Eire County Natural Heritage Inventory, 1993
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ERIE COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY Prepared For the Erie County Department of Planning Prepared by: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 316 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 (412)288-2777 September 1993 Printed on recycled paper This study was developed in part with financial assistance provided by: the County of Erie through the Department of Planning; the Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act Grant Program (RIRA Grant # RIRA-TAG-6-89-S), as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation; and The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. ERIE COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY Prepared by: Norma L. Kline, Natural Heritage Ecologist With the Assistance of: Paul G. Wiegman, Director, Natural Science and Stewardship Department Charles W. Bier, Associate Director, Natural Science and Stewardship Department Lisa L. Smith, Natural Heritage Ecologist Jeffery D. Wagner, Natural Heritage Ecologist Chris J. Boget, Data Manager Bernice K. Beck, Data Handler ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy would like to thank all those who contributed to this inventory. Special thanks to the staff at the Erie County office of the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for the use of their aerial photography; to the staff of the Erie County Department of Planning for access to their aerial imagery and various planning documents, as well as their time and assistance; the Erie County Natural Heritage Inventory Study Committee for their time and assistance; to Jean and Jim Stull for their knowledge of the county's natural resources and assistance in making contacts for the inventory; to Lew Steckler of the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service for assisting in the interpretation of Erie County soils; to Tom Erdman of the DER Bureau of Forestry for contributing his knowledge of the county's forests; to Joe Isaac for his field assistance and advice; to Shayne Hoachlander of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who provided insight into the county's natural resources; to Robert Wellington of the Erie County Department of Health for his advice and access to various documents; to Rick Haibach of the Pennsylvania Game Commission for his time and insight on State Game Lands in Erie County; to the pilots of Erie Airways pilots for their skillful flying and patience; and a special thank you to the many residents of Erie County that supported the inventory. The cover design and graphics were created by John Blumen, Blumen and Associates. Any errors or omissions from the text or the maps are solely the responsibility of the author. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................... 7 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................... 9 NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS SUMMARY.......................................................................................... 9 231Waterford French Creek Basin LCA Waterford 218French Creek BDA Waterford 218Wattsburg French Creek Basin LCA Wattsburg 120Union City 231Wesleyville noneCitiesCity of Corry French Creek BDA Corry 245City of Erie Lake Shoreline LCA Erie North 75Erie South 151Swanville 156Presque Isle BDA/OHA Erie North 82Erie South 151Swanville 156Unorganized TerritoryPresque Isle Presque Isle BDA/OHA Erie North 82State Park Swanville 156DEDICATED AREAS......................................................................................... 24 COUNTY OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................... 34 PENNSYLVANIA NATURAL DIVERSITY INVENTORY ................................................................. 47 NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY METHODS ............................................................................. 48 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS........................................................................................................................................................... 52 LAND-USES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS......................... 54 RESULTS...................................................................................................................................................... 68 LITERATURE CITED.............................................................................................................................. 279 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 287 VI. Sites Rejected During Inventory....................................................................................................305 VII. Potential Sites Identified During Inventory ...................................................................................309 VIII. Natural Heritage Program & Conservation Data Center Network .....................................................................................................................312 3 LIST OF TABLES Summary of Natural Heritage Areas in order of relative county significance...........................................................9 Summary of Municipalities containing Natural Heritage Areas .............................................................................17 Important managed lands protecting biotic resources in Erie County.....................................................................24 Tables summarizing U.S.G.S. quadrangles Erie North.................................................................................................................................................... 71 Harborcreek..................................................................................................................................................98 North East. .................................................................................................................................................109 Wattsburg. ..................................................................................................................................................117 Hammett.....................................................................................................................................................129 Erie South.................................................................................................................................................. 149 Swanville....................................................................................................................................................154 Fairview .....................................................................................................................................................165 Fairview SW...............................................................................................................................................172 Conneaut ....................................................................................................................................................184 East Springfield..........................................................................................................................................189 Albion.........................................................................................................................................................195 Edinboro North ..........................................................................................................................................201 Cambridge Springs NE…………………………………………………………………………………...208 Waterford ...................................................................................................................................................214 Union City…………………………………………………………………………………………….….227 Corry ..........................................................................................................................................................243 Columbus………...………………………………………………………………………………………248 Spring Creek ……………………………………………………………………………………………..251 Spartansburg ……………………………………………………………………………………………..254 Lake Canadohta ………………………………………………………………………………………….257 Millers Station ……………………………………………………………………………………………260 Cambridge Springs.....................................................................................................................................264 Edinboro South…………………………………………………………………………………………...267 Conneautville .............................................................................................................................................270 Beaver Center ……………………………………………………………………………………………273 Pierpont ......................................................................................................................................................276 4 LIST OF FIGURES Municipalities of Erie County................................................................................................................................. 16 Physiographic Provinces of Erie County ................................................................................................................ 38 U.S.G.S. quadrangle map index of