The Glades Wildlife Area - Exceptional significance

PNDI Rank1 Legal Status1 State Last species or natural community name Global State (Proposed) Seen Quality2

American coot (Fulica americana) G5 S3B,S3N N (CR) 1992 E Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) G5 S3B N (CA) 1986 E Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) G5 S2B PT 2008 E Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) G5 S3B,S4N N (CR) 2004 E Lance-tipped darner (Aeshna constricta) G5 S3S4 N 2008 E Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) G5 S2S3 N 2007 E Slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta) G5 S3S4 N 2007 E Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) G4 S3 N 2008 E Black dash (Euphyes conspicuus) G4 S3 N 2006 E Bronze copper (Lycaena hyllus) G5 S3 N 2006 E Bebb's sedge (Carex bebbii) G5 S1 PE (PE) 2008 E Featherbells (Stenanthium gramineum) G4G5 S3 N (R) 2009 E Sensitive species of concern A3 S ------2008 E Sensitive species of concern B3 S ------2010 E Sensitive species of concern C3 S ------2004 B Sensitive species of concern D3 S ------2007 E

1 = Please refer to Appendix I for an explanation of PNHP ranks and legal status 2 = Please refer to Appendix II for an explanation of quality ranks 3 = This species is not named by request of the jurisdictional agency responsible for its protection

This site is centered on Glade Dam Lake, which was created by damming the South Branch of Slippery Rock Creek to form a large fluctuating impoundment. Surrounding the lake is a complex of emergent wetlands, shrub swamps, and palustrine forest, and surrounding the wetlands is an area of second- and third- growth forest, old fields, and mowed fields which provide diverse habitats for many game and non-game species.

The open water and the surrounding wetlands support nesting pairs of the Threatened osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and another sensitive species of concern, which cannot be named at the request of the jurisdictional agency overseeing its protection. The marshes around the lake support three marsh-nesting bird species of concern, including American coot (Fulica americana), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), which are all considered Vulnerable in Pennsylvania. Kip Lee These wetlands also support three dragonfly species of American coot concern, including lance-tipped darner (Aeshna constricta), Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina), and slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta). All three of these dragonflies are considered Vulnerable in Pennsylvania.

Wetlands in the Glades also support three butterfly species of concern. The black dash (Euphyes conspicuus) is a small orange skipper whose caterpillars eat tussock sedge (Carex stricta) and perhaps other sedges. The Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) is a boldly marked black and orange butterfly whose caterpillars eat turtlehead (Chelone glabra). The bronze copper (Lycaena hyllus) is a wetland butterfly whose caterpillars eat several species of dock (Rumex spp.) and smartweed (Polygonum spp.) All three of these butterfly species are considered Vulnerable in Pennsylvania.

A wet meadow supports a population of Bebb’s sedge (Carex bebbii), a Pennsylvania Endangered plant generally found in open calcareous habitats. The same area also supports the sedge sprite ( irene), a tiny usually found in sphagnum- dominated bogs and fens. Though not a species of conservation concern, this is the only recent Butler County record of this uncommon species. Together, these two species indicate that this area could be a degraded fen. Fens, quite rare in Pennsylvania, are seepage wetlands, underlain by accumulations of peat, usually with calcareous hydrology. Although the area has been highly disturbed in the past by agriculture, oil drilling, and stream impoundment, there may be potential for other fen species to still exist here.

Another wet meadow supports featherbells (Stenanthium gramineum), a Pennsylvania Rare plant.

The Glades Wildlife Area supports three additional sensitive species of concern, which cannot be named at the request of the jurisdictional agencies overseeing their protection. PNHP Woods, Peter Bebb’s sedge, a calcium-loving plant Threats and Stresses Nearly all of the species of concern here depend on wetlands or open water, so any impairment of water quality could be detrimental to many of these species. Turbidity and siltation from agriculture have impaired the streams in the eastern half of the watershed. Although there has been much surface mining of coal within the supporting landscape, the streams within the site are not Impaired from abandoned mine drainage (AMD). Immediately below Glade Dam Lake, however, the South Branch of Slippery Rock Creek is Impaired by AMD.

Marsh nesting birds depend on the water levels being low enough in the spring and summer for robust emergent marsh vegetation to develop. Current management uses drawdowns of the water level to let this happen, but for the past several years there has been heavy precipitation, which prevented the water level from dropping enough to create good habitat for these species. For another of the sensitive species of concern, water levels in certain wetlands must be stable during the winter.

In the past, hedgerows of multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) were planted here to provide food for birds. Unfortunately these species are invasive and crowd out native plants. Carp are present in Glade Dam Lake. These invasive fish damage vegetation and native fish populations.

Conservation Recommendations

Forested stream corridors are key to maintaining high water quality. In the upstream watershed, timbering, road development, gas drilling, or other construction activities should be kept well away from riparian corridors in order to avoid degrading important aquatic and streamside habitat within the tributaries flowing into Glade Dam Lake. Hydrology should be maintained, and management to maintain marsh habitat should continue. Invasive species should be monitored and controlled.

Additional surveys are needed to better understand the distribution of the invertebrate species of concern. Additional surveys around the area where the Bebb’s sedge and sphagnum sprite were found are needed to determine if the wetland is a fen, and if other species of concern associated with this type of habitat are present. Further botanical surveys of the area may yield more records of featherbells, or possibly bunchflower (Veratrum virginicum), which grows nearby at the Christy Run at Calico Road site.

Location: Municipalities: Cherry, Concord, and Townships USGS 1:24,000 topographic quadrangle: West Sunbury, Hilliards 1991 Butler CNHI reference: The Glades Wildlife Area

Ryan Miller, PNHP Glade Dam Lake