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Galbraith Gap land now part of Rothrock State Forest Title to the mountainside acres in Harris Township, Centre County, was transferred Nov. 4 to DCNR. Since 2007, ClearWater Conservancy has added 646 acres on Tussey Ridge to Rothrock State Forest, opening the land for public use in perpetuity.
“Contributions from nearly 200 community members and local businesses and the hard work of several dedicated volunteers enabled the successful completion of the Galbraith Gap Land Acquisition Project.” To further protect the land, ClearWater Conservancy, in partnership with DCNR and the Nittany Mountain Biking Association, are partnering to develop a sustainable 1.1 mile multi-use trail through the property in 2012 to connect DCNR’s Galbraith Gap Trailhead Parking Lot with a portion of the existing Rothrock State Forest trail system. “It is important that public access be developed without degrading the sensitive habitats of the Gap conserved by the acquisition,” Ombalski said. ClearWater Conservancy recently was awarded a $2,500 RecTAP grant from the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society to fund the trail design by Trail Solutions, a consulting arm of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The gap serves as the main recreational gateway to Rothrock State Forest for hikers, birdwatchers, mountain bikers, hunters and cross country skiers. Conservation of the parcel provides new and exciting recreational opportunities within a few minutes of State College and its surrounding communities. “The long-term conservation of this tract ensures it will continue to provide important habitat for wildlife species,” said Jason Albright, district forester for the Rothrock State Forest District. “On a more local scale, incorporating this land into the Rothrock State Forest meets the goals put forth for the Galbraith Gap Conservation Corridor in the Centre County Recreation and Greenway Plan.”
The parcel is home to many wildlife species of interest, some of which are on the decline. Birds listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan that can be found on the property include Acadian flycatcher, Louisiana water thrush, worm-eating warbler, blue-headed vireo, wood thrush and scarlet tanager among others. It is a known foraging habitat and potential critical habitat for timber rattlesnake and likely foraging and breeding habitat for eastern small-footed bats and northern long-eared bats. For more information about the Galbraith Gap land acquisition, visit www.clearwaterconservancy.org/galbraithgap.htm. For more information about the trail project contact ClearWater Conservancy at 814-237-0400. |
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“Protecting mountain gaps is a priority of ClearWater Conservancy’s Land Conservation Program,” said Katie Ombalski, conservation biologist at ClearWater Conservancy. “These gaps are important groundwater recharge areas and provide unique habitat for many species of wildlife. Streams that flow through these gaps also often support remnant populations of brook trout, a species in decline throughout its range.
The property is within the Greater Tussey Mountain and Stone Mountain Important Bird Areas and Central Mountains Important Mammal Area. Its conservation buffers the adjacent Shingletown Gap Biological Diversity Area.
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