Allegheny County Natural Heritage Inventory, 1994
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ALLEGHENY COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY Prepared for: The Allegheny County Board of Commissioners Tom Foerster, Chairman Pete Flaherty Larry Dunn Project Management: Allegheny County Planning Department Raymond L. Reaves, Director Andrew M. Loza, Project Manager Prepared by: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania February 1994 This study was developed in part with financial assistance provided through the Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act Program (RIRA Grant # RIRA-TAG-8-2), as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Printed on recycled paper PREFACE The Allegheny County Natural Heritage Inventory identifies and maps Allegheny County's most significant natural areas. The study investigated plant and animal species and communities that are unique or uncommon in Allegheny County; it also explored areas important for general wildlife habitat, education and scientific study. The inventory does not confer protection on any of the areas listed here. 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 detailed development plans being made. 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 Allegheny County's natural heritage. Further investigations could potentially uncover a few previously unidentified Natural Heritage Areas. Likewise, in-depth investigations of sites listed in this report could reveal greater natural wealth than has been documented here. The reader should remember that many of the areas described here are privately-owned. In such cases, permission should be obtained from the property owner(s) prior to any attempt to visit these areas. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy was the principal investigator for the study, as well as the preparer of the report and maps. The Conservancy is a private, non-profit, natural resource conservation organization. Any questions concerning sites or updates to the inventory may be addressed to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 316 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; phone: (412)288-2777. The study was managed by the Allegheny County Planning Department. Requests for copies of the inventory can be addressed to the Allegheny County Planning Department, 441 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2219. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Financial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs and the County of Allegheny. Individuals representing several agencies and organizations that contributed valuable information and time include Dick Belding, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Doug France, Allegheny County Conservation District; and John Doyle, Allegheny County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation at South Park. Special thanks to the staff of the Allegheny County Planning Department for the production of graphics for the report and overall cooperation and assistance with the inventory; Kathy Mandrell and the staff at the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service for their assistance and use of aerial photographs; Gerald Sides and Steve Robbins for their aerial reconnaissance skills; Roy Kraynyk for the use of his boat and time on the Allegheny River; the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service for a copy of the Allegheny County Soil Survey; the many municipal secretaries and staff that assisted in attaining land ownership information; and to the many citizens and landowners of Allegheny County who volunteered information, time, and effort to the inventory and granted permission to access land. It would be impossible to name and thank all individuals that contributed, but without their help much of the inventory would not have been completed. Lisa L. Smith Natural Heritage Ecologist Western Pennsylvania Conservancy iii ALLEGHENY COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY OF RESULTS 1 COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORIES Introduction 22 Natural Heritage Areas Classification 23 Natural Heritage Inventory Methods 31 General Recommendations for the Protection of Natural Heritage Areas 34 Natural Heritage Areas 34 Other Recommendations 36 OVERVIEW OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY NATURAL FEATURES Introduction 42 Physiology, Geology and Soils 42 Vegetation 43 RESULTS BY U.S.G.S. QUADRANGLE Introduction 47 Natural Heritage Areas 47 Quadrangle: Baden 52 Mars 55 Valencia 59 Curtisville 62 Freeport 66 New Kensington East 72 New Kensington West 76 Glenshaw 94 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) Emsworth 106 Ambridge 114 Aliquippa 122 Clinton 125 Oakdale 128 Pittsburgh West 134 Pittsburgh East 138 Braddock 142 Murrysville 147 McKeesport 151 Glassport 155 Bridgeville 160 Canonsburg 165 Monongahela 168 Donora 171 REFERENCES 174 APPENDICES I. County Significance Ranks 179 II. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) 180 III. Natural Heritage Site Recommendation Form 181 IV. Site Survey Form 182 V. Classification of Natural Communities in Pennsylvania (Draft) 184 VI. Federal and State Endangered Species Categories, Global and State Element Ranks 187 a. Federal Status 187 b. Pennsylvania Status 189 c. Global and State Ranking: Global Element Ranks 193 d. Global and State Ranking: State Element Ranks 195 VII. Resource Agencies for Allegheny County 197 v LIST OF TABLES page 1. Summary of Natural Heritage Areas in order of relative county significance. 2 2. Summary of sites by municipality. 8 3. Dedicated Areas protecting biotic resources in Allegheny County. 18 4. Natural Heritage Areas, Managed Lands, and Geologic Features/Fossil Localities of Allegheny County. 19 LIST OF FIGURES page 1. U.S.G.S. quadrangle map index of Allegheny County 50 2. Landscape Conservation Areas in Allegheny County 51 vi SUMMARY OF RESULTS This section presents the results of the Natural Heritage Inventory for Allegheny County, summarized in tabular form. Table 1 lists Natural Heritage Areas in order of significance category and provides a brief description of the important features of the area. Table 2 lists Natural Heritage Areas by the municipality(ies) in which they are located. As an aid to those wishing to find an area contained within a particular municipality, the U.S.G.S. quadrangle names in which the areas are discussed in the report accompany the Natural Heritage Area names. A table of Dedicated Areas ends this section and supplies a list and description of those areas which are dedicated to the protection of ecological resources in the county. This section ends with a table that lists the sites under each natural heritage category. 1 Table 1: Summary of Natural Heritage Areas in order of relative county significance. The Natural Heritage Areas that have qualified for inclusion in this report are ranked according to their significance as areas of importance to the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the county. Also included in this evaluation is the level of state and/or global significance ("S" or "G" rank) of each site. The three county significance ranks are Exceptional, High, and Notable significance. The three county ranks have been used to prioritize all identified sites and suggest the relative attention that sites should receive for the amount, degree and rate of protection (for a full explanation of these items, see Appendix I). The sites are in alphabetical order for each significance level. Designation as to type of Natural Heritage Area (NA=Natural Area, BDA=Biological Diversity Area, DA=Dedicated Area, LCA=Landscape Conservation Area, OHA=Other Heritage Area) is included as part of the site name. Refer to the "Natural Heritage Areas Classification" section of the report for explanations of these site categories. SITE QUADRANGLE DESCRIPTION EXCEPTIONAL Big and Little Ambridge Landscape Conservation Area that Sewickley Creek LCA Baden encompasses a watershed of a High Emsworth Quality stream, as well as a large Mars tract of highly diverse forest as a biological designated Diversity area. Campmeeting Woods BDA Ambridge Within the Big and Little Sewickley Creek LCA, this Biological Diversity Area represents one of the largest, most contiguous forest in the county. Diversity of habitats and plant and animal species is high. A Mesic Central Forest and a Medium- Gradient Clearwater Creek Community are identified Crouse Run Valley BDA Glenshaw Mesic Central Forest Community and site for a state listed plant species 2 SITE QUADRANGLE DESCRIPTION EXCEPTIONAL (CONT.) Deer Creek Valley BDA New Kensington West Best example of Floodplain Forest in the county. Also significant examples of a mature Mesic Central Forest and Dry-Mesic Acidic Central Forest communities. High community and species diversity; unfortunately site is somewhat fragmented and disturbed Harrison Hills BDA Freeport Steep slopes along the Allegheny River which provide conditions for a Dry Mesic Acidic Central Forest and Mesic Central Forest Communities, as well as a somewhat county rare Acidic Cliff community Peters Creek Wetland BDA Glassport Robust Emergent Marsh Community that is one of the few examples