Butler County
Butler County possesses a wealth of natural resources including its flora, fauna, and natural habitats such as forests, wetlands, and streams. Since its southern most border is within 15 miles of the City of Pittsburgh, it has become a popular place to visit and live.
The Natural Heritage Inventory of Butler County is designed to identify and map important biotic (living) and ecological resources that make up the rich, natural heritage of Butler County. The biotic resources inherited by the citizens of Butler County include: exemplary natural areas, habitats for species of special concern (endangered, threatened, etc.), significant natural plant communities (assemblages of plants and animals), areas important for open space, recreation, and wildlife habitat.
The approach of the inventory was to identify sites that are of county significance. This includes sites which are unique or uncommon in the county, but are not necessarily uncommon in the state. For example, a 50 acre mature hemlock-northern hardwood ravine is common in many places in Pennsylvania, however, a forest community of this type and size is uncommon in Butler County. State significant sites are also included in the inventory.
The inventory is part of a statewide effort to document the living resources in the state. By knowing the significant resources in each county we can then know the most significant areas in the state.
The Report
Download the complete Butler County Natural Heritage Inventory (26 MB PDF file) or in parts: Part 1 (9.01 MB) Part 2 (17.6 MB)
Where to go for Copies
Aside from WPC, copies may be obtained from the Butler County Planning Commission, 124 West Diamond Street, P.O. Box 1208, Butler, PA 16003.
Contact
Jeffrey Wagner
CNHI Coordinator/Ecologist
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
209 Fourth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 586-2312
jwagner@paconserve.org