On October 28, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Parks Director John Hallas celebrated the induction of Erie Bluffs State Park in Erie County into the national Old-Growth Forest Network, an organization that connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected forests.

Erie Bluff's woodlands are the 33rd forest in Pennsylvania to join the OGFN as it works to preserve at least one forest in every county in the U.S. that can sustain a forest.

The network's mission is to identify forests, ensure their protection from logging, and inform people of the forest locations.

“Erie Bluffs State Park is a tremendous place to visit and I am happy to be here today to celebrate the induction into the Old-Growth Forest Network," said Director Hallas. “This beautiful, pristine park stands out among our wonderful state park system and I am grateful to the network for recognizing the importance of this unique natural space."

Erie Bluffs State Park has nearly 430 acres of forest with the older growth trees occurring near the Lake Erie shoreline and along the Duck Run ravine.

The diverse canopy includes large oaks and sugar maples and supports other species such as red maple, black cherry, Eastern hemlock, northern red oak, black oak, American hop-hornbeam, tulip poplar, sassafras, pignut hickory, bitternut hickory, black locust, basswood, and the rare pumpkin ash.

The park also features a rare black oak woodland/savanna, Great Lakes region sand barren ecosystems, and a forested wetland.

“Pennsylvania has a high quantity of protected old-growth forests inducted into the network and the Commonwealth shows its continued commitment to the preservation of old-growth forests and belief in their values," said Brian Kane, Mid-Atlantic Manager of the Old-Growth Forest Network. “Many people will be able to come and visit this remarkable forest and appreciate its maturity and its role in a healthy regional ecology. This forest is particularly significant in that it benefits the quality of water that finds its way to Lake Erie. Healthy protected forests are closely connected to clean drinking water for the region's residents. Forests truly play a vital role in clean waterways and the water that reaches our homes, offices, and schools."

State Parks like Erie Bluffs, and nearby Presque Isle State Park, offer fantastic outdoor experiences that truly make Pennsylvania – The Great American Getaway.

In addition to its conservation value, Erie Bluffs offers a mile of Lake Erie shoreline, 90-foot bluffs, trails, and fishing at Elk Creek. It is a day-use park, with fishing and boating permitted. Swimming is prohibited at the park.

“This honor bestowed upon Erie Bluffs State Park highlights the richness of our natural resources here in Erie County," said Erie Bluffs State Park Manager Matt Greene. “Presque Isle State Park is often thought of as the place to experience unique natural phenomena. With Erie Bluffs being recognized by the Old Growth Forest Network, it shows that this park is special in its own right, with a completely different ecosystem and experience for the visitors that come here."

All forests are essential to a healthy ecosystem, but old-growth forests are particularly valuable for their unique structure. They retain more carbon and nitrogen than younger forests, improving water and air quality. For more information about old-growth forests, visit DCNR's website.

Founded in 2012 by Dr. Joan Maloof, OGFN currently includes over 257 forests across 39 states. The network also educates the public about the ecological benefits of old-growth forests and speaks out regarding immediate threats to specific ancient forests.

Learn more about Erie Bluffs Old Growth Forest and Old Growth Forest sites in Pennsylvania.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Related Articles:

-- Pennsylvania Office Of Outdoor Recreation Rolls Out ‘Elevate’ Initiative To Engage Outdoor Businesses; Outdoor Businesses Questionnaire  [PaEN]

-- DCNR’s Erie Bluffs State Park Inducted Into National Old-Growth Forest Network  [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy Adds 23 Acres To Old-Growth Tryon-Weber Woods Natural Area In Crawford County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: Last Fall Foliage Report: Still Plenty Of Fall Color In Pennsylvania’s Southern Tier This Coming Week  [PaEN]

-- DCNR, Trust For Public Land Celebate $2.6 Million In Federal Grants For Local Parks In Reading, Scranton

-- PA Forestry Assn. 138th Annual Symposium - What Makes A Healthy Forest;  Awards Program Nov. 16 In State College  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Erie Times: Erie Bluffs State Park Joins Old-Growth Forest Network, What It Means For The Park

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Paddlers Account For 60% Of PA Boating Fatalities In 2024

-- TribLive: Hampton Girls Excel At Riding Waves, Even On Allegheny River

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: 100 Philly Parks Need Your Help With Fall Cleanup

-- MCall: Wildfire Burns Into Night On Blue Mountain In Northampton County

-- WNEP: Crews Battle Forest Fire In Lackawanna County; Advise Residents Not To Burn 

-- KDKA: Dangerously Dry Conditions Raise Western PA Brush Fire Risk

-- Scranton Times: Brush Fires And Dry Weather Continue

-- Reading Eagle: Berks County Enacts Outdoor Burn Ban Due To Dry Weather Conditions

-- KYW: Christmas Tree Growers In PA Concerned About Record-Breaking Drought 

-- Republican Herald: No End In Sight For Try Conditions In Schuylkill County

-- WNEP: Wildfire Concerns Across Northeastern, Central Pennsylvania

-- PennLive: This October Will Be One Of The Driest Ever Recorded In Central PA

-- TribLive: Trick-Or-Drought? How Dry Is It In Western Pennsylvania?

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay Halloween Edition! Bat Stories; Bat Trivia; Witch-Hazel; News Around The Watershed

-- The Allegheny Front/WVIA: Native PA Beech Tree Battles 2 Diseases That Put It At Risk For Extinction

-- York Daily Record: Dallastown Intermediate School Students Plant A ‘Moon Tree’ That Traveled Into Space

-- Penn State: Deer, Seedlings And Soil pH Influence Local Forest Regeneration

-- Help Wanted: PA-NJ Chapter American Chestnut Foundation Administrator Position 

-- WPost: On A Hurricane-Ravaged Appalachian Trail, Vast Damage And Uncertainty

[Posted: October 28, 2024]

11/4/2024