Region has reason to note Public Lands Day
Yesterday was National Public Lands Day, an event that merits observation here in the Laurel Highlands. Our region蘑菇视频 appeal to outdoor recreationists can be attributed largely to our abundance and diversity of public lands.
People choose to visit places where natural features are protected and promoted, and where they are free to explore trails, streams, and forests.
This column has explored this public lands topic before but it蘑菇视频 worth re-visiting. Past columns have outlined the three major categories of public lands we enjoy in our region, their management and the general differences in the rules of their use.
State parks, for example, emphasize outdoor recreation and the preservation of unique features, such as Ohiopyle Falls and the Youghiogheny Gorge within the 21,000-acre Ohiopyle State Park. Four major parks grace our Laurel Highlands region (Five if you count Greene County, where Ryerson Station State Park is located) totaling about 40,000 acres.
We have only one state forest in our region, but it蘑菇视频 extensive. The Forbes State Forest covers 59,000 acres stretching across the ridges of Fayette, Westmoreland and Somerset counties. State forests are less conspicuous to the public than parks. They offer fewer developed facilities so they tend to be more well-known to hunters, fishermen and others seeking uncrowded recreation.
Large areas around Wharton Furnace and Quebec Hollow in Fayette County, and atop Mt. Davis in Somerset County, are within the Forbes State Forest.
State forests allow for planned timber harvest to accrue revenue to the state and also to achieve goals in wildlife habitat manipulation and forest composition. State foresters mark designated tracts for cutting and solicit bids from private companies to cut and remove the trees under state specifications.
We are fortunate to have many tracts of state game lands across the region, including the 16,000-acre State Game Land No. 51 atop Dunbar Mountain. Game lands are administratively different than parks and forests because they are not acquired or cared for with tax dollars. Instead, state game lands are purchased and managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, primarily through the sale of hunting licenses. Game lands regulations are designed to protect wildlife habitat and to promote public hunting. But low-impact activities like fishing, hiking, and nature study are permitted and encouraged. No camping is permitted on state game lands. Many states require non-hunters to purchase a 鈥渟pecial use鈥� permit to fish, hike or photograph on their game lands鈥搊r 鈥淲ildlife Management Areas鈥� as they are generally termed elsewhere鈥揵ut Pennsylvania does not. The Game Commission does, however, sell timber from game lands and also leases mineral rights to coal and gas reserves. A significant component of the Game Commission蘑菇视频 annual budget comes from the sale and leasing of these resources.
That蘑菇视频 a brief glimpse of our major public lands, their uses and rules. But in preparing this column I came across specific information that may interest readers I reviewed the 2016 Management Plan for the Forbes State Forest and outlined some of the document蘑菇视频 highlights. The entire plan is available on-line by visiting www.dcnr.state.pa.us. Click on 鈥渟tate forests,鈥� then on 鈥淔orbes State Forest.鈥�
Below are just a few of the forest management activities accomplished on or planned for the Forbes State Forest this year:
n Improve trails in the Mountain Streams area (this is just north of County Line Road, roughly between Champion and Seven Springs).
n Replace the footbridge on Mill Run Trail in the Quebec Run Wild Area.
n Mow snowmobile trails north of the Turnpike.
n Install new grills as needed at the Lick Hollow State Forest Picnic Area (south of Rte. 40 on Summit Mt.)
n Complete 75-acre timber sale along Kirby Road in Fayette County to remove dying and low-quality trees to promote oak regeneration.
n Complete 91-acre timber sale along Wharton Furnace Road in Fayette County to remove overstory trees and promote oak regeneration.
n Mark for sale a 15-acre tract along Sheperd Road in Wharton Township, at the request of Wharton Township, to 鈥渄aylight鈥� Sheperd Road to reduce snow and ice buildup and achieve safer travel.
n Remove a 50-acre deer-exclosure fence along Laurel Summit Road (Westmoreland County) where desirable tree regeneration has grown beyond the reach of deer.
n Continue to work with the Fish and Boat Commission to 鈥渄aylight鈥� important basking habitats where pregnant female timber rattlesnakes need access to sunlight prior to birthing litters.
n Continue to work with the Game Commission to improve habitats for ruffed grouse and American woodcock.
n Oversee new bridge construction at the Lick Hollow State Forest Picnic Area (completed).
n Monitor a 10-acre hemlock stand treated chemically in 2014 against hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect that threatens hemlock throughout the Forbes State Forest and the entire state.
n Offer an 鈥淥pen House鈥� day at the Pondfield Fire Tower atop Chestnut Ridge in Fayette County during the fall of 2016 (These are popular events when held. The view from the mountaintop fire tower is unequalled anywhere in the region).
State parks and state game lands complete similar work to support recreation and conservation across our region. Take some time to enjoy our public lands this autumn.