KITTATINNY RIDGE PROJECT A PENNSYLVANIA NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY SUMMARY 2003 Submitted to: Kittatinny Ridge Project Audubon Pennsylvania 100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17055 Prepared by: Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy 208 Airport Drive Middletown, PA 17057 PREFACE The Kittatinny Ridge Project, Natural Areas Inventory Summary is a document compiled and written by the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy. Natural Areas Inventories for the 12 counties containing a portion of the Kittatinny Ridge have been completed for 9 counties, one county is partially completed and the remaining two are in the beginning stages. This summary contains information on the locations of rare, threatened, and endangered species and of the highest quality natural areas within the project boundary; it is not an inventory of all open space. It is intended as a conservation tool and should in no way be treated or used as a field guide. Each Township section is prepared as a stand-alone document, which could be distributed within each Township. Consequently, the document as a whole may seem repetitive, as a single Natural Area may fall within several Townships. Accompanying each site description are general management recommendations that would help to ensure the protection and continued existence of these rare plants, animals and natural communities. The recommendations are based on the biological needs of these elements (species and communities). The recommendations are strictly those of The Nature Conservancy and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the state or the policies of the county or townships for which the report was prepared. Managed areas such as federal, state, county and township lands, private preserves and conservation easements are also provided on the maps where that information was available to us. This information is useful in determining where gaps occur in the protection of land with rare species, natural communities and locally significant habitats. The mapped boundaries are approximate and our list of managed areas may be incomplete, as new sites are always being added. Implementation of the recommendations is up to the discretion of the landowners. However, cooperative efforts to protect the highest quality natural features through the development of site- specific management plans are greatly encouraged. Landowners working on management of or site plans for specific areas described in this document are encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy for further information. Although an attempt was made through advertising, public meetings, research, and informal communications to locate the sites most important to the conservation of biodiversity within the counties involved, it is likely that many things were missed. Anyone with information on sites that may have been overlooked should contact the Kittatinny Ridge Project Office (see address on next page). County Natural Areas Inventories are updated within five years after completion, and additional sites may be included for some of the counties within the boundary. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Natural Areas Inventory Summary was funded by the Audubon Society, Kittatinny Ridge Project. Individual County Natural Areas Inventories were funded in part by state and county grants along with support from private organizations. Thanks to everyone who provided financial and administrative support for the inventories involved. Without your help, this study would not have been possible. The species information utilized in the inventory came from many sources as well as our own field surveys. We wish to acknowledge all of those who carried out botanical and zoological survey work over the years. Without their contributions, this survey would have been far less complete. The report benefited from the help of local naturalists and conservationists who gave generously of their time. Thanks to the many other private citizens who contacted our office with information on natural areas. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Technical Advisory Committee by reviewing the draft Natural Areas Inventory Summary report. Finally, we especially wish to thank the many landowners that granted us permission to conduct inventories on their lands. The task of inventorying the natural heritage of the Kittatinny Ridge Project would have been far more difficult without this tremendous pool of information gathered by many people over many years. Copies of this document may be obtained from: Kittatinny Ridge Project Audubon Pennsylvania 100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17055 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE .......................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................1 PENNSYLVANIA'S NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ................................................3 NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY METHODS .....................................................................4 INFORMATION GATHERING .......................................................................................................... 4 MAP AND AIR PHOTO INTERPRETATION ................................................................................... 4 FIELD WORK ...................................................................................................................................... 5 DATA ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................... 5 PRIORITIES FOR PROTECTION ...................................................................................................... 6 RESULTS ...........................................................................................................................................7 BERKS COUNTY ............................................................................................................................................. 8 ALBANY TOWNSHIP: .............................................................................................................. 10 BETHEL TOWNSHIP: ................................................................................................................ 15 GREENWICH TOWNSHIP: ....................................................................................................... 20 TILDEN TOWNSHIP: ................................................................................................................. 21 UPPER BERN TOWNSHIP: ....................................................................................................... 23 UPPER TULPEHOCKEN TOWNSHIP: .................................................................................... 27 WINDSOR TOWNSHIP: ............................................................................................................ 31 CARBON COUNTY ..................................................................................................................................... 32 EAST PENN TOWNSHIP: .......................................................................................................... 35 FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP: ........................................................................................................... 37 LOWER TOWAMENSING TOWNSHIP: .................................................................................. 41 MAHONING TOWNSHIP: ......................................................................................................... 42 TOWAMENSING TOWNSHIP: ................................................................................................. 46 CUMBERLAND COUNTY ................................................................................................................... 47 EAST PENNSBORO TOWNSHIP: ...........................................................................................................51 HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP: ..........................................................................................................................57 HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP: ........................................................................................................................62 LOWER FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP: ......................................................................................................67 LOWER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP: ..............................................................................................................71 MIDDLESEX TOWNSHIP: ......................................................................................................................74 NORTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP: .......................................................................................................77 SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP: ................................................................................................................84 UPPER FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP: ........................................................................................................89 UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP: ................................................................................................................92 iv DAUPHIN COUNTY ..................................................................................................................................