February 7, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 5 DCNR and DCED announce new heritage festival to promote tourism A multi-day heritage event celebrating the history and culture along the National Road - U.S. Route 40 in southwestern Pennsylvania - has been selected as a pilot project for a new initiative to promote tourism. The National Road Festival, spanning three counties, will be the first project under the new Pennsylvania Heritage Festival initiative between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The initiative is designed to increase visitation, overnight stays and the impact of tourism on the economy in Pennsylvania's eight officially designated state heritage parks. DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver and DCED Secretary Thomas B. Hagen made stops in Uniontown, Fayette County and Washington, Washington County Jan. 24 to encourage community leaders, businesses and citizens to contribute to the festival's success. DCNR is providing a $50,000 match grant to help stage the festival. "Pennsylvania has wonderful stories to tell about how this state helped shape the nation," Oliver said. "Our state heritage parks help us protect and promote the culture, history, and natural resources of these areas. The communities along these 90 miles of the National Road in Pennsylvania have a special history and wonderful recreational resources, and they are anxious to tell the nation about it." The state will use the National Road pilot project to determine if the Pennsylvania Heritage Festival should become an annual event at other locations throughout the state. An annual festival would involve a partnership of state and local government, tourist promotion agencies, businesses, recreation groups, historical societies, and local citizen groups. "Heritage tourism draws visitors from across the nation to experience a Pennsylvania region - not just one site or attraction," Hagen said. "By packaging our heritage into a multi-day festival, we make it easy and fun for the visitor, which encourages more overnight stays. The end result is a stimulated local, regional and state economy." Tourism is the second leading industry in the state. According to the U.S. Travel Data Center, a Washington, D.C.-based research firm, U.S. and international visitors generated $19.9 billion in economic activity in 1994 (the latest year in which statistics are available) employing more than 368,000 Pennsylvanians. The National Road Festival - May 15-18, 1997 - will focus on the great Westward Movement generated by the construction of the National Road during the first quarter of the 19th century. During the four-day event, two wagon trains will travel the road from different launch sites and meet in Brownsville, Fayette County. Reenactments and other events in communities along the route will focus on culture, food, music, clothing and lifestyles of the travelers and settlers of the National Road. The National Road Corridor, which was officially designated a State Heritage Park in 1994, follows U.S. Route 40 as it winds through Somerset, Fayette, and Washington counties. Coldwater heritage partnership designed to protect Pennsylvania's special watersheds DCNR has joined with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited on a new grant program to protect and enhance the health of Pennsylvania's coldwater ecosystems, which are world-renowned as outstanding fish habitat. "Pennsylvania's heritage has been enriched by its reputation as a mecca for trout fishing. And as the stewards of Pennsylvania's resources, we have an obligation to protect these magnificent waterways," DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver said. "This partnership is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania to target the protection of entire coldwater ecosystems within individual watersheds." Known as the Coldwater Heritage Partnership, the new program will provide 50 percent matching planning grants to conservation organizations, municipalities, land trusts, watershed groups, conservation districts, and businesses dedicated to the protection of coldwater ecosystems. "We are pleased to be participating in such an outstanding conservation program," PFBC Executive Director Peter A. Colangelo said. "Partnerships between public and private sectors are key to protecting our valuable resources and enhancing fishing." The Coldwater Heritage Watershed Partnership will treat coldwater ecosystems holistically, with DCNR and PFBC combining their individual responsibilities as managers of Pennsylvania's natural resources and fisheries. The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, which has 54 chapters across Pennsylvania, will assist with its influence and contacts within the fishing community. Immediate Coldwater Heritage Partnership objectives include the establishment of a list of coldwater streams and watersheds in need of protection; the development of ecosystem-based watershed planning models and implementation mechanisms; and the identification of available technical and financial assistance programs. "This is the direction we think the whole state should be headed," said Jack Beck, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. "We are concerned with the health of the watersheds just as much, or more, than the streams themselves." All three organizations will be contributing funds to the effort: DCNR has committed $150,000 from its Rivers Conservation Grant Program over the next three years; PFBC, $20,000; and Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited, $2,000. Other groups have come forward to help fund the program, such as the Howard Heinz Endowment, which will provide up to $35,000 through the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program administered by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. "Pennsylvania is home to more miles of rivers and streams than any other state except Alaska, and the Heinz Endowments seek to preserve our state's unique freshwater heritage," said Teresa Heinz, chairman of the board of the Howard Heinz Endowment. "It is our hope that the Coldwater Heritage Partnership grants will stimulate long-term planning to preserve and expand Pennsylvania's coldwater fisheries and restore and protect these priceless ecosystems." More information is available by contacting Don Dreese, DCNR's Rivers Conservation Program, (717) 787-2316 DCNR facilities featured in new Pa. Visitors Guide The splendor of Pennsylvania's outdoors is featured prominently in the 1997 Pennsylvania Visitors Guide. DCNR, in partnership with the Department of Community and Economic Development, worked to expand the outdoor and heritage information available to tourists through two special sections. Woods, Water and Wildlife gives readers a sample of what Pennsylvania's great outdoors have to offer, from hiking to hunting. Featuring information from the Game and Fish and Boat commissions, the section is designed to attract visitors to the state recreational and scenic resources. Another new feature to this year's Visitors Guide is a special section focusing on DCNR's heritage parks and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's historical sites and museums throughout the state. Titled History and Heritage, the section showcases Pennsylvania's link to the past. For the first time, the State Parks Recreational Guide is included with every mailing of the Visitors Guide, tripling the production and distribution of the park guide. Also, a scenic photo from Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County graces the cover of the new Visitors Guide. Contrary to rumors, Sinnemahoning State Park will not close To put to rest persistent rumors, state park officials are reiterating that Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County is not closing to the public. "We have no plans to close Sinnemahoning State Park," said Roger Fickes, director of the DCNR's Bureau of State Parks. "Sinnemahoning has been an important park to the community for nearly 40 years. We'll continue to provide the recreational resources that visitors have come to depend on at the park." Fickes speculated the rumors about closure began after the park decided to close the beach area, which was destroyed by flood waters last winter. He said repairs to the beach and bathhouse would not have been cost-effective given the low usage of the beach area. The 1,900-acre Sinnemahoning State Park is located in Elk State Forest, along the first fork of Sinnemahoning Creek. The George B. Stevenson Dam, built to control downstream flooding in the Susquehanna River basin, creates a reservoir in the park, which is used for boating and fishing. Fickes said the dam flood control service gate is in need of repairs due to damages that occurred in 1985. As soon as capital budget funding becomes available, DCNR will make mechanical repairs to the dam's gate and concrete repairs to the gate wells and outlet tunnel. DCNR acquires prime elk habitat The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) presented the Bureau of Forestry with a deed of conveyance for a tract of land deemed excellent elk habitat at its Eastern Rendezvous held Jan. 24 in Valley Forge. The Bureau of Forestry has been pursuing the purchase of this parcel of land for a number of years because of its qualities as a diverse habitat. Elk prefer a combination of grassland, brush, and woods. DCNR purchased 138 acres of RMEF's entire 217-acre tract, located in Elk and Cameron counties. The land will be incorporated into the Elk State Forest. Although RMEF retains the ownership of the remaining ground, they have ceded management responsibility to DCNR. The land is to be managed under Bureau of Forestry guidelines. DCNR will join the Game Commission and RMEF in monitoring the elk and keeping the land suitable for their sustenance. DCNR employee receives PRIME award Wally Haulik, assistant state forester, recently received the Pacesetter Award from Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker for his efforts as a member of the DCNR I-team. Lt. Gov. Schweiker presented the award to Haulik, saying he embodied the spirit of employee-driven change. The PRIME initiative (Privatize, Retain, Innovate, Modify, Eliminate) uses employee-driven change to make state government more customer-centered, cost-efficient and competitive. Since its launch in February 1996, state government agencies have completed nearly 100 recommendations. DCNR's top PRIME initiative -producing a plan to responsibly increase timber harvested from state forest land by the year 2000-is one of those early successes. Haulik is only the second person the receive the Pacesetter Award. Woman named new park manager at three state parks DCNR's Bureau of State Parks has appointed a new park manager for three state parks located along the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. Mary Gatski of Sunbury will oversee operations of Shikellamy State Park, Union and Northumberland counties; Susquehanna State Park, Lycoming County; and Milton State Park, Northumberland County. Gatski was previously the assistant park manager for the three parks. She replaces Stanley Rohrbach who recently retired after serving as manager of the parks since 1982. As park manager, Gatski will oversee and direct all facets of the park operations and maintenance of the three parks. She also will manage a staff of five full-time employees plus seasonal workers and volunteers. In her state park career, Gatski served as park manager of Fort Washington State Park, Montgomery County; environmental education specialist at Beltzville State Park, Carbon County; and an intern for Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Northampton County. DCNR hosts biodiversity conference DCNR's Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center and Shippensburg University will cosponsor their eighth annual issues conference, Wednesday, March 12. This year's conference, Sustaining Biodiversity, will be held at Shippensburg University. Dr. Reed Noss, will open the program with his presentation called Big Picture Conservation, which discusses sustaining biodiversity through management at the ecosystem level. Dr. Noss is the editor of Conservation Biology, an international consultant in conservation, and Courtesy Associate Professor in Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. He has published more than 120 scientific papers and co-authored the book, Saving Nature's Legacy: Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity. Concurrent sessions on various topics related to biodiversity are offered throughout the day-long conference. The conference is designed for environmental professionals as well as students and citizens with environmental interests. The early registration fee of $35 includes lunch, breaks and registration materials. Contact Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center at (717)486-3799. Penn Nursery turns 75 February marks Penn Nursery's 75 years of service to the Bureau of Forestry and to private landowners throughout the state. The nursery manages seed orchards, produces seedlings, builds picnic tables for state parks and forests, and makes plaques and wooden signs at its facility located in Centre County. Penn Nursery began its service in 1922 as a transplant nursery to produce shade trees along state highways. In its early days, the nursery grew conifers exclusively because of their rapid growth. In the '50s, the program began producing hardwoods and today produces a mix of hardwood and evergreen species. Black cherry and red oak seed orchards produce seed for trees grown at the facility. Today the nursery grows about 2.5 million seedlings annually. The production at the nursery had been as high as 8 million. The nursery uses the seedlings to reforest the state forest land. The seedlings are also sold to private landowners who own forestland and are interested in planting trees because they are lacking a seed source on their land. Penn Nursery also works with DEP's mining program to help return vegetation to abandoned surface mine lands with seedlings grown at the nursery. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, Penn Nursery has produced a white pine tree seed kit to hand out at public events and meetings. The history of the nursery is told on the back of the seed packet. DCNR geologist studies values of coalbed gas Coalbed methane, the natural gas that occurs in coal seams, may someday be seen primarily as a fuel resource instead of a hazard or nuisance. Toni Markowski, a geologist in DCNR's Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, has been studying Pennsylvania's coal bed methane and has presented results of her work at national and international meetings of energy industry and environmental geoscience groups. Markowski has found southwestern Pennsylvania to have significant resources of this gas, which has heating values comparable to conventional natural gas. Approximately 25 wells are producing commercial gas in Pennsylvania and others have been drilled for exploration and testing purposes. Coalbed methane occurs in openings and fractures in coal and can be produced from coal seams that are too thin or deep to permit economic mining. Coalbed methane is not only a high quality resource with major economic implications, but its capture reduces wasteful venting into the atmosphere and its production has a smaller environmental impact than conventional gas well drilling. A summary of Markowski's work has been released as an open-file report available from the Bureau at P.O. Box 8453, Harrisburg, PA 17105 for $2.00. Contact the Survey's offices at (717)787-2169 in Harrisburg or (412) 442-4235 in Pittsburgh for more information. (Contributed by Helen Delano, DCNR's Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey) Rustic covered bridge restored to original splendor Volunteers, park personnel and a local contractor recently pieced together a century-old covered bridge at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County, opening the popular bridge for pedestrian traffic once again. Clay's Bridge, built in 1890, was originally located two miles northeast of New Bloomfield where it spanned Little Buffalo Creek. After serving at this location for 81 years, the bridge was moved to its present location in 1971. Having survived the elements for 81 years, the bridge succumbed to the ice and snow of the winter of 1993-94. The roof and west side of the bridge collapsed into the stream, creating a jumbled mass of timbers, side boards, roof shakes and other pieces. The historic bridge, always a popular attraction at the park, needed to be restored. Fortunately, a work crew from the District 8 Pennsylvania Trappers Association volunteered to assist with the disassembly of the displaced bridge pieces. The main job was to remove intact as many of the bridge timbers as possible, catalog, and number them for future restoration. The volunteers, assisted by park personnel, managed to salvage most of the major formed bridge timbers and approximately 80 percent of the roof shakes. Restoration began in earnest in September 1996, with design assistance provided by the DCNR's Bureau of Facility Design and Construction. Using as many original materials as possible, local contractor Stephen F. Peters Inc., assisted by volunteers and park staff, restored the integrity of the original construction of the 82-feet-long and 15-foot-wide Burr truss bridge with a shake roof. (Contributed by Denise Kelly, DCNR's Bureau of Facility Design and Construction) Upgrades underway at Archbald Pothole State Park "The history of the earth's creation is written in unmistakable characters in its formation." So noted Edward Jones about the world's largest glacial pothole, located in Archbald Pothole State Park in Lackawanna County. Jones, geologist and coal operator, reported the discovery of the pothole to state geologists. Now, 113 years later, work continues to improve the site access and appearance. DCNR's Bureau of Facility Design and Construction and contractors have redesigned the parking area, constructed a concrete walkway to the pothole overlook and around the perimeter of the pothole, and landscaped to complement the natural character of the site. Gradation of the main entrance road, a new entrance gate and a three-panel interpretive kiosk will complete the renovation. The park is scheduled to reopen this spring. The kiosk will provide sorely-needed interpretation; the last interpretive signs were vandalized over 20 years ago. The kiosk's first panel will highlight the geology of the pothole, describing and illustrating the formation of the 38-foot deep and 42-foot wide pothole created during the ice age more than 15,000 years ago. The second panel will explain link the discovery to the area's coal mining heritage. The last panel will focus on the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority's purpose and link the park to several other area attractions in the Heritage Valley. Additionally, a 200-acre mine reclamation project, coordinated by the Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, has been designed for the rear of the park and will eventually house soccer and ball fields. These improvements, proposed by Rep. Edward Staback and coordinated by DCNR, will help attract more park visitors and deter vandalism, which has been a problem since the pothole was discovered. For more information about Archbald Pothole State Park, contact Lackawanna State Park at (717) 945-3239 or at lackawanna.sp@a1.dcnr.state.pa.us. (Contributed by Angela Lambert, environmental education specialist at Lackawanna State Park.) Diversity Diary, by Bob Hill, DCNR biodiversity coordinator The full range of ecological communities, as well as the variety of species, and genetic variation are all a part of the concept of biological diversity, or "biodiversity." From a practical perspective, it is important to manage land for the optimum number of community types and landscape features. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry is committed to this type of management. Our Biodiversity Conservation Policy states, "The conservation of biological diversity will be a primary consideration in land acquisitions, and designation of natural areas, special management areas and public plant sanctuaries." This is important, too, for those designing county or municipal parks, greenways, or other natural areas. It also is a good guiding principle for school districts constructing "outdoor" learning environments on school property. A few things to look for when acquiring or planning areas for outdoor recreation, aesthetics, or education are: Wooded areas. Pennsylvania has many different forest community types. Native hardwood forests include varieties of maples, oaks, cherry, ash, beech, birch, hickory, walnut, and tulip poplar. These areas often have a rich understory of shrubs and flowering plants. Spring can be a special time in our forests for fun, adventure and discovery. Wetlands (for example, spring seeps, marshes, bogs, swamps, and wet areas). Of increasing interest and concern are Pennsylvania's wetland habitats. These areas are vital for sedimentation and erosion control, to prevent flooding, and as places that "clean up" polluted water. Some folks consider them "the ecosystem's kidneys." Aquascapes. In addition to landscape features, waterscapes are very important. They include streams, creeks, ponds or lakes. In Pennsylvania, about 56% of our wetlands have been lost since 1780. What impact do you think this has had on plants and animals that inhabit them? More than 67% of our flora and fauna in our state are wetland dependent. In addition to the "natural environments" mentioned above, landscape diversity also should include "built environments." The following can richly add to landscape diversity: fence rows, brush piles, unmowed meadows that were once lawns or farm fields, compost piles, flower and vegetable gardens, nesting boxes, feeding stations, bat boxes, and blinds to view the richness of nature. EVENTS February Feb. 10-Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Committee meeting, 10 a.m., Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg. Contact: Kurt Leitholf, (717) 705-0031. Feb. 13-Delaware Canal Advisory Committee meeting, Delaware Canal State Park. Contact Ken Lewis, (610) 982-5560 Feb. 21-Annual meeting of the Presque Isle Partnership. Gov. Ridge scheduled to speak, noon, Presque Isle State Park, Erie. Contact: (814) 838-5138 Feb. 28-DCNR House Appropriation Hearing, 3:30 p.m., Majority Caucus Room. Contact: Joe Graci, (717) 772-9101. March March 2-4 - Pennsylvania Parks and Recreation Society Annual Conference, Seven Springs. Contact: Larry Williamson, (717) 783-2658. March 6-DCNR Senate Appropriations meeting, 10:30 a.m. Senate Majority Caucus Room. Contact: Joe Graci, (717)772-9101. March 10-Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Committee meeting, 10 a.m., Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg. Contact: Kurt Leitholf, (717) 705-0031 | E-mail | DCNR Home | Search |