[Jeff Herrick, Habitat Management Biologist Contractor with the Wildlife Management Institute submitted the following blog for RGS’ Bellwether newsletter]
Pennsylvania State Parks Create Forest Habitat Diversity to Benefit Young Forest Wildlife
By: Jeff Herrick
Partnerships Make Things Happen!
The collective spirit to achieve a desired goal of restoring young forest habitat leading to more abundant and diverse wildlife populations.
Collective thoughts to plan, design and implement management techniques to create forest disturbance.
Matching Partners to raise funds needed to complete plans.
Implementing an action plan through coordination of contractors, agencies, and conservation organizations.
Moraine State Park in Western PA, has become one of the most recent State Parks to initiate a plan to diversify its’ forest habitat over the last 3 years. PA DCNR Parks Field Services Specialist Mike DiRinaldo, and Habitat Management Biologist Jeff Herrick under contract with The Wildlife Management Institute began planning habitat management actions within the 1,021 acre focus unit on the east end of the park four years ago.
To implement the plan partner funding was needed to regenerate stands of aspen and successional hardwoods, along with opening up the forest canopy for native fruit producing trees and shrubs to thrive. RGS / AWS along with support from the Neshannock Creek Chapter quickly became a significant funding partner to support the plan with contributions of nearly $18,000 over the last three years to accomplish the habitat restoration efforts. The DCNR, Bureau of Parks has contributed funds for habitat efforts and to pre-treat sites for control of undesirable invasive species. The Richard K. Mellon Foundation has provided funding for essential technical support and coordination through the WMI Biologist. Whitetails Unlimited joined the effort with a one-time contribution of $4,000.
Early this year chainsaw crews regenerated 29 acres of forest patch cuts to impact 38 acres of habitat enhancements, including the adjacent thermal cover in two units. Since 2019 crews have completed 71 acres of patch cuts to enhance 100 acres of habitat improvements in 7 units within the 1,021 acre young forest management unit. Assessments have identified another 8 units to be restored with future efforts as funds become available. The Bureau of Parks has also identified several more sites where additional forest management techniques can be utilized to improve the mosaic of different aged forest stands to compliment the projects already completed by the Conservation Partners throughout the unit.
In April, this year the first Young Forest Habitat Workshop and woodcock viewing was held at Moraine State Park. The goal of the workshop was to create public awareness of the habitat work initiated on Moraine and to educate landowners on how to develop young forest early successional habitat on lands they own. Forty attendees enjoyed the presentation on habitat techniques and learned how they could help 50-60 wildlife species that need young forest to survive. After the presentation they were entertained by male woodcock performing their spectacular skydance up close at dusk!
To learn more about the Young Forest Project in 17 states go to www.youngforest.org which is provided by the Wildlife Management Institute and its many partners. Landowners interested in seeing more wildlife on their land should click on the “Resources” tab. Access the new publication titled “Young Forest Guide” which is a personal favorite.General Site Conditions:
Mt. Nebo WMA is a popular wildlife recreation area that is heavily visited by hunters and birders both local and from outside the area. This proposal is for managing shrub and wetland edge habitat in HMU 3 which is characterized as Forested Seepage Wetland, Bog and Fen Wetland Complex, Nontidal Shrub Wetland, Nontidal Emergent Wetland (natural and impounded).
HMU 3 comprises approximately 133 acres of wetland habitat and associated edge ecotone on Mt. Nebo WMA. This wetland complex has large areas of shrub/scrub habitat that is dominated by speckled alder and other shrubs including: ninebark (Physocarpus maxim), high-bush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), and willow (Salix spp.). This area is designated a Wetland of Special State Concern and does contain state listed plant species and is habitat for state listed wildlife species.
The first stage of the AMWI habitat demonstration project was completed by cutting approximately 15 acres in 2010. To date, these sites are regenerating well. No erosion or adverse effects to species of concern were demonstrated from the project.
Project Considerations:
The considerations below are from the 2010 AMWI plan developed for Mt. Nebo WMA.
Based on slope, soil, and other considerations (e.g., rare plants or sensitive habitats) we estimate that about 380 acres of HMUs 4-8 could potentially be managed for woodcock habitat. HMU 3 (133 acres) is essentially all woodcock habitat, although the quality varies with beaver activity, tree encroachment, and aging of the alder stands. We consider habitat < 20 years old to be favorable for woodcock in forested units. Currently, about 5% of HMUs 4-8 is comprised of habitat < 20 years-old.
Management Goal: Our goal is to manage and maintain about 25% of the potential woodcock habitat in HMUs 4-8, or about 100 acres, in habitat < 20 years-old over the long-term. In addition, we would like to maintain and improve the alder community in HMU 3. The alder community can be improved for woodcock by eliminating encroaching hardwoods and rejuvenating aging alder stands by cutting.
Note: The plan to achieve 25% of HMU 4-8 in < 20 year age class forest has mostly been achieved. However only a small portion of HMU 3 has been managed to improve American Woodcock habitat as outlined in the plan.
Long-term Funding: Much of the management identified in this plan involves forest with no or little commercial value. Clearly, meeting the management goals over the long-term will require funding to get work completed. We plan to seek funding for this effort through the Wildlife Management Institute’s Woodcock Recovery Grant Program using the Geis Estate Funds as well as in kind work by MD DNR and the Ruffed Grouse Society as matching contributions.
The first stage of the project completed in 2010 was funded by the Al Geis Estate in conjunction with the Wildlife Management Institute. Funding from the Al Geis Estate is still available and earmarked for this project. The Ruffed Grouse Society has the funds and has expressed interest in providing additional funds to support the project.
