LARGEST REMAINING PARCEL OF PA'S LAKE ERIE SHORELINE PROTECTED WITH ACQUISITION
Conservancy to turn property over to Commonwealth to become first state park in 20 years.
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is thrilled to report the permanent conservation of 540 acres of pristine land -- including more than one mile of Lake Erie shoreline, in Girard and Springfield Townships in Erie County.
Introducing Erie Bluffs State Park
Governor Rendell Names 117th 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 117 th state park.
“This acquisition fulfills a decades-long vision to make this distinctive tract a state park to be enjoyed by Pennsylvania citizens and visitors to this region,” Governor Rendell said. “With its spectacular scenic vistas over Lake Erie and an adjacent world-class shallow stream steelhead fishery, Erie Bluffs will prove to be a unique eco-tourism destination.
“Add Erie Bluffs to Presque Isle State Park and the Tom Ridge Center and you have a trifecta – a winning combination of recreational and educational experiences that will be an economic engine for this region,” he added. “A visit to Erie will not be complete without a stop at all three locations.”
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired the 540-acre tract in western Erie County from Reliant Energy in December. The Conservancy will turn 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 identified this property as one of Erie County's most important biological diversity areas,” said Mike Boyle, acting president of the Conservancy. “With its exceptional biological significance, Erie Bluffs will help advance local, regional and state conservation priorities through providing public access to more open space, protect exceptional value wetlands of Lake Erie and preserve habitats for rare, endangered and threatened species, while helping attract tourism to the region and enhance the natural heritage of Pennsylvania.”
After a visit to Erie Bluffs and the Tom Ridge Center in the morning, Governor Rendell told a gathering at Presque Isle State Park that investments made through his proposal to renew and expand the state's Growing Greener program can help revitalize and improve the quality of life in communities throughout the state.
“This region is blessed to have unique natural resources and access to outstanding fishing and boating opportunities,” Governor Rendell said. “These resources not only drive the economy through tourism, they also help to benefit the people who make their living as charter boat captains, tour guides, scientists and educators.
“Just as the time to act on Erie Bluffs was now, so is the time to act on funding for our environment,” Governor Rendell said. “Without the additional funding, we could lose out on rare opportunties such as the Erie Bluffs property. It could take us decades longer to clean up 2,100 miles of polluted streams and more than 11,000 brownfield sites.”
Among its allocations, the Governor's Growing Greener proposal contains $100 million for land conservation measures, such as open space protection, forest land easements, state park and forest lands buffers and acquisition of high-value lands. Growing Greener also allocates $80 million for state park repairs and facility upgrades, and $50 million for fishing, boating and wildlife infrastructure needs.
House Bill 2621, recently introduced by Rep. Camille “Bud” George, places the Growing Greener proposal on the November ballot, allowing the voters to decide whether the state should issue an $800 million bond to pay for the initiatives.
House Bill 2010, sponsored by Rep. Dan Surra, would allow the Commonwealth to address hazardous and mine waste sites and acid mine drainage setbacks, and to continue the preservation of the state's farm and forest lands. The bill also creates an opportunity for the Commonwealth to become a national leader in the production of alternative fuels and a redeveloper of community open space and housing opportunities.
The Governor's visit to Erie kicks off a weeklong statewide bus trip by his cabinet officials to communities throughout the Commonwealth that can benefit from investments in an expanded Growing Greener. His cabinet will make stops in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas on Monday; Williamsport and State College on Tuesday; Reading and York County on Wednesday; the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area on Thursday; and Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh counties on Friday.
Equally exciting is to let you know that this tract will be conveyed to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for inclusion into its state park system. This means that not only will more of our precious open space be permanently conserved, but will be open for visitors to enjoy and appreciate.
WPC 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. Acquisition of this tract provides an excellent resource and benefit to the citizens of, and visitors to, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, espcially since this site is in close proximity to the Tom Ridge Center (an education, research and visitor center), Presque Isle State Park and five colleges and universities with natural resource curricula.
Public access at this site will relieve some pressure on nearby Presque Isle, which receives approximately four million visitors each year and is one of the most heavily visited state parks in America.
Tourism will be greatly enhanced as local businesses enjoy the increased traffic to these communities as citizens visit this area to enjoy the many educational and recreational opportunities available. Many fishermen and boaters in western Pennsylvania enjoy Lake Erie. This project will advance local, regional and state conservation priorities by adding additional open space; protecting exceptional value wetlands of Lake Erie and habitats for rare, endangered and threatened species; promoting tourism in the region; and enhancing the natural heritage of Pennsylvania.
When people come together around a cause as critical as protecting our open space, we can make a difference. It is because of the support of friends of conservation that we are able to take timely action to conserve this magnificent new state parkland on Lake Erie.
Although we celebrate the acquisition of the 540-acre "Coho" site, there is much more work to do to permanently protect the biological treasures of Coho. This includes developing a comprehensive plan for management of the site and restoration of some areas that have been altered from their natural state.
Please consider a gift today to help protect the largest undeveloped tract remaining on Pennsylvania's Lake Erie shoreline.
