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March 21, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 8 DCNR announces $3.2 million in Keystone land trust grants Standing amidst nearly 250 acres of serpentine barrens in southern Lancaster County March 20, DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver announced 25 grants totaling $3.2 million to land trust organizations and conservancies for the planning and protection of critical habitat and open space areas across the Commonwealth. "As our communities continue to grow and prosper, they are finding it more critical than ever to protect their priceless natural assets. Once lost, they are lost forever," Oliver said. "We are standing in the second largest completely undisturbed and unprotected rare serpentine barrens. Thanks to a $240,000 DCNR grant, this special area and its rare species will be protected." The Keystone Land Trust program, administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is part of the Ridge Administration's Community Conservation Partnership initiative - a four-year, $75 million grant and technical assistance program that provides funding to help communities and nonprofit organizations conserve natural and cultural resources, provide outdoor recreation, enhance tourism and foster community economic development. Funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act, the grant program provides up to 50 percent of the cost of the project, with the applicant providing the other half through matching funds. Land trust organizations working with local governments will acquire more than 2,300 acres of land with these grants. Since the program began in 1995, more than $9 million in Keystone funding has been approved to assist with acquisition of almost 8,700 acres. In addition to the grant awarded to The Nature Conservancy for the Rocks Springs Serpentine Barrens, Oliver announced the following awards: Regional The Nature Conservancy and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $15,000 each to develop model site designs and to provide training and technical assistance to other land trust organizations for the protection of high biodiversity sites in eastern and western Pennsylvania. Allegheny County Hollow Oak Land Trust, $40,000 for the acquisition of 30 acres along Meeks Run in Moon Township. Bedford County Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $52,000 for the acquisition of 113 acres along Sideling Hill Creek in Mann Township. Berks County Berks County Conservancy, $155,000 for the acquisition of 130 acres in the South Mountain region along Texter Mountain Road in South Heidelberg Township. Chester County Brandywine Valley Association, $55,000 for the acquisition of 20 acres adjacent to the Myrick Conservation Center in Pocopson Township; Natural Lands Trust, $100,000 for the acquisition of 20 acres to expand the natural area known as Crow's Nest Preserve in Warwick Township; $75,000 for the acquisition of a conservation easement on 90 acres of serpentine woodlands along Octoraro Creek in West Nottingham Township; and $95,000 for the acquisition of 60 acres in a proposed 600-acre woodland nature preserve at the headwaters of Buck Run in Sadsbury and West Caln townships; The Nature Conservancy, $100,000 for the acquisition of 62 acres along Barren Brook in Elk Township for the expansion of the Chrome Barren Preserve; Open Land Conservancy, $80,000 for the acquisition of seven acres near North Valley Road in Tredyffrin Township for an addition to the Valley Creek Preserve. Clarion County Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, $550,000 for the acquisition of 525 acres along the Clarion River corridor in Clarion, Elk, and Jefferson counties between Cook Forest State Park and Little Toby Creek. Cumberland County Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, $275,000 for the acquisition of the 15-acre Seven Gables tract located off York Street (Rt. 74) in Carlisle Borough and South Middleton Township. Delaware County Natural Lands Trust, $275,000 for the acquisition of a conservation easement on 37 acres along Beatty Run and Ridley Creek in Nether Providence Township. Lancaster County Lancaster County Conservancy, $25,000 for the acquisition of 30 acres along Fishing Creek Road in Drumore Township to expand the Fishing Creek Nature Preserve; The Nature Conservancy, $220,000 for the acquisition of 105 acres in West Cocalico Township for expansion of the Acopian Preserve natural area. Luzerne County Wildlands Conservancy, $240,000 for the acquisition of a 600-acre natural area along Penobscot Mountain Ridge adjacent to Interstate 81 in Rice Township. Monroe County Buck Hill Conservation Foundation, $80,000 for the acquisition of a 150-acre natural area along Buck Hill Creek, known as Buck Hill Falls and Jenkins Woods in Barrett Township; and $9,000 to inventory natural resources and prepare a conservation plan for the Buck Hill Falls Watershed. Montgomery County Natural Lands Trust, $14,000 to prepare a conservation plan for protection of open space and natural areas in the Unami Hills area of Salford, Upper Salford, and Marlborough townships; Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, $350,000 for the acquisition of 83 acres in Lower Moreland Township to expand the Pennypack Wilderness Preserve; Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, $50,000 for the acquisition of eight acres along the Wissahickon Creek and DeKalb Pike in Lower Gwynedd Township. Westmoreland County Scott Conservancy, $90,000 for the acquisition of a 96-acre natural area located off Crowfoot Road in Murrysville. $1 billion growth in tourist spending cited in recent report Gov. Tom Ridge recently issued the results of a U.S. Travel Data Center survey which showed a 5.1 percent increase in the economic impact of tourism - the state's second largest industry. The report from the Washington-based center indicates a $1 billion jump to $20.5 billion in Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1995 in domestic and international traveler spending. The number of jobs created as a result of tourism activity and traveler spending in Pennsylvania also grew steadily in 1995, increasing from 368,800 jobs to 376,100 jobs, according to the survey. "Tourism is a magnet industry that attracts economic activity and creates jobs," Ridge said. "We're creating new jobs for Pennsylvanians by expanding tourism through a new regional alliance between state government, regional tourism agencies and private-sector businesses." Barbara Chaffee, Executive Director of Pennsylvania's Office of Travel, Tourism and Film Promotion, said, "Under the theme Pennsylvania Memories Last a Lifetime,' the Ridge Administration has been able to achieve our 5 percent growth goal, which matches the national average, and was established by the Administration as its goal last year." DCNR has joined forces with the state's travel and tourism efforts to promote Pennsylvania's natural, historical, cultural and recreational resources available in state parks, forests, heritage parks, trails, and rivers. Last year, DCNR assessed all of its facilities to determine their tourism potential. The agency also helped produce new outdoors and heritage supplements for the Pennsylvania Visitors Guide. DCNR's tourism initiative for 1997 includes: working with local tourist promotion agencies on regional outdoor recreation guides; obtaining private sponsorship of promotional publications; developing consistent signage and regulations across bureaus and resource agencies. Gov. Ridge proclaims wildfire prevention week In an effort to reduce the amount of acreage destroyed by wildfires each year, Gov. Tom Ridge has designated March 16-22 as Wildfire Prevention Week. "Pennsylvania's bountiful woodlands blanket nearly 19.5 million acres of the state, providing habitat for many species, and providing recreational opportunities, scenic areas, timber, and clean water for all Pennsylvanians," Ridge said. "Wildfire prevention week is a time to reflect upon the circumstances that put our property, lives and ecosystems at risk, so that we may be better able to prevent wildfires." About 98 percent of wildfires are caused by people. Each year thousands of acres of Pennsylvania's forests and fields are burned by wildfires, posing a danger to people, homes and wildlife. Most wildfires occur in the spring when weather conditions allow the forest to dry out quickly. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) notes that one of the most common causes of wildfires is the careless burning of trash. Wildfires can start in a backyard and travel quickly through dead grass and weeds bordering woodlands. Improperly extinguished campfires also are a cause of wildfires. "The risk of wildfire has increased this year due to this winter's low levels of precipitation," State Forester James R. Grace said. "Leaves and debris on the forest floor, which have not been compressed by a heavy snowpack, are dry and can be easily ignited. This condition represents a serious threat for our forest lands." DCNR advises landowners in forested areas of the state to protect their property by creating a "safe zone" around homes and cabins. Dead leaves and pine needles should be removed from roofs and gutters; branches that hang over rooftops should be trimmed; and firewood should not be stacked against structures. Grace noted that hundreds of volunteer forest firefighters sacrifice their time and safety to protect homes, people and woodlands. Volunteer forest firefighters must complete special training to be qualified to fight wildfires. In the past, many Pennsylvania forest firefighters have assisted other states in the suppression of large fires. Persons seeking more information on fire prevention activities should contact their local district forester or DCNR's Bureau of Forestry at (717) 787-2925. Governor's senior counselor receives award The Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society (PRPS) presented Gov. Ridge's senior counselor Patrick Solano with its Governmental Award in Seven Springs March 4. The award honors Mr. Solano's work to promote recreation and environmental conservation in Pennsylvania. Prior to his appointment as senior counselor, Solano served as acting Secretary to DCNR until the current secretary, John C. Oliver, was confirmed. "You have been chosen to receive the award for your leadership, dedication, and commitment to protecting and improving state and local parks, recreation, and open space," PRPS Governmental Affairs Chairman Daniel Dinunzio said. PRPS 's mission is to promote the proliferation and enhancement of park, recreation, and conservation opportunities in Pennsylvania. Membership in PRPS exceeds 2000 people. "I believe that public/private partnering is absolutely essential in our joint efforts to accomplish our mission," Solano said. "I have always strived to engage the members of the General Assembly, state agencies, and the private sector into one cohesive working force." PRPS presents awards each spring at their annual conference to professionals, volunteers and government officials who have done exemplary work in park, recreation, and conservation enhancement. Walled tents are new addition at Ohiopyle State Park Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County has added three new walled tents to its selection of overnight accommodations at the park. Designed to be a step up from a regular tent, but more rustic than a cabin, the 12-by-14-foot tents are supported by wooden platforms, allowing the interior of the tents to stay dry and the floor to be carpeted. The walled tents have special protective covers that shield visitors from the elements, even while dining outdoors. The tents also have a screen door and two screened windows, five mattresses, electricity and an electric light. Each site is provided with a picnic table and fire ring. The walled tents are available to rent from March through October. Reservations are not required, but are recommended for the summer months and weekends during the spring and fall due to limited availability. Walled tent rentals for Pennsylvania residents on a Friday or Saturday night cost $26, non-resident $29; Sunday through Thursday nights, $23 for residents, $28 for non-residents. Special weekly rates for the walled tents are $144 for residents and $170 for non-residents. Ohiopyle State Park is Pennsylvania's second largest state park with 19,052 acres, and its third most visited park, accommodating nearly 2 million visitors yearly. During the summer season, visitors may choose to whitewater raft on a section of the Youghiogheny River, explore the many overlooks and botanical habitats, or bike along a 28-mile bicycle path. Ohiopyle also offers opportunities for hiking; mountain biking; picnicking; camping; fishing; hunting; sledding; cross-country skiing; environmental education and interpretation; and backpacking. Laurel Hill State Park and Kooser State Park in Somerset County will be adding walled tents to their overnight accommodation selection this summer. Persons interested in making reservations at Ohiopyle can contact the park at (412) 329-8591. Those looking for general state parks information can call 1-800-63-PARKS, or visit DCNR's world wide web page at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us. The Delaware Estuary Education Institute... ...A multi-state, multi-department partnership for the Delaware Estuary The departments of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Environmental Protection (DEP) and Education have joined forces through funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to develop an educational partnership for the Delaware Estuary. DEP asked Estelle Ruppert, program coordinator for DCNR's Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, to recommend successful strategies for educational initiatives in the Delaware Estuary. Based on Jacobsburg's successful teacher/student watershed initiative, called the Delaware River Watershed Education Consortium, Ms. Ruppert's recommendations included the development of a teacher/student network focused on the estuary, along with a week-long summer institute, an annual student conference, data sharing network and monthly teacher training. Funding was approved, and the Delaware Estuary Education Program was born. The Delaware Estuary program involves over 20 nonprofit and government representatives from three states working together to develop the first Delaware Estuary Education Institute, to be held July 13-19, 1997. The Institute will focus on past, present and future impacts of the estuary's resources, including wetland ecology, water quality, geology, fisheries, transportation, regional planning, agriculture, industry, cultures and social systems. The program is focused for 6th through 12th grade teachers in the 22 counties of the Delaware River Watershed and will encourage continued networking among participants throughout the year. For more information contact Estelle Ruppert, Program Coordinator, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, 610-746-2806 or e-mail at jacobsburg.sp@a1.dcnr.state.pa.us. Women plan Pa. expedition for the environment The Audubon Council of Pennsylvania is sponsoring a group of women from various ethnic and occupational backgrounds to explore Pennsylvania's outdoors by bike, foot, and canoe for three weeks this spring, beginning April 18. Their tour, the "Women's Expedition for the Environment," will strive to unite people interested in a broad range of conservation and women's issues, including personal health, the economic and health benefits of environmental protection, recreation, environmental education, and the role of women in the history of environmental protection. Timed to coincide with the return of migrating birds and Earth Day, the tour will use Pennsylvania's copious natural resources to demonstrate to its participants human dependence on nature in both a physical and spiritual sense. The group will traverse the lower half of the state, starting in Pittsburgh and ending abreast the Delaware River in New Hope. Along the way, participants will visit several state forests and parks. In addition to strenuous exercise, members of the expedition will take time to discuss issues and learn about the environments they encounter. The Women's Expedition for the Environment welcomes interested parties to join them on any section of their journey. The group also is seeking sponsors to help fund portions of the trip. For more information, write to Women's Expedition for the Environment, Audubon Council of Pennsylvania, 1104 Fernwood Ave, #300, Camp Hill, Pa, 17011; send an e-mail to mmowery@audubon.org; or check out their website at www.bikemap.com/we2/we2.html. Does the Allegheny River flow past New Orleans (Or does the Mississippi River flow through Pittsburgh?) Look at a map of the United States and you will see the Mississippi River flowing from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans. The Ohio River starts at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in Pittsburgh and flows into the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois. But, is this correct? Is the Ohio a tributary of the Mississippi, or vice versa? Where two rivers join, how is it determined which is the trunk river and which is the tributary? As mentioned in the PBS series, "On the Waterways," many people from Pittsburgh to Cairo believe the Ohio River makes a bend to the south at Cairo and continues on to New Orleans. Which river, the Ohio or the Mississippi, is the trunk at Cairo and which is the tributary? Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines tributary as "a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake." At Cairo, the flow in the Mississippi River at 228,490 cfs (cubic feet per second) is only about two-thirds the flow of the Ohio River at 322,461 cfs. The Ohio is clearly the main river and the upper Mississippi is the tributary. It appears that the river that empties into the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans, is not the Mississippi, but is it the Ohio River? The same maps that show the Mississippi River passing New Orleans will also show the Ohio beginning at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Why is neither the Allegheny nor Monongahela considered the upstream extension of the Ohio? The Indians and the French considered the Allegheny and Ohio to be the same river, with the Monongahela a tributary. The French applied a single name, "La Belle Riviere," to the combined Allegheny - Ohio. Applying Webster's definition for determining trunk and tributary at a confluence, as we did for the Ohio - Mississippi at Cairo, the French appear to be correct. The Allegheny is the larger of the two rivers at the Point, with a mean discharge of 20,000 cfs versus 12,000 cfs for the Monongahela. The Allegheny - Ohio- lower Mississippi River is a single 2,266-mile-long river! The geologic origin also implies that the Allegheny and Ohio are the same river. The Allegheny, like the Ohio, was created by the joining of a number of separate rivers (including the preglacia Monongahela) by a process known as stream piracy and by glacial lake overflow during the Ice Age. Hence, the valley of the combined Allegheny - Ohio roughly parallels the Ice Age glacial borders in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The general southwestern orientation of the Allegheny and Ohio rivers also suggests that they are the same stream. The Monongahela, on the other hand, flows north to its confluence with the Allegheny - Ohio. Why the three segments of this river were given different names is unclear. What is clear, is that the largest river in North America starts as a tiny rivulet in Potter County, Pa. (Contributed by Gary M. Fleeger, PG, DCNR's Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey) Diversity Diary by Bob Hill, DCNR's biodiversity coordinator One of Pennsylvania's least known legislative acts is Public Law 144, Number 79-otherwise known as the "Bird Day Act." For nearly 30 years the Vernal Equinox falling around March 21 has come and gone with nature watchers celebrating various rites of spring. However, few folks are aware of Pennsylvania's recognition of the importance of birds on this day. By an act of the state General Assembly, Pennsylvania's Bird Day Act "urges citizens and residents of this Commonwealth to devote a part [of each March 21] to the study of birds in order to become more aware of the beauty and usefulness of birds frequenting this Commonwealth." Birds are valuable components of the ecosystem and are an indicator of ecosystem health. As native habitats are altered, the numbers and kinds of birds that are dependent upon them change. For instance, the loss of wetlands has had a dramatic effect on wetland-associated species. Birds help illustrate the ecological principle of "interconnectedness." Many of the migratory species that winter-over in tropical forests spend their summers with us in Penn's Woods. There is some evidence that declining numbers of these "neotropical migrants" are due to habitat destruction and pesticide use south of our border. This spring, in honor of PA Bird Day, why not thank a feathered friend for the ecoservices they provide, which include predation of pests such as rodents and insects, and consumption of weed seeds. Gifts that birds freely give, not measurable in monetary terms, include beautifying our world with colorful displays; cheerful, majestic or comical antics; and melodious songs. Your thanks can take several forms like freshening up an old bird box, setting out a feeding station or bird-feeder, or filling an existing one with seeds. March 22-Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation's "Conservationist of the Year" Awards Banquet (Secretary Oliver, Recipient), Holiday Inn, Allentown. Contact: Nancy Reed, (717) 787-2869. March 23-25-Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Conference, Holiday Inn, Grantsville. Contact: Cindy Dunn (717) 772-9087. April 4-Review Course for the Pennsylvania Professional Geologist Licensing Examination, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, New Cumberland. Contact: Rose Jeffries (717) 238- 1222. April 10-Ecosystem Management Advisory Committee (Tentative) State College. Contact: Susan Kline, (717) 787-2703. April 14-Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Committee meeting, 10 a.m. Rachel Carson State Office Building, rm. 105, Harrisburg. Contact Kurt Leitholf, (717) 705-0031. April 22-Pine Creek Rails-to-Trail Advisory Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. Waterville. Contact: Dan Devlin (717) 787-3444. April 27-29-Governor's Conference on Greenways and Trails, Radisson Hotel, Harrisburg. Contact: Vanyla Tierney, (717) 783-2654. April 27-30-Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Hershey Lodge, Hershey. Contact: Cindy Dunn, (717) 772-9087.
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