Land Exchange to Benefit Public, Aid Missions of DCNR and Game Commission

DCNR-Acquired Lands to be Managed Jointly by State Forest, State Park Bureaus

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A land exchange between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Game Commission will enable both agencies to better meet their respective public missions, officials said today.

Under the transaction finalized June 24, DCNR received from the Game Commission 4,816 acres of state game lands in Clarion County, while DCNR transferred 4,250 acres in Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County to the commission.

Additionally, DCNR transferred 1,863 surface acres of water, and the Game Commission transferred its 1,698-acre ownership of easement on State Game Land 283 in Clarion County.

DCNR Secretary John Quigley said his department's newly acquired lands will be managed jointly by the agency's bureaus of forestry and state parks.

"Future management of these lands will be best overseen in a cooperative effort of our Bureau of State Parks and Bureau of Forestry," said Quigley. "This agreement calls for state parks to assume primary responsibility for the majority of land closest to the river, as well as recreational activities on that land. However, both bureaus will work closely together to manage all lands involved."

Quigley said DCNR's management approach will recognize local interest in retaining the more primitive and undeveloped character of the river corridor and offering new recreational opportunities. Previously, camping on any Game Commission lands was not allowed, but under DCNR's management, primitive, canoe-in camping is being planned at designated sites, two of which will be available later this year.

All lands transferred to DCNR will remain open to the public for hunting and trapping. Future management of the Clarion County tract will include improvements to a large network of land trails in the corridor to accommodate a variety of non-motorized recreation opportunities such as hiking and horseback riding.

"This is truly a 'win-win' situation for our state forest and park visitors and the sportsmen of Pennsylvania," said Quigley. "We take pride in managing our state forest and parks system for many values and uses.  Whether for horseback riding or increased waterway access, this acquisition now permits DCNR to offer so much to so many when they visit the Clear Creek State Forest and Cook Forest State Park along the Clarion River corridor."

"For years, the Game Commission and DCNR – two of the largest landowners in the commonwealth – have acquired lands for public use, but have differing primary objectives and uses for these lands," said Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. "As land has been acquired, situations have arisen in which contrasting land use policies and regulations have caused confusion for the general public and a decreased ability for each agency to meet its management and public recreational goals.  

"In response to this situation, the two agencies finalized the exchange of land aimed at easing conflicts, while enhancing the two separate agencies' abilities to meet their independent objectives."

Roe noted that since 1947, the two agencies have been working collaboratively through a cooperative agreement on management of a large portion of the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area, in which portions are designated as State Game Land 214 in Crawford County and other portions are within the borders of Pymatuning State Park.  

"Gaining ownership of the 1,863 surface acres of water from DCNR is critical to the Game Commission's mission of managing waterfowl in the Pymatuning Wildlife management area," Roe said. "The lack of Game Commission-ownership of this area is one of the challenges the agency faced in making necessary adjustments to water levels in Pymatuning Lake that are designed to enhance waterfowl habitat."

In Clarion County, other DCNR river corridor efforts will include participation in the Allegheny National Forest's Wild and Scenic River Management planning, and attempts to update the Clarion River Water Trail map, which is available at www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails/trailindex.htm.

For more river corridor information, contact Cook Forest State Park Complex Manager Marcia Gordon at 814-744-8407.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources