Wetlands Along Trail to be Added to State Forest

When the railroad following Pine Creek in Lycoming and Tioga Counties was abandoned in the late 1980s Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources acquired the right-of-way for a 62 mile rail-trail. To help provide for parking and access to the trail DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry subsequently acquired the former White Tail Campground two miles north of Jersey Shore.

Adjacent to the White Tail site and located between the trail and Route 44 is a wetland with a small area of higher, drier ground. For a number of years the Bureau of Forestry has been interested in acquiring the property containing the wetland, but the negotiations had been unsuccessful.

During the past year NPC has negotiated with the property owner, done a title search, had the property surveyed, entered into agreements of sale and successfully purchased the 6.15 acre property. Soon the property will be transferred to DCNR as an addition to the Tiadaghton State Forest.

Although comparatively small, the property is significant. Its wetland recharges groundwater, stores rainfall for slow discharge, provides habitat for wildlife, buffers the trail from traffic on Route 44, and offers trail users the opportunity to see wildlife and wildflowers. A small steam flowing from the wetland flows directly into Pine Creek.