core forest value for state forest land in this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of
100 that expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense
areas of fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Grugan Hollow 95.3
This score is the third highest, within the district. The score falls within the 86th percentile of
all state forest LMUs, least fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
111
Kato Landscape Management Unit
112
Overview The Kato LMU is 138,000 acres in size encompassing parts of Snow Shoe, Burnside, Curtin, and Liberty
Townships, Centre County & Beech Creek Township, Clinton County. The Kato LMU has had some of the
largest wildfires in Pennsylvania with the largest being reported at 39,000 acres in 1934.Two others
were affected by unique weather events. The Coffee Pot Fire, 2,000 acres, was a late spring fire that was
fueled by a direct north wind not the prevailing westerly winds. The Two Rock Run Fire, 10,000 acres, in
1990 was at times a crown fire pushed by strong winds directly out of the south. The impact of these
fires can be seen on the ground by the salvage timber sales that have occurred. Defoliations by Oak Leaf
Roller in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s, and Gypsy Moth in 1982, 1992, and 2008 were heaviest on this
LMU than any other LMU in the district. Large scale salvage operations are still ongoing in 2016. The
LMU is predominately heath oak forest. Mining for clay and coal occurred in the early 1900’s. There
were three CCC camps located at Salt Lick Run, Kato, and Coon Run. The sites had monuments installed
in 2013 to commemorate the historic events. Shallow gas development was at its highest on the LMU in
the 1980’s. One of the district’s two ATV trails, Bloody Skillet, is located on this LMU. A portion of the 52-
mile Chuck Keiper Trail is located on the northwest corner.
Priority Goals 1. Silviculture: Finish up remaining salvage operations in stands impacted by the 2007-2008
gypsy moth infestation. Closely monitor these stands after logging and implement
appropriate treatments to ensure adequate regeneration.
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2. Wildlife habitat improvement projects: Follow through with maintenance of existing projects
such as the large
planting on the Kato strip mine. Also, take full advantage of funding opportunities from agencies
such as the
National Wild Turkey Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to create and enhance
wildlife habitat for these targeted species as well as certain species of special concern that use
similar habitat.
3. Recreation: Continue maintenance and safe operation of the Bloody Skillet ATV trail. Monitor
trail conditions on the Chuck Keiper hiking trail and maintain as needed.
4. Historic Monuments: Monuments were installed at CCC camp site at Coon Run, Salt Lick Run and
Kato in 2013. The district will ensure that these are maintained for the public interest.
5. Wild Plant Sanctuaries and HCVFs: A priority goal is to help preserve and retain our rare natural
communities and wild plant sanctuaries. In this LMU we have one rare natural community,
hemlock palustrine forest (vulnerable in the state to extirpation) which is located at the East
Branch Swamp, Russell P. Letterman Wild Area. This community consists of roughly 11 acres.
Also, in this LMU there is one Wild Plant Sanctuary. This sanctuary consists of roughly 67 acres.
Then, with these areas we will manage the invasive species, such as glossy buckthorn, Japanese
knotweed, Phragmites, and purple loosestrife, that are trying to penetrate its boundaries to
help keep them pristine. Finally, these 2 areas of interest we will devote to preserving the
beauty and authenticity of these communities and sanctuaries.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 54,960
LMU Total 138,078
Ecoregion: Allegheny Front, Deep Valleys, and Pittsburgh Low Plateau
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Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Evergreen forest acreage increased by past district plantings. Plantings averaged 50 ,000
seedlings/year from 1991 through 2005.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use. Some
Z1 Road include Kato Orviston Road, DeHass Road, Eddy Ridge Road, and State Line Road.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 59
Z2 - Drivable Trail 31
Z3 - Administrative Road 76
Total 166
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Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 94
Biking 52
Equestrian 52
X-Skiing 56
ATV I 38
ATV II 38
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 170
Administrative roads are mostly shallow gas well roads which boomed in the 1980’s.
Bloody Skillet ATV area is located in this L MU and is a great public attraction to the State
Forest. Also, the main hiking trail that passes through this LMU is the Chuck Keiper trail.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Scarlet, Black, and White Oak are the predominate species on this LMU. The Conifer
component increase will be a priority in conjunction with timbersale activity. This is the
Allegheny Hardwoods, 33
Conifers, 805Northern
Hardwoods, 351
Other, 10,275
Other Hardwoods, 1,201
Other Oak, 36,029
Red Maple, 4,062
Red Oak, 2,204
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most heavily silviculturally managed LMU due to past Oak Leaf Roller and Gypsy Moth
mortality.
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management efforts concentrated on site 2. The site 3 areas have received silvicultural
treatments, such as salvage after insect caused morality.
Site 0, 10,298Site 1, 111
Site 2, 27,515
Site 3, 17,037
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Site 2 stand acreage is a direct correlation to the acreage of commercial (M C) stand acreage.
Silvicultural treatments concentrated on the commercial site 2 areas. District is initiating prescribed fire
on site 3 and scrub oak stands.
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
118
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111 -120 years.,
silvicultural treatments will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the
LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Warm Water Stream 1
Total 63
Native trout fishing opportunities are throughout the LMU. Multiple projects have occurred on private
land to the west of the LMU to treat acid mine drainage flowing into Beech Creek. Some of the other
streams in this LMU are Marsh Creek, Little Marsh Creek, Big Run, and Eddy Lick Run.
119
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
The Bloody Skillet ATV trail is on the LMU. Other forms of recreation are limited to eliminate conflict with
motorized vehicles.
Table 5. Core forest value for state forest land in this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of
100 that expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense
areas of fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Kato 91.4
The score falls within the 20th percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the most
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
120
Keating Mountain Landscape Management Unit
121
Overview The Keating Mountain LMU is bounded on two sides by the Susquehanna River and Sinnemahoning
Creek and the remaining two sides by the Moshannon and Elk State Forest Districts. The River Hill
section from the towns, Karthus to the west and Keating to the east, has had numerous wildfires due to
the topography and railroad location. The railroad fires along with past safety strip burning conducted
by the bureau has led to sidehill vegetation being predominately fire adaptive species. Land exchanges
with the game commission have increased state forest acres in the LMU, most of which is river side hill.
Food plot installation to expand the elk range opportunities has occurred over the last 15 years. Forest
are dry oak and heath based with good quality white oak, black oak, and scarlet oak. Recreation is
limited to hunting, wildlife viewing and leased forest campsites. There are no designated hiking trails in
this LMU. Total LMU area is 36,601 acres with the majority being in West Keating Township, Clinton
County and a small portion in Grove township, Cameron County.
Priority Goals 1. Timber Management: Timber management using the best management practices will be a
priority for this LMU as the stands continue to become older and struggle to regenerate
themselves to desirable species. Management of these stands will focus on sound silvicultural
practices such as: Shelterwoods, fencing, herbicide, etc, to provide for adequate regeneration.
2. Recreation: With the abundance of leased camps in the LMU a continued focus on maintaining
the recreational aspect of Keating Mountain will be a priority. Aside from the lease camps this
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area provides for excellent hunting opportunities for various wildlife including elk which will lead
to the third management priority. Hunting will be emphasized by continuing to open state
forest roads where applicable and providing new growth through timber sales for wildlife to
seek cover and browse. In addition to timber sales food plots will be maintained. See
Management priority 3.
3. Wildlife Food Plots: The current elk food plots will be maintained as part of the elk expansion
plan. These food plots are utilized to not only provide for elk but countless other wildlife
species. The food plots purpose is to provide a higher quality forage than the grasses that
typically grow into place absent of management practices while still maintaining a grass stage in
the successional pathway. Limited expansion may be considered for smaller food plots to
provide for a sustainable forage without the need to replant too often.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 15,640
LMU Total 36,601
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys and Pittsburgh Low Plateau
Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
123
Herbaceous opening acres have been made into food plots for wildlife bu t specifically to
expand the Elk range.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use. Some
Z1 roads include Birch Island Road, Dutchman’s Road, Round Island Road, and Keating Mountain Road.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 35
Biking 0
Equestrian 0
X-Skiing 0
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 13
The majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are either timbersale haul
roads or leased forest campsite access roads. The public use roads are all graded and
well-maintained roads for the public to access. A nice local hiking trail is the Lower Jerry
Run Natural Area Trail, which goes the Jerry Run Natural Area.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 24
Z2 - Drivable Trail 6
Z3 - Administrative Road 32
Total 61
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Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Scarlet, Black, and White Oak are the predominate species on this LMU. The Conifer
component increase will be a priority in conjunction with timbersale activity.
Conifers, 317 Northern Hardwoods, 528
Other, 799
Other Hardwoods, 183
Other Oak, 15,498
Red Maple, 1,392
Red Oak, 424
Site 0, 799 Site 1, 482
Site 2, 11,045
Site 3, 6,815
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Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the
potential quality of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non -forested lands or forested
lands where the vegetation has not yet been typed. Other site classes ar e described on
p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management activities will occur on the Site 2 stands. As for the site 0 stands,
food plot maintenance will be a priority.
Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Site 2 stand acreage is a direct correlation to the acreage of commercial (M C) stand acreage.
silvicultural treatments concentrated on the commercial site 2 areas.
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
126
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111 -120 years. silvicultural
treatments will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
The high quality of the streams in this LMU are good for native trout fishing. Some HQ streams include
Birch Island Run, Round Island Run, and Grove Run.
Class Total Miles
High Quality 42
Total 42
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Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Leased Forest Campsites, hunting, and elk viewing are the key recreational opportunities on the LMU.
Unique feature of the LMU is the low impact recreational opportunity.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Keating Mountain 96.6
The score falls within the 73th percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the most
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
128
Carrier Road Landscape Management Unit
129
Overview The Carrier Road LMU is the district’s most divided in regard to land ownership. The LMU is 59,429 acres
in Colebrook and Gallagher Townships, Clinton County.
The Nature Conservancy, Ponderosa Development, and Game Lands 89 are the largest owner groups on
the landscape. The Donut Hole Hiking Trail and Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Trail are the key
recreational opportunities. Parts of the Donut Hole are used for the Hyner View challenge which garners
1000+ participants each year. Hyner View State Park offers excellent viewing and a launch point for hang
gliding. This LMU contains more of a natural pine component than any other along with white oak.
Priority Goals 1. Timber: Carrier Road Landscape Management Unit has a wide variety of timber types from xeric
oak woodlands to mesic rich northern hardwood stands. Most of the timber is mature, but the
timber harvests that have been made tend to be large scale. Stands that were not fenced after
harvesting have shown that deer are hindering regeneration, especially in oak stands. Our
priorities in this LMU will be to balance out the age classes across the unit by making additional
reproduction cuts and to reduce deer pressure on regenerating stands, either by increasing deer
harvests or fencing new timber harvests to allow them to regenerate.
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2. Wildlife: This LMU has a diversity of habitats, such as aspen, hemlock, red pine, and oak, and,
subsequently, a wide variety of wildlife species. Bear, bobcats, deer, and timber rattlers all
reach impressive size on this landscape. The upper portion of this LMU is enrolled in a Game
Commission DMAP area that allows for additional harvests of deer to reduce their impacts.
Game Land 89 takes up a large portion of the lower southeastern quadrant. Many food plots
have been established along the Hazard Road which runs the length of this property. A 900-acre
fire in 2006 along Carrier Road also improved the habitat along Lick Run, bringing regenerating
timber down where wildlife could reach it to browse. Also, this LMU has a large pine
component which is great for nesting raptors but also a vast variety of other wildlife like. The
main priority in this LMU in the wildlife area is to maintain the diversity of habitats and increase
early successional stage forests through timber harvests.
3. Water Quality/ Reclamation: Two EV streams and numerous High-Quality streams drain the
Carrier Road LMU. Lick Run’s headwaters and entire course lie within its boundary. Our goals
are to maintain the quality of these waterways as we manage them by carefully mitigating
roadwork and timber sales that might impact the streams.
4. Recreation: The Carrier Run LMU provides 103 miles of hiking trails, including the Donut Hole
District level hiking trail and the trails that the Hyner Challenge race is run every spring. Both
these trail systems are among the few that are maintained by the district. Our goals are to keep
the maintained trails in good condition to provide safe recreation and regional opportunities for
wilderness recreation.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 23,049
LMU Total 59,429
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
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Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Across the LMU the dominant land cover is mostly Deciduous Forest. The LMU has the
largest amount of mixed forest of any o f the eight LMU’s on the district.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
The majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are either timbersale haul
roads or leased forest campsite access roads. There are multiple snowmobile parking lots
along the Carrier Road and North Route 44. Carrier Road is the major road in the LMU.
Some other public use roads include Ritchie Road, and Old View Road.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 80
Biking 20
Equestrian 20
X-Skiing 16
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 44
The Major Hiking trail in this LMU is the Donut Hole trail.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 26
Z2 - Drivable Trail 2
Z3 - Administrative Road 26
Total 54
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Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Red, Scarlet, Black, and White oak are the dominate species on this LMU. The conifer
component on this LMU is the highest among the other eight LMUs.
Allegheny Hardwoods, 162
Conifers, 1,813
Northern Hardwoods,
2,065Other, 395
Other Hardwoods, 552
Other Oak, 16,275
Red Maple, 461
Red Oak, 1,380
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Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP
Timber management activit ies will occur on the Site 2 stands. As for the site 3 stands,
salvage and improvement cuts will be implemented to better the stands for final harvest.
Site 0, 395Site 1, 663
Site 2, 13,201
Site 3, 8,844
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Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Site 2 stand acreage is a direct correlated to the acreage of commercial (M C) stand acreage. Silvicultural
treatments concentrated on the commercial site 2 areas. Limited areas are concentrated is the stream
valleys.
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
H, 67
L, 7,449
M C, 14,894
M N, 619
S, 0 U, 74
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
135
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111-120 years. Silvicultural treatments
will be used to aid in balancing the age class distribution on the LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Lick Run is one of the major streams that provides fishing opportunities for native trout throughout this
LMU. Some other great streams in this LMU include Hyner Run, Queens Run, and Rattlesnake Run.
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
136
The Hyner Mountain Snowmobile trail and the Donut Hole trail are among the most popular recreational
activities in this LMU. Leased Forest Campsites, hunting, and wildlife viewing are other recreational
opportunities.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Carrier Road 97
This score is the highest within the district. The score falls within the 83th percentile of all state
forest LMUs, making it among the least fragmented areas relative to other portions of state
forest land.
137
Prince Farrington Landscape Management Unit
138
Overview The Prince Farrington LMU is a true heath forest with vast patches of huckleberry and scrub oak with the
majority of timber management activities being salvage treatments after insect, i.e. gypsy moth, caused
mortality. The LMU size is 39,608 acres and located in Bald Eagle, Beech Creek, and Grugan Townships,
Clinton County. A bicycle/horse shared use trail, the Eagleton Mine Camp Trail, was established in the
1990’s and has minimal use. Private land development to the south of the LMU in the form of
hunting/recreational camps has increased the use pressure on state forest land. As a result of the
increased activity, multiple search & rescue incidents along with wildfires have occurred. Marcellus
Shale activity has occurred on the LMU while minimizing negative impacts. Gas infrastructure in the
form of roads and pipelines has increased access for hunting.
Priority Goals 1. Biodiversity, and Timber Stand Diversity: Our continuous state forest inventory clearly shows
that the vast majority of state forest land has converted to Dry Oak Heath Forest stands in the
last 100 years due to deforestation, many of these stands are unproductive in a management
sense due to low diversity of species, and poor growth potential for the timber products
industry. Traditionally, many of these stands were dominated by other forest types that can
better thrive in the conditions available, like soil type, etc.… one of these traditional types
apparent in the Prince Farrington LMU was the pitch pine oak savannah type. Also, the pitch
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pine scrub oak savannah. These components can still be seen, and it’s apparent that many areas
can be easily converted back to this type. Benefits of converting to the historic forest types will
be a greater diversity of both flora and fauna in these areas, and a better utilization of the
resources available by the new forest community.
2. Timber Resource Management for state revenue, and to benefit the economy: Some timber
types within the Prince Farrington LMU are productive enough for the sustainable harvest of
timber resources. Many sales have been successfully accomplished within the bureau and Forest
Stewardship Council guidelines, and will be guided along to completion to their successful
regeneration phases. Still others are planned or will be planned to stimulate regeneration, and
for conversion to other forest types as listed above.
3. Recreation Trail Use: The existence of the Eagleton Mine Camp Trail (a multiple use trail), and
many other trails within the boundaries of this LMU will be continuously maintained and
improved upon in the future. There’s also a section of experimental forest within the LMU that’s
open for public viewing. Currently, yearly hikes, and trail runs have been organized within the
area, and they will continue to be encouraged. Horse rides have also been considered for some
trails. An objective for enhancement of the hiking, biking, and running experience of the area
would be incorporation of the history of the area within the existing trail system.
4. Recreation Hunting and Fishing: Another large component to the recreation in this area is
hunting, and fishing. There are many current opportunities for these types of recreation, and
the majority of the recreation in this LMU is dominated by these sporting activities. Future
management plans as those listed above, will only increase, and enhance these opportunities
for recreation of this type in the future
5. The responsible extraction of natural gas: This infrastructure already exists to a large extent on
the landscape of this LMU, both historically in the form of shallow wells, and recently in the
form of horizontally drilled Marcellus wells. This industry is here to stay, but it’s up to us to
make sure it takes place in a responsible manner, and with the least amount of impact to the
landscape, both visually, and environmentally. This will be accomplished with the current
relationship which exists between DCNR and the Oil and Gas Industry.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 22,953
LMU Total 39,608
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
140
Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Developed open space acreage is gas well infrastructure, both Marcell us and shallow well.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use. Some
Z1 Public use roads include Eagleton Road, Mill Branch Road, and Sand Spring Road.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 43
Biking 23
Equestrian 25
X-Skiing 23
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 17
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000A
cres
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 18
Z2 - Drivable Trail 5
Z3 - Administrative Road 46
Total 69
141
Administrative roads are mostly shallow gas and Marcellus gas access roads. These roads
have increased access for the public, i.e. hunting & Hiking. The public use roads are all
graded and well-maintained roads for the public to access. The biggest and most well -
known hiking trail in this LMU is the Eagleton Mine Camp Trail.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Heath Forest Oaks, White, Scarlet, and Chestnut Oak dominate the stands in this LMU.
Conifers, 671 Northern Hardwoods, 190
Other, 1,144
Other Hardwoods, 534
Other Oak, 19,573
Red Maple, 596Red Oak, 245
142
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management on the site 3 after Gypsy Moth defoliation will affect future stand composition. The
district expects the conifer component to increase in this LMU with artificial regeneration and deer fence
installation.
143
Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Site 2 stand acreage is a direct correlation to the acreage of commercial (M C) stand acreage.
Silvicultural treatments will be concentrated on the site 2 stands.
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
144
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111 -120 years. silvicultural
treatments will be used to aid in balancing the age class di stribution on the LMU.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Native trout fishing opportunities are throughout the LMU. Some of these EV and HQ streams are
Holland Run, Tangascootack Creek, Mill Branch, and Eagleton Run.
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
145
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Eagleton Mine Camp Trail for horses and bicycles is on the LMU. Motorized recreation will be limited to
avoid conflicts with horses and bicycles.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Prince Farrington 94.6
The score falls within the 44th percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the most
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
Ridge Road Landscape Management Unit
146
Overview The Ridge Road LMU is best described as a landscape with deep hollows and tributaries that flow
northwest into the Susquehanna River with narrow flats between them. The LMU is 56,783 acres in
Burnside Township, Centre County and Beech Creek & Noyes Townships, Clinton County. Game Lands
100 lies to the west and similar even-aged silvicultural practices have been undertaken by both parties.
Wind currents from the river have aided the spread of increased insect defoliators such as, oak leaf
roller and gypsy moth. Salvage operations have occurred on all the flats between the steep hollows. The
timber is predominately red oak of good quality. Burns Run and Russell P. Letterman Wild Areas are on
located in this LMU with the Chuck Keiper Trail traversing through them. In 1985, a tornado cut a one-
mile wide swath through Burns Run and Fish Dam Run. Fish Dam was the first release site for the
reintroduction of the fisher. A canoe access/launch is located at the town of Karthus. This boat launch is
a favorite due to the wilderness experience encountered between Karthus and Keating. There are no
residences and very few camps along the route.
Priority Goals 1. Timber management: To identify timber sales in the Ridge Road landscapes. Mark, sell, and
administer said sales in the most professional and best possible manner to keep our forests
sustainable.
2. Regeneration projects: To identify possible sites in the Ridge Road landscape and to apply
regeneration projects that will best suit the sustainability of the site and LMU.
147
3. State forest leased campsites: To apply and administer the leased forest campsite program and
the many dynamic facets of the program fairly and without bias towards any and all State Forest
Leased Campsites.
4. Wild Areas: To take any opportunity presented or create an opportunity to enhance the
experience of the wild areas experience located in the Ridge Road LMU.
5. Recreation: To preserve, protect and enrich the many district hiking trials and the highly
acclaimed Chuck Keiper Trail as one of the main 18 state forest hiking trails.
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 34,877
LMU Total 56,783
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys and Pittsburgh Low Plateau
Figure 1. LMY acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Evergreen forest acreage increased over the last 25 years with district and volunteer
conifer plantings.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
148
Some major roads that have Z1 classification are Field’s Ridge Road, Yost Ridge Road, Fisher Fire Road,
Jews Run Road, and Barney’s Ridge Road.
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 40
Biking 6
Equestrian 6
X-Skiing 6
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 90
The majority of the drivable trails and Administrative roads are either timbersale haul roads or leased
forest campsite access roads. The public use roads are all graded and well-maintained roads for the
public to access. The public roads include Fields Ridge, Yost Ridge, Fisher Fire, Jews Run, and Barney’s
Ridge. The major trail is the Chuck Keiper Hiking Trail.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 33
Z2 - Drivable Trail 12
Z3 - Administrative Road 37
Total 82
149
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
The Red Maple component acreage is due to its establishment in canopy openings
following oak leaf roller and gypsy moth caused oak mortality from the late 1960’s
through the 1980’s.
Allegheny Hardwoods, 21
Conifers, 1,423
Northern Hardwoods
, 3,444Other, 1,389
Other Hardwoods, 2,629
Other Oak, 20,175
Red Maple, 4,649
Red Oak, 548
150
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP.
Timber management activities will occur on the Site 2 stands. Prescribed burning is planned to aid in
regenerating the site 3 stands and scrub oak stands.
151
Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Unique feature of the LMU, two wild areas that are separated by commercial (M C) stands aggressively
managed.
H, 85
L, 7,301
M C, 16,739
M N, 808
S, 1,433
U, 403
W, 7,510
152
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
The average age of all tree species across this LMU is between 111 -120 years. Silvicultural
treatments will be used to aid in balancing t he age class distribution on the LMU. Acreage
in the smaller age classes due in part to the Two Rock Run fire in 1990 and the onset of
the regeneration fund in 1996 which enabled fencing.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total Miles
Exceptional Value 23
High Quality 30
Perennial Cold Water 9
Warm Water Stream 1
Native trout fishing opportunities throughout the LMU. The EV streams are Fields Run, Yost Run, Burns
Run, Fish Dam Run, and Barney’s Run.
153
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
Chuck Keiper Hiking Trail traverses through the Wild Areas and is the main recreational opportunity.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Ridge Road 93.4
The score falls within the 29th percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the most
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land.
154
Montour Landscape Management Unit
155
156
Overview The Montour LMU is approximately 30,570 acres in eastern Cameron County, northwestern Clinton County, and southwestern Potter County. This area is within the Deep Valleys ecoregion and is characterized by infertile and rocky ridgetops with steep, fertile drainages that generally run east to west. This LMU is comprised primarily of state forest land, with nearly 93% of the land as Elk, Sproul, or Susquehannock state forests. Approximately 6.5% of the land is privately owned, and less than 1% is state park land. Waters draining from within this LMU generally form small Exceptional Value watersheds and drain into the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning – an Exception Value river above Stevenson Dam and a High-Quality river below. To a lesser extent, waters drain to Kettle Creek and other minor drainages within the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed. This area was completely logged in early 1900s; no old growth is known to exist within the LMU. Forests within the area are generally dry oak heath forests of poor quality on the ridgetops and a mosaic of variable quality oak and northern hardwood forests on the slopes. Few instances of early successional habitat or openings exist other than pipelines. Due primarily to steep slopes, inaccessibility, and low timber value, little timber management has been done recently within this LMU. Activities have generally been concentrated in pockets of decent timber with large areas having experienced no active timber management. Potential does exist on side hills and in isolated patches of higher quality timber on the ridgetops for future timber harvests. Oil and gas exploration has taken place in this LMU, and over 68% of the land within the Susquehannock State Forest’s section of the LMU is within the Wharton gas storage field and is highly fragmented. Outside this area, however, the surface activity in the area is restricted to transmission pipelines that cross the LMU. This LMU is within the Pennsylvania elk range with small herds and bachelor groups using the
area year-round. Additionally, two high conservation value forests form the core of the most
remote portion of the LMU. One is a 960-acre roadless area in the Lushbaugh and Muley Run
watersheds, and the other is a 2,500-acre area on steep valley slopes east of Stevenson’s Dam
with rare, threatened, and endangered species. Finally, the long-distance Donut Hole Trail has
its western terminus within the LMU.
Priority Goals 1. Utilize timber harvest and prescribed fire in fire-dependent communities to promote
desirable regeneration and re-establish fire-dependent communities in low quality
timber stands.
2. Prioritize the maintenance of wild character and promote opportunities for primitive
recreation experiences.
3. Increase conifer cover, especially hard pines.
157
4. Minimize new road and gas infrastructure entries to maintain core forest, develop old-
growth stands, and preserve wild character.
5. Utilize sustainable timber harvest and both natural and supplemental regeneration to
increase diversity and resiliency of timber stands.
6. Eradicate or control the spread of invasive plants capable of displacing natives, notably
Japanese stiltgrass.
158
Profile Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 28,402
LMU Total 30,574
Ecoregion: Deep Valleys
Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU.
Deciduous and mixed forest types make up a majority of the land area within the Montour
LMU. Very minor land cover types include evergreen forests and shrub/scrub land. Little land is
utilized in other ways.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 22
Z2 - Drivable Trail 9
Z3 - Administrative Road 37
Total 68
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
Acr
es
159
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 12
Biking 2
Equestrian 2
X-Skiing 2
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 33
The spine of the Montour LMU’s public-use road system is the Montour Road. The only other
public-use roads within the LMU are roads that leave Montour Road to the east, running into
the Kettle Creek and Cooks Run valleys.
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Allegheny Hardwoods, 12
Conifers, 2,623
Northern Hardwoods, 4,773
Other, 585
Other Hardwoods, 619
Other Oak, 13,664
Red Maple, 550
Red Oak, 5,573
160
Oak forests make up two-thirds of the forest types within the Montour LMU. Northern
hardwood and conifer forests combine to contribute one-quarter of the forest land, with minor
contributions from other forest types.
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP. More than one-third of the
forest land in the Montour LMU is infertile site 3. This site 3 land is frequently the flat and more
easily managed ridgetops. Slightly less than two-thirds of the forest land is moderately
productive site 2; this land is often on steep slopes.
Site 0, 567 Site 1, 1,042
Site 2, 16,417
Site 3, 10,374
161
Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP.
The forest land within the Montour LMU is nearly equally split between multi-use commercially
available land and limited-use land without the access or topography to be part of the routine
timber harvesting allocation. Other zones make up small percentages of the area.
H, 234
L, 14,452
M C, 12,753
M N, 934
M U, 10 U, 14 W, 1 M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
162
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes.
As the entirety of this LMU was clearcut in the early 1900s, the vast majority of forest ages exist
within the 101-120-year-old age range.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total (miles)
High Quality Waters 6
Exceptional Value Waters 56
Total 62
All streams within the Montour LMU are Exceptional Value streams except for several on the
southern end of the area that are classified as High Quality. Major EV streams include the First
Fork of the Sinnemahoning above Stevensons Dam and Lushbaugh Run; the majority of streams
in the LMU are minor tributaries flowing for a short distance before joining the First Fork.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
163
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones.
The Montour LMU has a large primitive area centered around Muley Run; the south end of this
area is a proposed roadless area. The north end of the LMU is a heavily-developed gas storage
field; other accssible edge areas border the Montour road and the public-use roads on the east
side of the LMU. The west side of the LMU – between the Montour Road and the First Fork
LMU – is evenly between split semi-primitive areas a quarter-mile from public roads, and non-
motorized semi-primitive areas more than one-half mile from public roads.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Montour 96.2
The score falls within the 66th percentile of all state forest LMUs, making it among the lesser
fragmented areas relative to other portions of state forest land. The Montour LMU is a highly
contiguous forested landscape. Little private development interrupts the state forest land along
the Ridge Road and State Highway 872, and private land is largely absent throughout the
remainder of the LMU.
164
Kettle Creek Landscape Management Unit
Abstract The Kettle Creek LMU is roughly 3,000 acres and
runs from the town of Oleona in Southern Potter
County southwards to the Alvin Bush Dam in
Clinton County. This is mostly flat bottom land
following the Kettle Creek and ranges from 300
to 2500 feet in width. The flat bottom land
transitions rapidly to steep rugged side hills of
mature Northern Hardwood and Oak forests
which are part of the State Forest system. The riparian forest lands are important for protecting aquatic
ecosystem health and stream water quality. Numerous wetlands areas exist where the valley bottoms
are wider and stream velocity is slowest. 20% of the LMU acres are state owned and the remainder is
privately owned and was developed into small homesteads, recreational camps and the town of Cross
Fork. Kettle creek is and Exceptional Value Stream and was an important part of the early logging history
from 1880-1920. Today the stream drainage and Kettle Creek and Ole Bull State Parks are an important
recreational opportunity to visitors and residents in the area. The kettle Creek stream is widely known as
a excellent cold-water fishery.
Priority Goals 1. To conserve and enhance riparian, wetland, and aquatic ecosystems and their ecological
functions.
2. Develop and implement a planting plan to replace the native Hemlocks that are infected with
the Hemlock Wooley Adelgid along the stream corridor.
3. Continue to work with the PA Fish & Boat Commission on further stream improvement Habitat
projects and to work with Ole Bull Stat park on improved water flow and improved aquatic
organism passage thru the park
Profile
Table 1. LMU acreage: total and state forest land only.
Acres
State Forest Land 575
165
LMU Total 3,021
Ecoregion: Ridge and Valley
Figure 1. LMU acreage by land cover categories from the National Land Cover Dataset for the entire
LMU. Add text here describing above figure and implications for management.
Table 2. Miles of roads by category on state forest land in this LMU. Road categories are described on p.
199 of the 2016 SFRMP.
Road Category Total Miles
Z1 - Public Use Road 2
Z2 - Drivable Trail 1
Z3 - Administrative Road Total 3
Table 3. Miles of trails on state forest land in this LMU open to various types of recreational use.
Trail Category Total Miles
Hiking 2
Biking 1
Equestrian 0
X-Skiing 1
ATV I 0
ATV II 0
Snowmobile/ Joint Use Road 0
0100200300400500600700800900
1,000
Acr
es
166
Figure 2. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by aggregated forest type. The forest types are
described on p. 108 of the 2016 SFRMP. Add text here describing above figure and implications for
management.
Figure 3. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by site class. Site classes denote the potential quality
of the growing site. “Site 0” indicates non-forested lands or forested lands where the vegetation has not
Conifers, 134
Northern Hardwoods, 197
Other, 190
Other Hardwoods, 17
Other Oak, 10 Red Maple, 19 Red Oak, 7
Site 0, 155
Site 1, 168
Site 2, 241
Site 3, 11
167
yet been typed. Other site classes are described on p. 53 of 2016 SFRMP. Add text here describing
above figure and implications for management.
Figure 4. Acreage of state forest land in this LMU by management zone. Management zone is dictated
by primary land use and land capability. Further descriptions of commerciality and zoning are found on
p. 54 of the 2016 SFRMP. Most of the acres in this LMU are directly adjacent to the creek and serve as a
buffer area. The majority of the acres are classified in the Limited zone and prohibit active timber
management
H, 66
L, 149
M C, 292
M N, 55
U, 11 W, 1
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
M&N = multiple resource zone, non-
commercial
M&C = multiple resource zone, commercial
L = limited resource zone
N = natural area
W = wild area
S = special resource management zone
H = anthropogenic management zone
U = lands where zoning is unknown
168
Figure 5. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by forest age classes. Add text here describing above
figure and implications for management.
Table 4. Miles of stream by classification within entire LMU. Department of Environmental Protection
stream classifications are described in Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards of Title 25 in the
Pennsylvania Code.
Class Total (miles)
Undesignated 0
High Quality Waters 0
Exceptional Value Waters 40
Total 40
Figure 6. Acres of state forest land in this LMU by Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
classifications. ROS is an inventory system developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to characterize land by
types of recreation experiences. ROS is described on p. 42 of the 2016 SFRMP. “Other Zones” refers to
Semi-Developed and Developed zones. Add text here describing above figure and implications for
management.
Table 5. Core forest index value for this LMU. The core forest index is a rating value out of 100 that
expresses the proportion of the area within the LMU that is increasingly far away from dense areas of
fragmenting features. The score falls within the 7th percentile of all state forest LMUs. This relatively
169
low score is because large streams that separated forest canopies were counted as fragmenting features
in the analysis.
LMU Name Core Forest Index
Kettle Creek 48
Table/Figure X. Title of figure or table that you think needs added for this particular LMU.
You can work on such figures on your own, or seek help from Planning/Geospatial. Try to think
of maps, charts, or tables that would help you describe this LMU to colleagues or the public.
Appendix A - District Interpretive Plan
170
Appendix B – Record of land acquisitions
Purchased From Acres Price ($) Date of Purchase
R. W. A. Jameson Treas. 7,380 1,108.06 July 22, 1898
Simon P. Wolverton 12,002 25,003.41 April 10, 1900
Airo Pardee, Heirs 22,830 45,661.00 May 12, 1900
Samuel Christ 3,501 8,753.34 Oct. 28, 1902
Daniel Shepp Hrs. 4,391 7,683.99 Nov. 15, 1902
Llen P. Perley 5,420 8,129.93 Aug. 1, 1903
John Holmes Est. 2,025 3,036.64 Aug. 20, 1906
James Weed B & Co. 4,108 8,216.12 Oct. 28, 1907
T. T. Thomas 3,462 7,790.51 Nov. 10, 1908
Lycoming Timber & Lbr. Co. 13,362 33,407.94 Nov. 13, 1908
Lack T & L Co. 6,387 12,773.25 May 27, 1909
Armstrong Forest Co. 4,700 7,050.21 Aug. 12, 1911
S. N. Williams Estate 13,643 54,573.07 Oct. 19, 1928
West Branch Coal & Inc. 7,018 15,792.03 June 17, 1929
Julia Reynolds Est. 4,394 13,182.40 Feb. 19, 1929
J. W. Beecher 8,238 20,597.53 May 1, 1930
Munson & Merriman 14,202 33,947.98 Aug. 25, 1930
Kato Coal Co. 10,269 23,105.85 Oct. 7, 1930
Ogden Brower Jr. 2,081 4,683.04 Oct. 14, 1930
Gardner & Law 6,389 14,375.25 March 12, 1932
W. A. Simpson 4,278 9,626.02 May 16, 1932
Adam J. Gottshall 5,921 10,362.96 Nov. 25, 1932
Balser Weber 3,046 9,136.56 Aug. 25, 1947
Conklin Hollow Land Assoc. 3,797 22,780.01 Oct. 5, 1950
Lehigh Valley Coal Co. 3,569 8,922.50 May 16, 1956
TOTALS 176,413 409,699.60
171
Land Acquisitions from 1987 to 2017
Name Acres Year
Levy Tract 470.9 1987
Hamberger Tract 991 1987
Left Branch Boiler Run 480.34 1989
McCraney Run 187.88 1989
Bear Swamp 105 1990
Avery Wash Plant 30.98 1990
Murphy Estate 7225 1990
Elfin Forest 2200 1991
North American Refractories 894 1991
United Railroad Corp 46.16 1991
Bower Enterprises 643 1997
New Garden Property (Kelly Estate) 945 2001
Litke 11,473 2002
C & S Lumber 703 2002
Saia 436 2002
Sohmer` 535 2003
Western Penna. Conservancy 566 2003
Webb 337 2004
Stone 47 2004
Ogle Ward 202 2005
Butters Living Trust 1,378 2006
Nestlerode 90 2008
Yannan 8 2008
Voshelle 24 2010
172
Litke Unceded Land 137 2010
Nature Conservancy (McDonald) 105 2011
Nature Conservancy (Hollinger) 44 2011
Lewis 579 2013
Knarr/Goodling 466 2014
Gerfen 470 2015
Pine Creek Lumber 32 2017