File:An analysis of Pennsylvania's forest resources (1982) (17983357829).jpg

Title: An analysis of Pennsylvania's forest resources
Identifier: analysisofpennsy69powe (find matches)
Year: 1982 (1980s)
Authors: Powell, Douglas S; Considine, Thomas J
Subjects: Forests and forestry Pennsylvania; Forest management Pennsylvania
Publisher: [Broomall, Pa.  : United States Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station]
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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Surface waters are generally di- vided into lakes and rivers. Both the lakes and rivers are important, though their roles are somewhat dif- ferent. Lake Erie, the oldest and warmest of the Great Lakes, supports a port and much recreation, and forms part of the state's border. Lakes and marshland created by the last period of glaciation are found in the northwest and northeast corners of the state. Conneaut Lake is the largest natural lake in the state and like most of Pennsylvania's natural lakes is of glacial origin. Manmade lakes across the state were built by a variety of private, State, and Federal organizations. In varying degrees they provide a wide range of benefits: water quality control, low-flow aug- mentation, flood control, hydroelec- tric power, and numerous recrea- tional activities. More than 185,000 acres of pond and lake surface can be fished and more than 174,000 are suitable for boating (Pa. Off. State Plan, and Dev. 1976). Development of Pennsylvania's natural resources and the growth of her industries and population have been greatly influenced by three major rivers and their tributaries— the Susquehanna, the Ohio, and the Delaware (Fig. 23). From the time of the earliest settlers until the con- struction of the modern highway sys- tem, the navigability of the rivers and land travel made possible by river val- leys opened the way to colonization. The Susquehanna system, covering most of the central and southern sec- tions of the state, drains the largest area—20,831 square miles—and is 58 percent forested. The Ohio River sys- tem, primarily a result of the conflu- ence of the Allegheny and Mononga- hela Rivers, drains 15,639 square miles of Western Pennsylvania and is also 58 percent forested. The Dela- ware River forms the eastern border of the state and drains 6,278 square miles. Forty-two percent of this river basin is covered with commercial for- est land. Together, these three river systems have more than 50,000 miles of surface water, of which 16,000 miles and 4,000 miles are available for fishing and boating, respectively. Small portions of two other river sys- tems, the Genesee and Potomac, drain portions of Pennsylvania. Smaller streams are plentiful throughout the state, especially in the west and north where they often cut deeply into the broad Appalachi- an Plateau. While a valuable resource, Penn- sylvania's waters are also a vulner- able resource. Currently, the state's waters are indeed quite different from those seen by the early Dutch and Swedish colonists. Settlement came slowly to much of Pennsylvania through the mid-1800's. Forest and water problems were likely few and localized. However, from the mid- 1800's into the 1920's a series of events occurred which were to affect the lands and waters for many years. Increasing immigration and dis- covery of local energy sources helped swell Pennsylvania's popula- tion and power the Industrial Revolu- tion. Farming intensified, industries developed to extract and transport the State's abundant resources of coal and wood, and cities and towns
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