WPC Views Central Valleys and Ridges as Key Conservation Region
The Hardwood Trails, the ridgeline shown here in the distance, is an expanse of forest near a key tributary of the Potomac River.
A fat brush stroke of land in southcentral Pennsylvania — stretching as far west and east as Somerset and Perry counties, respectively, and as far north as the Centre and Clinton county border — is home to a wealth of native amphibians, birds, mammals, plants, reptiles and trees. Known as the Central Valleys and Ridges region, this area provides impressive views of long, forested mountain ridges and beautiful rural valleys.
The region also provides unforgettable snapshots in time. A hiker in southeastern Fulton County may come across a fence lizard scurrying among bird’s-foot violets. A birdwatcher along Tussey Mountain in Bedford County may spot whip-poor-will, ruffed grouse and wild turkey. Visitors to the Hardwood Trails on Evitts Mountain in Bedford County, Pa., can climb to a ridge and see as many as four other mountain ridges with farming valleys between each one.
Pennsylvania’s Central Valleys and Ridges — highlighted here in green — stretch up to the Centre-Clinton county line, down to the state border, as far east as Perry County and as far west as Somerset County.
For decades, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has promoted conservation of the forests, streams and wildlife habitat that are key to the identity and economy of the Central Valleys and Ridges region. Since the 1970s, the Conservancy has helped to conserve more than 20,000 acres that have become additions to state forests, state game lands and state parks.
The Central Valleys and Ridges region is one of WPC’s four key conservation regions; properties in this area, along with the French Creek and Lake Erie Shoreline, Pennsylvania’s Northern Woods and the Laurel Highlands, help make up the more than 233,000 acres the organization has helped to conserve.
The area includes the Nittany Valley and the Juniata River, a tributary to the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the numerous tributary watersheds of the Potomac River. These watersheds sustain large numbers of globally rare plants and animals, and they provide drinking water and support farmlands.
WPC has helped improve water quality in local watersheds such as Sideling Hill Creek, Yellow Creek, Spruce Creek and Cove Creek, as well as the Chesapeake Bay, by partnering with local conservation groups and by helping farmers and landowners implement conservation practices that reduce stream pollution.
Despite good progress, however, much remains to be done. Southcentral Pennsylvania is experiencing significant population growth and development due to its proximity to the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas, as well as Penn State University. This area attracts Marylanders, Penn State alumni and others because it is affordable, close to recreation and employment opportunities and offers a high quality of life.
The Conservancy’s plans for this region will help to ensure that its significant – but threatened – land and water resources may be protected for generations to come, providing drinking water, recreational opportunities and shelter for wildlife.
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