Cherry Valley forever
Pocono
gem nearly reaches status as a National Wildlife Refuge
By Howard Frank
Pocono Record Writer
November 01, 2008
The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday recommended the creation of a
20,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge in Cherry Valley.
If
approved, it will be the first National Wildlife Refuge established in the
Northeast in at least a decade and only the third National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania.
"This
is a landmark in conservation for the Poconos," said Bud Cook, the Nature
Conservancy's project manager for the Poconos.
It's a
major step on a long road that began in 2005 with a bill co-sponsored by
Pennsylvania U.S. Reps. Paul
Kanjorski, D-11, and Charles Dent, R-15, to consider Cherry Valley
as a prospective National Wildlife Refuge.
The aim
of the study was to evaluate the biological value of natural communities within
the valley and determine if the area merits protection. That study, along with
the recommendation for protection, was released Friday.
"It
is a great day that the study has officially recognized the need to protect
this pristine area and the endangered species, including animals, such as the
bog turtle, and many plants," Kanjorski said.
The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service offered three alternatives in the study, including a
smaller refuge, and the preferred option of establishing a refuge protecting up
to 20,400 acres in Cherry
Valley.
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a federal network of protected
areas intended to safeguard wildlife and their habitats and provide
recreational opportunities for the public. The national program encompasses 548
refuges and 96 million acres. The two in Pennsylvania
are the Erie National
Wildlife Refuge in the northwestern part of the state and the John Heinz
National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, in the southeastern corner
of the state.
Cherry Valley is 30,000 acres stretching from Saylorsburg to Delaware Water Gap
that is home to important natural communities and many protected plants and
animals. Those include species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Kittatinny
Ridge, the southeastern flank of the valley, is a major avenue for migrating
birds of prey, songbirds, waterfowl and bats, according to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Cherry Creek, a Delaware River
tributary, carries trout, minnows and even American eels. The
valley also hosts unique species, including the bald eagles, the dwarf wedge
mussel, northeastern bulrush and the bog turtle.
The
designation of an area as a National Wildlife Refuge makes federal money
available to purchase properties from willing sellers for the purpose of
conservation. The areas are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Kanjorski
first toured the valley with local conservationist several years ago.
"I
want to thank the congressman. He was in it at the very beginning. We are very
thrilled about it," said Suzanne McCool, county commissioner's chairwoman.
"This
is an enormous step forward in our efforts to preserve Cherry Valley.
It will give landowners one more option to help preserve their lands as a
legacy for future generations. Efforts for land preservation have been stalled
as funds are becoming harder to find from local government and area
agencies," said Debra Schuler, president of the Friends of Cherry Valley,
a local conservation group.
Even a
veteran like Cook couldn't help be impressed with the effort toward the
designation.
"I've
worked in conservation for 29 years and I have never worked anywhere where
there is a greater and more passionate commitment to preserve valuable
resources than in Cherry
Valley," Cook said.
Two local
public hearings will be held in November to gather comments on the study. A
decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could come by the end of the
year.
Of course,
if the refuge is approved, it will still require congressional appropriations
to fund it. Still, it will have been a monumental accomplishment involving
several agencies, elected officials, and local and federal support.
Public meetings
When: Wednesday,
Nov. 19
Where: Christ Hamilton
Church, Bossardsville Road,
Saylorsburg, (570) 992-4085
Schedule:
4:30-6:30
p.m. informational open house; 7-9 p.m. brief
presentation followed by public comments
When: Thursday,
Nov. 20
Where: Stroudsmoor Country Inn,
Ridgecrest
Event Facility, Stroudsmoor Road,
Stroudsburg, (570) 421-6431
Schedule:
4:30-6:30
p.m. informational open house, 7-9 p.m. brief presentation
followed by public comments
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