The Glacial Lakes Flora Project
Glacial lakes are among the most treasured natural features of Pennsylvania. Of the 2500 lakes in the Commonwealth, only 50 were naturally formed. These lakes are important scenic and recreational resources, and are the focus of much tourism activity. Glacial lakes also comprise habitat for many species of plants and animals that would not otherwise inhabit Pennsylvania.
Although no comprehensive study exists on the health of health of the eight inland glacial lakes of western Pennsylvania (Canadohta Lake, Conneaut Lake, Crystal Lake, Edinboro Lake, Lake LeBoeuf, Lake Pleasant, Sandy Lake, and Sugar Lake), we know that problems exist at all to varying degrees. These problems include eutrophication, altered hydrology, damaged and eroded shores, siltation, and invasions by exotic species.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is working with the communities surrounding these lakes to address these issues for the sake of the people who swim, fish, and otherwise enjoy these resources -- and for the sake of the multitude of plants and animals who depend on the health of these bodies of water. WPC has been actively working at Lake Pleasant since the mid-1980's, but we have recently embarked on a Glacial Lakes Initiative to address the conservation needs of all the glacial lakes of western Pennsylvania.
Botanists have been documenting the flora of the glacial lakes of western Pennsylvania for over 120 years. However, no comprehensive flora of these lakes has been compiled. By supplementing the historic collection data with rigorous surveys, we plan to create a depiction of the present flora of these lakes, and learn much about how the flora has changed over the years. Measuring future changes in the flora will be greatly facilitated by the collection of comprehensive, site specific data.
All eight of these lakes have plant species of special concern either in the lake or in adjacent wetlands - in the case of Edinboro Lake, 23 special concern plant species are known, some only from historic evidence. By conducting botanical inventories of the lakes, we will come to a better understanding of the present statuses and locations of these species.
Exotic alien plants are also known or suspected in all eight lakes. The inventories will lead us to better understand the extent to which invasive species are causing problems such as displacement of native species, alteration of healthy oxygen levels, and disruption of nautical transportation. Only when we fully understand the problems can we adequately address them.
Characterization of the habitats in and closely associated with these lakes will assist PNHP community ecologists in their goal of delineating and describing the aquatic natural communities of Pennsylvania, such as has been recently accomplished with terrestrial and palustrine communities.
The objectives of the study are to:
· Compile for each glacial lake in western Pennsylvania, a list of plant species presently documented with herbarium specimens (recent and historic).
· Conduct field studies to produce more complete and current lists of the floras of these lakes.
· Map the locations of invasive alien plant species.
· Map the locations and assess the size and condition of occurrences of plant species of special concern.
· Map the major habitat areas of the lakes.
· Collect data that will assist community ecologists in characterizing aquatic natural communities.
· Provide baseline data from which changes in population sizes of rare species and invasive species can be detected.
· Provide recommendations for conservation planners and stewards regarding protection of rare plants and management of invasive species.
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