Section III – Site Information and Analysis Page III-1 SITE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS Intent The Club believes that the breaching of the Understanding the physical resources and dam in 1985 resulted in significant silting of limitations of the Reining Pond property is Collins Brook and the pond on Club property; critical to developing environmentally either from release of deposits behind the dam compatible alternatives. The baseline data in or from stream bank erosion caused by the this section defines the site’s carrying water release and subsequent rain storms not capacity and provides the foundation to controlled by the dam. The Club and the Fish evaluate potential environmental impacts of and Boat Commission disagreed on the cause the various potential uses for the property. of the siltation, however, the Club decided not Surrounding land uses, neighborhood to pursue legal action. In any case, current compatibility, and regulatory limitations may planning efforts cannot resolve past problems. also limit the practicality of alternatives, and Instead, it is critical that downstream effects must be considered in concert with the site’s be carefully considered in the evaluation of physical resources. every alternative considered. Historical Perspective General Description and Current Use The Fish and Boat Commission acquired the While the historic pond no longer exists, an Reining Pond property for $7,500 on extensive wetland area with a small remnant November 12, 1942, from the estate of Annie pond remains, and the balance of the 394 O. Reining. The site originally contained a acres is wooded. The property is currently fifty-acre lake created by a dam, 305 feet long open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking and fifteen to twenty feet high, spanning and other passive recreation activities. Collins Brook. The small stream is part of the Hunting is the principal use of the property, headwaters of Middle Creek, a tributary to the with the most intense use occurring during the Lackawaxen River. With a maximum depth of deer hunting season. Details on the actual some eleven feet, Reining Pond was well number of users are simply not available, but regarded as a warm water fishery. the number is low when considered in terms of the potential of the property. In reality, In 1952, the dam was repaired at a cost of most area residents simply do not realize the $30,590. In the late 1970’s, studies were property is open to the public. conducted to investigate the possibility of rebuilding the dam to address the inadequate Similar Recreation Areas in the Region flood control capacity that was associated Wayne County and adjoining counties contain with an inadequate emergency spillway. The many thousands of acres of open land, miles study investigated the feasibility of enlarging of streams, and hundreds of lakes and ponds. the dam and the size of the lake to provide a However, most are private and not available viable fishery. When the study revealed that for public recreation. Nevertheless, public land acquisition was required the project was land, streams with public access, and a abandoned. The Pond was drained and the number of public lakes are found within easy dam was permanently breached in October driving distance to Reining Pond. The Area 1985 due to the dam safety concerns. Public Recreation Map provides an overview. Public recreation lands and lakes within The Texas Rod and Gun Club is situated fifteen miles of Reining Pond include: about a mile downstream from Reining Pond. Reining Pond Master Site Plan 04-05 Section III – Site Information and Analysis Page III-2 • Prompton State Park - fishing, boating, • State Game Lands 307 - hunting, hiking, hiking, hunting, etc. etc. • White Oak Pond, Fish and Boat • Merli Sarnoski Park and Lake, Commission Access - fishing, boating Lackawanna County Park - fishing, hiking • Lackawaxen River - fishing, boating • Lackawanna River - fishing, Rails to • Upper Woods Pond, Fish and Boat Trails Commission Access - fishing, boating • State Game Lands 310 - hunting, hiking, • Duck Harbor Pond, Fish and Boat etc. Commission Access - fishing, boating • Lake Wallenpaupack, Fish and Boat • State Game Lands 159 with Dyberry Commission Access - fishing, boating Creek - hunting, fishing, hiking, etc. • State Game Lands 183 with Decker • State Game Lands 316 with Cobey Pond Pond and Decker Brook - hunting, and Mast Hope Creek - hunting, fishing, fishing, hiking, etc. hiking, etc. • Delaware State Forest and White Deer • State Game Lands 300 - hunting, Lake - hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, fishing, hiking, etc etc. • Chapman Lake, Fish and Boat • Fairview Lake, Fish and Boat Commission Access - boating, fishing Commission Access - fishing, boating LAND USE COMPARISON (0.5-MILE PERIMETER) WAYNE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING acres % of total 1959 1997 change 1959 1997 residential 12 53 41 0.5% 2.4% crop land 517 416 -101 23.4% 18.9% farmstead 26 23 -3 1.2% 1.0% pasture-brush 438 191 -247 19.9% 8.7% forest 1,015 1,308 293 46.0% 59.3% water 80 58 -22 3.6% 2.6% wetland 117 155 38 5.3% 7.0% Reining Pond Master Site Plan 04-05 Section III – Site Information and Analysis Page III-3 Houses Just West of Breached Dam and Parking Lot Site Characteristics Surrounding Land Use The Reining Pond Land Use Analysis Map shows the land uses within one-half mile of the property in 1959 and 1997, the result of a county-wide study now being conducted by the Wayne County Department of Planning. The comparison shows the decrease in agricultural land and the increase in the number of homes. Crop land has fallen out of production and evolved to pasture-brush, which in turn has reverted to forest. The Existing Parking Area number of homes increased from thirteen to forty-eight. (See the Land Use Comparison Table for details.) Although the density of residential development nearby the Reining Property remains relatively low, potential exists for conflicts between the neighborhood and any uses which involve noise, significant increases in traffic, and similar nuisances. Access and Parking Access to the existing parking area is from the Owego Turnpike on the east side of Collins Brook. The Owego Turnpike is a well distance looking west on the Owego Turnpike maintained state road, and although the is far better than looking to the east. Any moderate grades and sharp turns limit its improvement to the site involving significant capacity, traffic congestion is not an issue. traffic increases or a larger class of vehicle, The parking area is hard surfaced and can buses for example, will require a highway accommodate about twenty cars. Sight occupancy permit from PennDOT. If the Reining Pond Master Site Plan 04-05 Section III – Site Information and Analysis Page III-4 access is moved to another location, perhaps to Prompton Road, a PennDOT permit will also be required. Access to the parts of the property not directly adjacent to the Owego Turnpike and Prompton Road is difficult given steep slopes and the intervening wetland. No well defined trails or old woods roads are found on the site. Buildings and Structures No buildings are found on the property and the only structure is the breached dam. Sight Distance Looking East Situated less than 100 feet from the Owego Turnpike, the concrete structure has not been an issue in terms of safety or conflict with the use of the property, but it may be an issue if more intensive use of the property is planned. A new dam would, of course, involve the removal of the remnants, but this may also be required if environmental education is a component of the future use of the property. Historic Resources No known significant historical or archeological resources are found on the site. A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Notification will be required at the time of any Sight Distance Looking west site disturbance. Breached Dam from Downstream Reining Pond Master Site Plan 04-05 Section III – Site Information and Analysis Page III-5 Physiographic Divisions of Pennsylvania Physical Features This area is underlain primarily by bedrock of the Devonian System which is some 350 to Physiography and Geology 400 million years old, and comprised of shale, The natural features of the site are a direct sandstone, limestone and chert. result of its geological past. Bedrock geology and glacial geology are key factors affecting The Soil Survey of Wayne County reports that the natural environment and development the Catskill continental group, which is Upper potential by providing the base for the Devonian in age, is the oldest bedrock formation of soils. The Reining Pond underlying glacial drift throughout about 95 property and most of Wayne County lies in percent of Wayne County. It consists chiefly the Glaciated Low Plateau Section of the of red to brown sandstone and shale. The Appalachian Plateaus Province, one of the Catskill sandstone is used commercially as major physiographic divisions of the State. building stone. The Catskill formation is the See the Physiographic Divisions of most important source of ground water in Pennsylvania1 Figure and the Physiographic Wayne County. More wells have been drilled Provinces of Eastern Pennsylvania Figure.2 into this formation than into any other bedrock formation.3 1Pennsylvania Geology Summarized, Pennsylvania Topographic and Geologic Survey, B. Willard, 1968. 2Report 65, Groundwater Resources of Pike County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Topographic 3Soil Survey of Wayne County Pennsylvania, and Geologic Survey, D. K. Davis, 1989. United State Department of Agriculture, 1985, p. 2. Reining Pond Master Site Plan 04-05.