The Allegheny National Forest

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The Allegheny National Forest

• A few quick facts
• Established in 1923 by Presidential Proclamation
  under the authority of the 1911 Weeks Act.
• Current Acreage 513,325 acres
• One of 155 National Forests managed by the U.S.
  Forest Service only NF in Pennsylvania
• Lies within a dayss drive of 1/3 Nations
  population
• Congress mandates that NFs be managed to provide
  multiple benefits in a sustainable way so future
  generations will enjoy these lands.

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• The ANF is the Administering Agency for two
  Wild and Scenic Rivers
• 86.6 miles on the Allegheny Wild and Scenic
  River, (1992)
• 51.7 miles on the Clarion Wild and Scenic River,
  (1996)

Note The public law that created the
designation of both wild and scenic rivers
states the rivers are to be administered by the
Secretary of Agriculture this in turn was
delegated to the U.S. Forest Service the
Administering Agency.
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Clarion River Municipal Partnership

• Formed in 2007 to address issues relating to
  regional tourism and the management of the
  National Wild Scenic Clarion River
• 8 Townships and 2 Borough Members
• Guided by our management tripod of
• River Health
• Economic Opportunity
• Cultural Heritage

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The National Wild Scenic River Act

• It shall be the policy of the United States
  that certain selected rivers of the Nation which,
  with their immediate environments, possess
  Outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational,
  geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural,
  or other similar values, shall be preserved in
  free-flowing condition, and that they and their
  immediate environments shall be protected for the
  benefit and enjoyment of present and future
  generations.

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The Clarion River Designation

• Added as a Study River in 1992 (P.L. 102-271)
• 51.7 miles designated October 1996 (P.L. 104-314)
• From Ridgway to the backwaters of Piney Dam
• 34.6 Miles Designated Recreational (2 segments)
• 17.1 Miles Designated Scenic (2 segments)

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The Clarion WSR Segments
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• Approximately 64 percent of the rivers edge is in
  public ownership
• Allegheny National Forest
• DCNR Bureau of Forestry
• DCNR Clear Creek Cook Forest State Parks
• PA Game Commission
• Includes riverfront in 9 Townships - Ridgway,
  Spring Creek, Millstone (Elk Cnty), Heath,
  Barnett (Jefferson Cnty), Barnett (Forest Cnty),
  Millcreek, Highland, and Farmington (Clarion Cnty)

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Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORV)

• Landform Value
• Scenic Value
• Ecological Value
• Wildlife Value
• Aquatic Value
• Heritage Value
• Recreational Value

Protecting the ORVs is the basis for all
management objectives
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Established ORVs for the Clarion

• Landform Value- Sinuous river with steep, narrow
  valley having little or no floodplain, containing
  large boulders in the river course for the
  Clarion this is a part of what makes the Scenic
  value so high
• Scenic Value- Steeply forested hillsides of
  almost continuous mature deciduous and
  coniferous vegetation
• Recreational Value- Class C-1 with a long
  floating season and a large variety of
  recreational opportunities and public facilities

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Allegheny National Forest Marienville Ranger
District 131 Smokey Lane Marienville, PA
16329 District Ranger, Robert Fallon (814)
927-5799 rfallon_at_fs.fed.us
Clarion River Municipal Partnership Council c/o
Millstone Township 2329 Route 3001 Sigel, PA
15860 Chairman Eric Patton (814)
752-6279 epatton_at_wrcks.net