Bentley Run Wetlands is Erie County's newest nature preserve
A new area of protected natural wetlands and forest in Erie County was recently announced by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. On Sept. 16, they announced the permanent protection of 348 acres of forest and wetlands in Union Township through a conservation easement. The property is just east of Union City, north of U.S. Route 6. The land is next to Game Land 102. This is a fantastic addition to the natural areas of northwestern Erie County.
The conservation easement was purchased from 730 Texas Timberlands II, Ltd. The easement restricts future subdivision development and timber harvesting on 222 acres of forest, streams and wetlands. Sustainable timber will continue on 126 acres.
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The easement will safeguard the forested banks around a portion of the Union City Reservoir and protect additional forestland in the French Creek watershed. The conservancy has prioritized this due to the watershed’s variety and abundance of aquatic wildlife, rare plants and animal species.
Bentley Run, in addition to the mature forest, also provides the forest a buffer for the streams, rare wetlands and marsh plant communities, which host habitats for more than 20 species of concern in the state. There is also a large beaver dam and a meadow within Bentley.
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Bentley Run area includes glacial formations, hemlock forest
This property also hosts rare glacial landforms, including an esker, a long ridge of sand, gravel and rocks deposited by a stream flowing within or beneath a stagnant glacier. Glacier kettle holes are made by trapping large blocks of ice buried by glacial outwash and the subsequent melting of it.
Also within the property is a hemlock forest that is designated a Natural Heritage Area. The land will continue in private ownership. However, Bentley Run Wetlands is open to the public for hiking, wildlife viewing, birding, hunting and fishing.
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Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and French Creek watershed
The WPC enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands, protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams and assessed thousands of wildlife species and their habitats. It also has overseen the assessment of thousands of wildlife species and their habitats. The work of the conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 10,000 members.
The conservancy has protected more than 6,000 acres within the 1,250 French Creek watershed, starting in 1969 with the Wattsburg Natural Area. Also, as all that was going on, it
The newly purchased area has many interesting types of special interest plants and other natural features. I know that come spring, I will drive down to Bentley Run to hike and photograph this new nature preserve.
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Gene Ware is the author of 10 books. He serves on the board of the Presque Isle Light Station and is past chairman of the boards of the Tom Ridge Center Foundation and the Presque Isle Partnership. Email him at ware906@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Bentley Run in Erie County named a new nature preserve by WPC
