Spring Creek Canyon master plan deserves support

Theodore Trostle

The Spring Creek Canyon master plan process was initiated by Benner Township and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The consulting firm, Environmental Planning and Design LLC, was contracted to guide the process. Additionally a steering advisory committee, a technical advisory committee, and a public advisory committee provided substantial input to the plan.

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The committee members included Penn State, Benner Township, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, various professional technicians, and representatives from each of the Spring Creek watershed municipalities. Two public meetings were held to allow citizens to express their views and evaluate the progress.

The master plan is not perfect. The plan reflects the results of the planning process and has been found acceptable by the project sponsors. It represents a substantial body of information, advice and recommendations that will be used by the future owners of the property as they implement the provisions of the plan.

The plan evolved into a conservation strategy that

includes a series of goals, objectives and principles. The goals include preservation of the property’s unique natural resources and the integrity of Spring Creek.

Through the master planning process these goals were expanded to reflect significant aspects of the property including historic and prehistoric cultural resources and opportunities for conservation-oriented research and education. The objectives and principles included the protection of the site’s natural and cultural resources, the balance of recreation opportunities within the sites capacity, and the coordination of public and private access.

The conservation strategy provides a master plan, a management plan and requirements for a conservation easement to be agreed upon by the future property owners. The master plan provides 27 detailed recommendations including site activities, capital projects, policies and additional needed assessments. Also included are conservation values that include specific assessments and recommendations related to natural resource ecosystem functions, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, flora and fauna and open space. Also included are guidelines and requirements for management of the Spring Creek Canyon that compliment the conservation values.

The provisions contained in the conservation strategy are to be specifically referenced into the conservation easement document which is now being prepared by ClearWater Conservancy and the DCNR. It is expected that the actual transfer of land will not occur until all parties to the agreement have agreed to terms and conditions.

The master plan provides a legal basis or blueprint upon which to prepare the legislation to transfer the property. The master plan becomes the key to the land transfer process.

In conclusion, the Spring Creek Canyon master plan, now referred to as the conservation strategy, is supported by the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It is our belief the plan represents a reasonable solution among the various alternative strategies that were advanced during the planning process.

We encourage the public to join us and likewise support the master plan.

Theodore Trostle, of State College, is immediate past president and current member of the board of directors of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited.