land use
The Kimberly Run Watershed encompasses very roughly 2,500 acres ranging from 2300 feet to 2340 feet elevation in central Somerset County, Pennsylvania (Figure 6). This watershed includes lands with active agricultural fields; less-intensively-used land such as forest, old pasture and reclaimed strip mine; state and federal highways segments and associated infrastructure; and limited commercial, industrial land and residential housing. Other land uses include wind power generation towers and a landfill. More than half of the watershed is non-forested mines and fields.
Figure 6. Kimberly Run watershed upstream of Rt. 219. Map by Emily White.
Land uses of the Kimberly Run watershed affects the plants, animals and water of the Kimberly Run Preserve. Of course, many populations of plants and animals are found throughout the area or occupy habitats that cross property boundaries. Runoff into Kimberly Run has an important effect upon the downstream Preserve’s aquatic and riparian habitats.
Conservation of Kimberly Run lands complements wildlife conservation in the area on adjacent forestland, and nearby State Game Lands #50 (a 3,180-acre tract). The presence at Kimberly Run of fisher, black bear and other wildlife with relatively large habitat requirements demonstrate that these animals are able to circulate throughout the forest neighborhood. However, the fragmentation of wildlife habitat due to roads and development is certainly having an effect upon these animals and others, and is a future conservation concern. In addition to terrestrial connections, Kimberly Run connects the aquatic system of private parcels east of Rt. 219 to the nearby state game lands on the other side of Rt. 219. This aquatic connection will become more valuable as stream pollution impacts are addressed and water quality improves.
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