Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Cynthia Dunlap

NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

Somerset County is located upon the central Allegheny Plateau, the highland stretching from southwestern New York into West Virginia. Resistant Pottsville Sandstone characterizes the ridges of the plateau. A deep valley is carved into the plateau in the southern half of Somerset County by the Casselman River. Originating in western Maryland, the Casselman arcs north, then west into the Youghiogheny at Confluence. The village of Somerset lies on relatively high ground north of the Casselman, and is drained by the Casselman tributary Cox’s Creek. Areas to the northeast drain into Stonycreek, running northwest into the Allegheny River watershed. Kimberly Run is a tributary of Cox’s Creek coming from southeast of Somerset village.

Table 1. Climate characteristics of Somerset, PA (PA State Climatologist, 2005).

month	average daily max temp*	average daily min temp*	average precip**
Jan	37.3	18.8	3.23
Feb	39.0	18.7	2.87
March	46.9	25.2	3.92
April	59.0	33.8	3.98
May	70.0	43.0	4.18
June	77.2	51.5	4.14
July	80.8	55.5	3.93
Aug	79.3	53.7	3.78
Sept	73.4	46.8	3.43
Oct	62.9	36.8	2.71
Nov	49.0	28.5	3.15
Dec	38.8	20.5	3.07
year	59.5	36.1	43.07

* = 1926-1958; ** = 1926-1994

Weather is monitored at a National Climate Data Center station in Somerset, and climate information is compiled for varied periods. Average daily maximum temperatures are highest in July (80.8º F; 1926-1958) and lowest in January (37.3º F; Pennsylvania State Climatologist, 2005). Annual precipitation averages 43” (1926-1994), with the greatest amount falling in Spring (May average 4.18”). Snowfall averages 86.6” (1926-1994).

Soils along Kimberly Run are Philo (Ph) and Atkins (At) soils, with Purdy (Pu) occupying large areas of adjacent low-lying land (Figure 1; Yaworski, 1983). Both Atkins and Philo are typically found along Somerset County floodplains and are formed of acid shale and sandstone debris. Atkins is poorly drained soil while Philo is moderately drained. Purdy is more clayey and found on stream terraces.

Brinkerton (Br) is found at the foot of slopes with springs on the preserve, which is a typical location for this poorly-drained, acid, brown soil derived from shale and siltstone. Nolo (N) is a major soil type on lower slopes, and is a deep poorly-drained soil derived from gray sandstone. Cookport (Cp), found higher up on the south side of the preserve is a moderately drained soil also derived from gray sandstone. Berks (Bk) is found on the top of the field north of Kimberly Run and tends to be well-drained soil derived from brown shale and siltstone.

Figure 1. Soils of the Kimberly Run Preserve vicinity.