Bedford County Natural Heritage Inventory, 1998
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BEDFORD COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY Prepared for: The Bedford County Planning Commission Russell Building, 203 S. Juliana Street Bedford, PA 15522 Prepared by: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 209 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 September 1998 This project was funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission under the Grant Agreement #GA-4174-6-0024 and by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Cover illustration: Topographic Settings map of Bedford County – hilltop upper slope lower slope valley bottom . Source: Bedford County Planning Commission. Printed on recycled paper PREFACE The Bedford County Natural Heritage Inventory identifies and maps Bedford County’s most significant natural places. The study investigated plant and animal species and natural communities that are unique or uncommon in the county; it also explored areas important for general wildlife habitat and scientific study. The inventory does not confer protection to any of the areas listed in the report. It is, however, a tool for informed and responsible decision-making. Public and private organizations may use the inventory to guide land acquisition and conservation decisions. Local municipalities and the County may use it to help with comprehensive planning, zoning and the review of development proposals. Developers, utility companies and government agencies alike may benefit from access to this environmental information prior to the creation of detailed development plans. Although the inventory was conducted using a tested and proven methodology, it is best viewed as a preliminary report rather than the final word on the subject of Bedford County’s natural heritage. Further investigations could potentially uncover previously unidentified Natural Heritage Areas. Likewise, in-depth investigations of sites listed in this report could reveal features of further or greater significance than have been documented. Some of the areas described here are privately owned. In such cases, anyone wishing to visit these areas should obtain permission from the property owner(s) prior to visitation. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy served as the principal investigator for the study and prepared the report and maps that are the products of the study. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is a private, non-profit, conservation organization which protects natural lands, promotes healthy communities, and preserves Fallingwater. Any questions concerning sites or updates to the inventory may be addressed to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 209 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; phone: (412)288- 2777. The Bedford County Planning Commission administered this study. Requests for copies of the inventory can be addressed to the Bedford County Planning Commission, Russell Building, 203 S. Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522, phone: (814) 623-4827. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to acknowledge the many citizens and landowners of the county and surrounding areas who volunteered information, time, and effort to the inventory and granted permission to access land. We especially thank Jeffry Kloss and Frank Burrgraf of the Bedford County Planning Commission, Terry Miller from the County Conservation District, Rob Knight of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dave Koppenhaver and Rob Criswell of the PA Game Commission, Steve Wacker of the PA Bureau of Forestry, Bill Plank of the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, and Carol Loeffler of Dickenson College. It would be impossible to name and thank all individuals that contributed, but without their help, the inventory would not have been completed. Jeffrey D. Wagner Community Ecologist Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE................................................................................................................. I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................II RESULTS .................................................................................................................1 COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORIES .......................................19 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................19 NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................20 NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY METHODS...............................................................................23 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS ............25 Natural Heritage Areas............................................................................................................25 Other Recommendations..........................................................................................................26 OVERVIEW OF BEDFORD COUNTY NATURAL FEATURES..................28 RESULTS BY U.S.G.S. QUADRANGLE ...........................................................32 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................32 Entriken....................................................................................................................................36 Saxton.......................................................................................................................................39 Wells Tannery .........................................................................................................................43 Breezewood ..............................................................................................................................46 Martinsburg.............................................................................................................................49 Hopewell ..................................................................................................................................52 Everett East .............................................................................................................................59 Mench......................................................................................................................................64 Amaranth.................................................................................................................................68 Bellegrove ................................................................................................................................72 Roaring Springs ......................................................................................................................77 New Enterprise.........................................................................................................................80 Everett West .............................................................................................................................83 Clearville..................................................................................................................................88 Chaneysville ............................................................................................................................92 Chaneysville.............................................................................................................................95 Artemas..................................................................................................................................101 Blue Knob..............................................................................................................................105 Alum Bank.............................................................................................................................109 Bedford ..................................................................................................................................115 Rainsburg ..............................................................................................................................126 Beans Cove ............................................................................................................................132 Flintstone...............................................................................................................................143 Beaverdale .............................................................................................................................149 Ogletown................................................................................................................................152 Schellsburg ............................................................................................................................157 Buffalo Mills .........................................................................................................................161 iii Hyndman ...............................................................................................................................165 Evitts Creek ...........................................................................................................................173 Central City ...........................................................................................................................177 New Baltimore.......................................................................................................................180