Erie Bluffs State Park

On June 4, 2004, Governor Edward G. Rendell named the largest tract of undeveloped land remaining on the Commonwealth's Lake Erie shoreline as Erie Bluffs State Park, Pennsylvania's 117th state park.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired the 540-acre tract in western Erie County from Reliant Energy in December 2003. The Conservancy turned over the land to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by mid-summer.

In addition to one mile of shoreline with scenic views from 90-foot bluffs, Erie Bluffs also contains old-growth forest; rare, endangered and threatened flora; an uncommon oak savannah sand barren ecosystem; exceptional value wetlands; and significant archaeological sites.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy staff classified this site as one of Erie County's most important Biological Diversity Area in private ownership and listed the tract as having exceptional ecological significance.

Jim Bissell, botanist at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, created a preliminary inventory of the botanical significance of the property in the 1980's and 1990's. In his reports, he indicated that the Museum found at least 11 species of special concern plants, including the:

• state-threatened Richardson's rush (Juncus alpinus)
• state-threatened small-headed rush (Juncus brachycephalus)
• state-endangered variegated horsetail (Equisetum variegatum)

Bissell also noted that "Presque Isle and the property's fossil dune ridge are the only quality oak savannah I have seen in Erie County thus far." The property is already known to harbor this level of biodiversity significance, yet a complete inventory has not been accomplished.

Many species of special concern are located on the property including pumpkin ash, pineland pimpernal, Illinois pondweed, broad-leaved water plaintain, silverweed, large toothwort, lax-flower witchgrass, fall witchgrass, small-headed rush, Richardson's rush, and variegated horsetail. This property contains natural communities including lake bluff habitat; lake sediment slump habitat; dune habitat; a rare, mixed stand, old growth forest community; and a swamp community.

This site is noteworthy for its historic significance as well. Previous archaeological studies have located six Paleolithic sites on this tract spanning the entire cultural sequence known for the Commonwealth's Lake Erie shoreline. A fossil sand dune ridge formed more than 12,000 years ago at this site, which is rare within the county and the state. This habitat formed during a post glacial period when lake elevations were higher. The dune has been disturbed by human activity and invasion by exotic species but still supports a rare oak savannah, sand barren community where endangered grasses and sedges grow. This is a very extraordinary natural community. Some of these species are unusual within Pennsylvania and one is rare within the Great Lakes Basin, lax panic grass (Panicum laxiflorum).

Duck Run Ravine, a mature old-growth wetland, is located on this tract. Elk Run Creek is on the adjacent property (known as the Elk Creek Access Area) and flows into Lake Erie. Anglers heavily use this access area especially during the fall when there is an abundance of steelhead trout migrating upstream. Girard Township owns this smaller tract and has indicated a willingness to donate this parcel to the Commonwealth. The access area will afford an opportunity to create a much needed safe harbor for boats on Lake Erie during times of inclement weather.

Most of Pennsylvania's shoreline is in private ownership and unavailable for public access. Threats to landscape include increased demand for lake views and frontage including subdivisions, introduction of invasive exotic species, and erosion from off-road vehicle misuse. Acquisition of this parcel eliminates those threats by prohibiting ATV use and development on the bluffs, which would result in shoreline erosion and bluff recession.