Recent Accomplishements of the Pennsylvania Flora Project

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=48 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Recent Accomplishements of the Pennsylvania Flora Project</I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#006600" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research and activities of the Pennsylva"><U><B>Research and Activities of the PA Flora Project</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Pennsylvania Flora Project"><U><B>PA Flora Project Home</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=432 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Lower Saucon Township Natural Resources Inventory</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="659" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 366 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0687b680.jpg" border=0 width="379" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0697b680.jpg" border=0 width="379" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 WIDTH="324"><div> View from Granite hill, Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Vernal pool, Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 99 WIDTH="649"><div> Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania contracted with us to conduct a natural resources inventory for incorporation into an update of their comprehensive plan.  Our report to the township recommended special emphasis on the conservation of large forested areas, reptile and amphibian habitat including vernal ponds, and headwaters wetlands associated with streams.  <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Issue: Deer eating the future of"><U>Deer overabundance</U></A> and exotic invasive species are impacting natural habitats in Lower Saucon Township as elsewhere in the region.  The township lies partly in the Reading Prong, and partly in the Great Valley.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Vegetation Inventory for the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="658" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 49 WIDTH="652"><div> In October 2000 we conducted a vegetation inventory of a section of French Creek west of Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Plant communities were mapped and described and areas severely impacted by exotic invasive species identified.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="659" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 426 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="06b35a40.jpg" border=0 width="309" height="420" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="04b2ca40.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="420" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 14 ><NOBR><div> Cliffs along Tinicum Creek, Tinicum Township, Bucks County</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Vegetation map of Tinicum Township, Bucks County</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 82 WIDTH="651"><div> Tinicum Township, in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania is still largely rural but beginning to feel the pressure of suburban sprawl.  As a necessary part of open space planning, the township hired us to develop a vegetation map and inventory of natural communities.  Using aerial photography and numerous field visits we identified and mapped (using ArcView - ESRI) a total of 21 different plant community types.  Management recommendations were also discussed including the problems of exotic invasive species and <A HREF="id13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Issue: Deer eating the future of"><U>excessive deer browsing</U></A>.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="659" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 119 WIDTH="651"><div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrat"><U><I><B>Natural Bucks County: Guide to Public Natural Areas</B></I></U></A><I><B> </B></I>by Ann F. Rhoads and Timothy A. Block</div> <div> As a follow-up to the Natural Areas Inventory of Bucks County completed in 1999, we compiled a 93-page guidebook to 36 publicly accessible natural areas in Bucks County.  The book contains location maps, natural history information, and other interesting facts about each site, as well as a discussion of countywide environmental issues.  It is illustrated with photographs and drawings by Anna Anisko.  Published by the Bucks County Commissioners, the book can be purchased at nature centers and bookstores or from the <A HREF="http://www.upenn.edu/morris/giftshop.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.upenn.edu/morris/giftshop.htm"><U>Morris Arboretum gift shop</U></A>.  It sells for $7.50.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>