The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will hold a public planning session on January 26 in Girard, Erie County seeking public comment on natural resource management and future development plans for Erie Bluffs State Park.

The park’s history, vast natural resources and recreational potential will be addressed by officials of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, former owner of the 540-acre tract, and Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC, a private, Philadelphia-based design and planning firm contracted to draft the park’s master plan.

Those attending the session will be asked two major questions: “What would you like to see happen at Erie Bluffs State Park?” and “What concerns do you have about future development of Erie Bluffs?”

Bureau of State Parks Director Roger Fickes and other guest speakers will discuss a variety of topics, including how public involvement will help Erie Bluffs serve as a model for future state parks, natural resources fieldwork by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy at the site, an overview of the master plan process; and the importance of public input.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired the tract on Lake Erie’s shoreline in western Erie County from Reliant Energy in December 2003, using a $1.5 million grant from DCNR. The conservancy released the land to DCNR late last month.

The site is composed of several ecological zones, including relict sand dunes formed shortly after glaciation, wetlands fed by natural springs and seeps, a lake plain swamp forest, seep-ravines, creek ravines, and the bluff face itself.

In May and July 2004, more than 130 scientists, naturalists and volunteers across the state converged on Erie Bluffs State Park in a four-day, volunteer effort to identify as many plants and animals as possible in day and night field exercises. Popularly known in the scientific community as a “bioblitz,” the effort identified more than 1,200 species.

For more information, go to the Erie Bluffs State Park webpage.

1/21/2005