Kimberly run preserve
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- B. Preserve Uses
- CITATIONS
- APPENDICES
A. WatershedLand Use/Ownership LAND USE/OWNERSHIP GOAL #1: To negotiate for targeted lands and rights-of-way to improve vehicle access in order to allow for regular and safe public access to the preserve perimeter. Narrative: A number of initiatives have been taken to develop better preserve access. Existing property access is problematic as it is a lengthy, mostly unmaintained informal dirt roadway across DOT property to the current pavilion. Current access negotiation activity is focused upon possible access from the west. A small parcel with frontage onto a side street paralleling Rt. 219, near the Rt. 219 4-lane overpass, has been recently purchased by SCC. This acquisition opens the possibility of an entrance onto the preserve if an arrangement can be negotiated with either of two abutters. Other preserve abutters include the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation, to the northeast and east, the Menser family to the southeast, and a variety of smaller landowners. Objective: Determine priority rights-of-way and associated costs for acquisition negotiation. Objective: Initiate a systematic approach to landowner contact and negotiation. LAND USE/OWNERSHIP GOAL #2: To increase the size of the preserve to better conserve the watershed’s natural features and to improve visitors’ experience. Narrative: In addition to access, future expansion of the preserve to include abutting rural lands would help to buffer Kimberly Run, provide more habitat for wide-ranging and area-sensitive species, and better maintain natural habitats and processes over time. Additional benefits would include more land for recreational and educational activities, improved perimeter access, and a more secluded visitor experience. Objective: Determine priority rights-of-way and associated costs for acquisition negotiation. Objective: Initiate a systematic approach to landowner contact and negotiation.
Water Quality WATER QUALITY GOAL #1: To maintain and restore water quality and natural flows to conserve native stream life and provide fishing, wading and wildlife observation on preserve property. Narrative: Maintaining and improving water quality is possible by working with other watershed owners, addressed above, and by taking actions on the Kimberly Run Preserve itself. Restoring Kimberly Run to a wade-able and fishable stream is a universal goal that may require a significant effort and persistence. There are many stream improvement activities that will mesh with educational objectives as well. Objective: Monitor abiotic and biotic indicators of stream health. Objective: Assess and determine those improvements necessary to restore stream health for wildlife and people. Objective: Install those necessary water quality improvements and practices where possible on SCC property. Objective: Participate in outreach to watershed landowners in cooperation with the PA DEP and US NRCS. Objective: Work with upstream landowners and cooperators to install other needed improvements. WATER QUALITY GOAL #2: To cooperate and encourage watershed landowners in projects to improve and restore the water quality of Kimberly Run and its associated wetlands. Narrative: A wide variety of land uses ranging from intensive to benign now occur within the Kimberly Run Preserve watershed. Encouraging land and water management that is compatible with preserve conservation is expected to benefit the entire watershed. Monitoring, control and mitigation of pollution and sedimentation sources will be pursued. Objective: Monitor land use activities and when possible be involved in public participation processes for proposed projects within the Kimberly Run watershed. Objective: Provide inventory and water quality information to cooperating landowners and agencies.
Commercial COMMERCIAL GOAL #1: No commercial use of the preserve is currently planned or supported by the SCC board. Conservation CONSERVATION GOAL #1: To maintain the preserve’s natural character, enhance native biodiversity, and improve the quality of preserve habitats, including field, forest, wetland and stream habitats. Narrative: The variety of preserve habitats now present at Kimberly Run represent a variety of seral stages, from early (fields) to late (forest), which will require different management practices for their maintenance. In addition, improving the quality of preserve habitats and enhancing biodiversity will also mean new practices and policies. These different management practices will need to be carried out while keeping an eye toward managing the preserve as a whole. Management can be guided in part by the recreational interests of preserve users, but should remain within the parameters of the area’s natural systems. Objective: Encourage and facilitate the installation of a water control structure at the outflow of the Louie-Beach Advance Wetland Mitigation Project. Objective: Mow and seed Kimberly Run fields with native grasses to provide food and cover for native wildlife including grassland birds and insects. Objective: Pursue a cooperative agreement with the State Game Commission AND Pheasants Forever of Somerset County to continue grassland management activities at the preserve. Objective: Allow riparian and upland forests to mature and develop old-growth characteristics, including gaps, snag and log habitats for forest interior wildlife. Objective: Assist the recovery of wetland hydrology through a variety of means that may include blocking drainage ditches, removing drainage tile, and reforestation of wetland and bog edges. Objective: Reduce the white-tailed deer population to sustainable levels through the use of hunting, including optimal take of antlerless deer. Objective: Allow the re-establishment of beaver, a keystone riparian species, to restore and enhance streamside habitats for native wildlife. Objective: Pursue conservation and protection designations that will enhance protection without compromising other objectives (e.g. Important Mammal Area, Important Bird Area, Natural Heritage recognition). Objective: monitor preserve use and control those activities with the potential to compromise preserve conservation.
Educational EDUCATIONAL GOAL #1: To provide an outdoor laboratory for local researchers and students of all ages to observe and study a variety of ecological features and systems. Narrative: The SCC, local teachers and the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education recognize that environmental education is important for Somerset County students. Kimberly Run is centrally located and has a variety of habitats and conservation purposes amenable to environmental education. Teacher input into preserve planning has been solicited, though current access limitations do not yet allow for significant environmental education use. Objective: Maintain free educational use compatible with resource conservation. Objective: Develop a land use policy statement to guide preserve activities and visitation, to include group size limits. Objective: Provide SCC review of proposed research projects that would involve environmental manipulation or destructive sampling. Objective: Disseminate information about preserve educational opportunities to local schools and to facilitate some specific environmental education activities. Recreational RECREATIONAL GOAL #1: To allow a variety of traditional recreational uses for public participation while ensuring the conservation of preserve resources. Narrative: Nature observation, hiking, hunting and fishing are popular activities that will be open to the public. While these uses are expected to be generally compatible with the preserve’s conservation purposes, some monitoring and controls may be necessary to prevent safety hazards, overuse of certain sensitive areas, or other problems. Objective: Maintain free public access for recreational activities compatible with resource conservation. Objective: Develop a land use policy statement to guide preserve recreational activities and visitation, to include group size limits. Objective: Designate an SCC representative as a point of contact for group recreational activities.
Safety and Security SAFETY AND SECURITY GOAL #1: To help visitors enjoy a modicum of safety and security within the context of an outdoor experience. Narrative: Anticipating significant safety or security issues will help ensure public use and enjoyment of Kimberly Run Preserve. Communicating with preserve visitors and cooperating with local municipal and state officials will be important in achieving this goal. Objective: Pursue a cooperative agreement with the State Game Commission to police hunting activities as part of their management activities at the preserve. Objective: Review insurance and liability issues as preserve use and infrastructure grows. Objective: Make maps and basic hazard information available to school groups, require advance notice by hunters and school groups, and maintain a visitor log at trailheads. Objective: Maintain infrastructure such as pavilions and bridges to a safe standard. Objective: Cooperate with local emergency and law enforcement officials to provide access and encourage monitoring. Objective: Provide parking at periphery for easier observation to facilitate policing. C. Infrastructure Roads and Buildings ROADS AND BUILDINGS GOAL #1: To provide vehicular access, parking, restrooms and limited shelter at perimeter access points for educational and recreational uses, while protecting the quality of natural area experience on the preserve. Narrative: Roads and parking areas will be built or upgraded to allow preserve access for cars, buses and emergency vehicles. Member surveys also indicated strong support for upgraded restrooms to new composting toilets. These improvements will require a significant investment in infrastructure. Visitors to the Kimberly Run preserve are intended to enjoy a non-motorized experience to optimize their observation and appreciation of natural features and processes. The footprint” of the road system will be kept to an adequate minimum to reduce distractions to visitors and reduce maintenance costs. Objective: Appoint a committee to determine and prioritize infrastructure costs and needs, including an evaluation of handicapped access needs Objective: Replace dated restroom facilities with facilities appropriate for school groups.
Trails TRAIL GOAL #1: To provide foot access and where possible handicapped access to a variety of preserve habitats while protecting sensitive habitats from overuse. Narrative: An efficient and effective trail system will serve as the backbone of Kimberly Run’s recreational and environmental education uses. Kimberly Run presents abundant opportunities for a trail system. Old roads, a variety of habitats, and rolling terrain are trail assets. Wetland, spring and stream crossings will present some trail-construction challenges. A loop trail that circumnavigates the SCC and abutting (DOT??) properties has been suggested as a primary access route. One possible trail route through the upland forest east of Kimberly Run has been mapped and is flagged on-the-ground Spur trails can be constructed from this main loop to reach natural features not suitable for heavy visitation on the main trail. Spurs would also extend to visitor access points and parking areas on both properties. Another possible trail concept is a fan-like system originating from one or two vehicle access points. Or a hybrid system that uses both the loop and smaller trails from parking access. Whatever concept is employed, consideration should be given to minimizing trail maintenance obligations while optimizing resource conservation and user experiences. Among features that are relatively sensitive and therefore not recommended for main trail access are the two bogs and portions of riparian wetlands at Kimberly Run and unnamed tributary. These wet areas can be compacted or eroded and their unique plants damaged by heavy visitation. Edge-skirting access or boardwalks could be employed to mitigate the impacts of regular use. A raised trail bed might be used in some riparian areas but is not recommended at the bogs in order to protect their hydrology. Objective: Review and approve preserve trail plan map to help coordinate construction activities by SCC and volunteers. Objective: Reconstruct existing bridge across Kimberly Run. Objective: Construct a second footbridge upstream from the existing footbridge to facilitate safe access stream at the eastern end of the preserve. Objective: Monitor trail and off-trail preserve use in order to determine and limit visitation impacts, to include visitor log book and designated group visit coordinator. Objective: Construct a comprehensive trail system including a handicapped-accessible portion.
Members Questionnaire Teachers Questionnaire Preliminary List of Plants Preliminary List of Animals Odonates Benthic Macroinvertebrates Somerset County Conservancy Kimberly Run Preserve Member’s Survey Contact Information Name Address Phone Best Time to Call E-mail Number in Household Directory: groups -> public -> documents -> document document -> Kyle Shenk, (717) 230-8166, Key Land Trust documents -> Strictly for internal use eb. 1/2011: Opening Remarks by the Executive Director J. Sheeran, Executive Director documents -> Feature start Feature end Specifications start Specification table start documents -> Feature start Feature end Specifications start Specification table start document -> 2011 High Conservation Value Forests Analysis & Identification documents -> O&M in the ip age: Heading for a new direction documents -> Huawei boost: Unleashing the power of ultra-broadband documents -> Exploring O&M for ip+otn synergy Download 2.65 Mb. Share with your friends:
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