ALLEGHENY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
DESCRIPTION At a glance: The Allegheny National Recreation Area (NRA) is located Allegheny NRA quick facts in northwest Pennsylvania on the border of New York State in the Allegheny National Forest, which is the only nation- Date established: October 30, 1984 al forest in Pennsylvania. It is based around the Allegheny Reservoir, which is 27 miles long with 90 miles of shoreline Established by: Congressional designation, Public Law at summer levels. The recreation area is comprised of three 98–585 sections. Two of the three sections are situated around the Forest Service region: 9, Eastern Region Allegheny Reservoir: the Cornplanter section lies west of the reservoir from the state line south to the northern short State: Pennsylvania of the Branch Run Bay, and the Tracy Ridge section lies east of the reservoir from Willow Bay to Sugar Bay. The third Associated national forest(s): Allegheny section, Allegheny Front, borders the eastern side of the Total Forest Service acres: 23,790 Allegheny River and is the most primitive of the sections. Reasons designated: “to ensure the preservation and The area around the reservoir is generally heavily forested protection of the area’s natural, scenic, scientific, historic, with a mix of hardwoods including black cherry, maples, archaeological, ecological, educational, watershed, birch, beech, and oak species, with some hemlock and and wildlife values and to provide for the enhancement white pine often mixed in. Some parts of the NRA have of recreational opportunities, particularly undeveloped steep hillsides, with rock ledges and large boulders. The recreational opportunities.” (U.S. Congress,1984) area hosts white-tailed deer and black bear, as well as many types of birds, amphibians and reptiles, and both sport and non-sport fish.
People and visitors BACKGROUND The Allegheny Reservoir was created in the 1960s when the Nearest metropolitan area: Buffalo, NY; 45 miles U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Kinzua Dam Population within 25 miles: 225,960 on the upper Allegheny River. In 1984, the Allegheny NRA was designated by Congress under the Pennsylvania Wil- Population within 100 miles: 5,718,675 derness Act in an effort to meet the urgent need to protect Annual visitors estimate and geography: Allegheny natural areas to meet the recreational needs of Americans. National Forest: 910,000 estimated annual visits (2015, Although there are developed campgrounds, trails, and NVUM) boat launches in some areas of the NRA, the designation language specifically highlights the importance of the area Main recreational uses: Hunting, fishing, hiking, for undeveloped recreational opportunities. The Alleghe- backpacking, camping, nature study, motorized and non- ny Reservoir shoreline, as well as some forested sections motorized boating of the NRA, remain relatively undeveloped and primarily roadless.
Sources used and cited for this text are listed by location starting on page 90 72