Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58
Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58
	Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58
Location	Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Nearest city	Mainville, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°55′0″N76°19′0″W / 40.91667°N 76.31667°W Coordinates: 40°55′0″N76°19′0″W / 40.91667°N 76.31667°W
Area	12646 acres
Designation	Pennsylvania State Game Lands
Owner	Pennsylvania Game Commission

Last updated May 04, 2023

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58 are Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. They are one of six State Game Lands in Columbia County and Montour County and are the second-largest of those State Game Lands.^[1] The game lands have an area of 12,646 acres and are mostly forested. Numerous streams are within the game land's boundaries and several game animals inhabit the area. There is a high level of bird biodiversity. Recreational opportunities in the state game lands include a rifle range and several trails.

Geography

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are situated near Mainville. They have an area of 12,646 acres.^[1] This is 61.4 percent of all the State Game Lands in Columbia County and 41.7 percent of all the protected land in the county. The game lands occupy portions of five townships: Beaver Township, Catawissa Township, Main Township, Mifflin Township, and Roaring Creek Township.^[2] The game lands have been described as being shaped like a dogleg.^[3]

The terrain in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 is described as "heavily forested and mountainous" by the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau.^[1] They are flatter in their northern reaches and more mountainous in their southern reaches.^[3] However, there are also foodplots and grassy areas. Rocky outcrops and ravines occur in the game lands.^[4] A fire tower is situated within the game lands. Most of them are on Catawissa Mountain, but a disconnected section is on Nescopeck Mountain.^[1] Numerous small streams flow through the game lands, including Furnace Run, Fisher Run, Mine Gap Run, Long Hollow, Stranger Hollow, Klingermans Run, and Cranberry Run. The game lands are in the watershed of Catawissa Creek.^[1]^[4]

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are one of only three tracts of public forest in the watershed of Catawissa Creek.^[5] It comprises the vast majority of such land.^[5] The game lands are on part of a system of connected forested ridges running from Moosic Mountain to the Susquehanna River.^[4]

Biology

Game animals occurring in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 include deer, bear, wild turkey, and grouse.^[1] Pheasants have also been hunted in the game lands and have been stocked there.^[6]^[7] The area has been managed for ruffed grouse and woodcocks.^[8]

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 have a high level of bird biodiversity. Bird species in the game lands include six warbler species, two vireo species, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, eastern wood pewee, barred owl, white-breasted nuthatch, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Mammals observed there include eastern chipmunks, white-footed mice, short-tailed shrews, and red-backed voles. Reptiles and amphibians observed in the state game lands include box turtles, American toads, wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and garter snakes. Insects such as the black swallowtail and the tiger swallowtail are also found there.^[4]

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are one of the largest remaining tracts of forested land in Columbia County.^[5] It mainly consists of deciduous forests, such as dry oak-heath forests and dry oak–mixed hardwood forests. However, other forest types such as pitch pine–mixed oak forest and hemlock-hardwood forest are present as well. Hemlock trees line many of the area's ravines and streams.^[4] A total of 1800 aspen seedlings were also planted in the game lands in 2011. Native, warm-season grasses inhabit the game lands as well.^[8]

History and recreation

There is one designated hiking trail in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58. It is 11.3 miles (18.2 km) long and loops from the base of Fire Tower Road up to the fire tower and back.^[1] Additionally, there are designated routes for horses and bicycles there.^[5] The game lands also contain a rifle range, which is at the entrance to the game lands, on Rifle Range Road near Pennsylvania Route 339. The game lands have four parking lots in their southern end and at least eight in their northern end.^[1] Some township roads lead to the game lands.^[3]

The old Reading Railroad corridor passes through Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58.^[2] In 2011, several acres of warm-season native grasses were burned in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 during a controlled burn.^[8] In 2014, 626 acres (253 ha) were slated for controlled burning.^[9]

In August 2013, Wildlife Conservation Officer John Morack stated that he intended to increase law enforcement patrols at the shooting range of Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 to prevent vandalism and other illegal activities.^[10]

Related Research Articles

Catawissa Creek is a 41.8-mile-long (67.3 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in east-central Pennsylvania in the United States. Its watershed has an area of 153 square miles (400 km²).

Fishing Creek is a 29.98-mile (48.25 km) long tributary of the Susquehanna River in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It joins the Susquehanna River near the census-designated place of Rupert and the town of Bloomsburg. The watershed has an area of 385 square miles (1,000 km²).

Little Fishing Creek is a tributary of Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Lycoming County, and Columbia County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 23.5 miles (37.8 km) long and flows through eight townships. The watershed of the creek has an area of 68.1 square miles (176 km²). The creek has six named tributaries, of which the largest are Spruce Run and West Branch Run.

Roaring Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Columbia County and Montour County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is slightly more than 20 miles (32 km) long and flows through Roaring Creek Township, Locust Township, Catawissa Township, Cleveland Township, and Franklin Township in Columbia County and Mayberry Township in Montour County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 87.3 square miles (226 km²). It has three named tributaries: South Branch Roaring Creek, Lick Run, and Mill Creek. The creek is not considered to be impaired and is not affected by coal mining. However, its watershed has been impacted by human land use. Claystones, conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, and shales all occur within the watershed. The creek flows through a gorge in its lower reaches, along the border between Columbia County and Montour County.

Mahoning Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Columbia County and Montour County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 10.6 miles (17.1 km) long and flows through Madison Township in Columbia County and West Hemlock Township, Derry Township, Valley Township, Mahoning Township, and Danville in Montour County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 39.6 square miles (103 km²). Its tributaries include Kase Run, Mauses Creek, and Sechler Run. Mahoning Creek is designated as a Trout-Stocking Fishery and a Migratory Fishery for part of its length and as a Warmwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery for the remainder.

Hemlock Creek is a stream in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is 7.6 miles (12.2 km) in length. The stream is a tributary of Fishing Creek. It is primarily in Madison and Hemlock Townships. Its named tributaries are West Hemlock Creek and Frozen Run. Hemlock Creek flows through Montour Ridge. Industries in the vicinity of Hemlock Creek have largely consisted of mills and iron mines. The creek's watershed is in Columbia and Montour Counties and is 16 square miles (41 km²) in area.

Montour Run is a tributary of Fishing Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. It is the last named tributary to join the creek and is 3.1 miles (5.0 km) long. The stream's watershed has an area of approximately 4.7 square miles and is located in Montour Township, Columbia County and Cooper Township, Montour County. The annual load of sediment in the watershed is 4,248,000 pounds (1,927,000 kg), most of which comes from agricultural lands. Minnows live in the stream.

Catawissa Mountain is a mountain in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its peak height is 1,873 feet (571 m) above sea level, making it the fifth-highest mountain in Columbia County. Streams that flow near the mountain include Roaring Creek, Catawissa Creek, and some of its tributaries. The mountain is near Nescopeck Mountain and Little Mountain. Sandstones and rock formations such as the Pocono Formation occur on Catawissa Mountain.

Mud Creek is a tributary of Chillisquaque Creek in Columbia County and Montour County in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 8.3 miles (13.4 km) long and flows through Madison Township, Columbia County and Derry Township, Montour County. The main tributaries of the creek are unnamed tributaries. The creek's watershed has an area of 17.70 square miles and is in West Hemlock Township, Montour County as well as the two townships it flows through. The watershed is mostly agricultural and forested and the main developed areas are Washingtonville and Jerseytown.

Spruce Run is a tributary of Little Fishing Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 6.9 miles (11.1 km) long and flows through Madison Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 9.80 square miles (25.4 km²). Several people settled on the stream in the 1780s and 1790s. Two bridges were built over it in the 20th century.

Scotch Run is one of the main tributaries of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 7.8 miles (12.6 km) long and flows through Beaver Township and Main Township. The stream's watershed has an area of 9.10 square miles (23.6 km²). The stream is infertile and acidic. It is 7.2 feet (2.2 m) wide in its upper reaches and 17.0 feet (5.2 m) wide in its lower reaches. The main rock formations in the watershed include the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Pocono Formation, the Pottsville Formation, and the Spechty Kopf Formation. The main soils include Leck Kill soil and Hazleton soil. It flows between Nescopeck Mountain and McCauley Mountain.

Beaver Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long and flows through Beaver Township. The stream's watershed has an area of 9.60 miles (15.45 km). Wetlands are present in the watershed. The stream was named by Alexander McCauley in 1774.

Furnace Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long and flows through Catawissa Township and Main Township. The stream is the last named tributary to enter Catawissa Creek before its mouth. The stream's watershed has an area of 2.82 square miles (7.3 km²). The main rock formations are the Pottsville Group and the Mauch Chunk Formation. The stream itself is considered to be a high quality coldwater fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters.

Mine Gap Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and flows through Roaring Creek Township and Beaver Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.92 square miles (2.4 km²). The stream is polluted and acidic. However, it is considered to be a coldwater fishery. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Spechty Kopf Formation, the Pocono Formation, and the Buddys Run Member of the Catskill Formation.

Klingermans Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long and flows through Roaring Creek Township and Beaver Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.78 square miles (4.6 km²). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pocono Formation and the main soils are the Leck Kill soil and the Hazleton soil.

Nescopeck Mountain is a ridge in Columbia County and Luzerne County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its elevation is 1,594 feet (486 m) above sea level. The ridge is a forested ridge, with at least two types of forest and two systems of vernal pools. It is a very long and unbroken ridge with two water gaps: one carved by Catawissa Creek and one carved by Nescopeck Creek. This later gap was exploited as a transportation corridor with the construction of the Lausanne–Nescopeck Turnpike between the respective frontier communities at Lausanne Landing and Nescopeck in 1805 connecting the newly developing Wyoming Valley with Philadelphia and the Delaware River valley; cutting off over 100 miles between Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre. Today's Route PA 93 derives from this historic pack mule road.

McCauley Mountain is a mountain in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its official elevation is 1,571 feet (479 m) above sea level. The mountain is a synclinal mountain. Main rock formations on and near it include the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pottsville Formation. There are also coal deposits on it. The coal deposits were discovered in 1826 and mining of them began in the 1850s. However, coal mining on the east side of the mountain proved to be a commercial failure. There are a number of ponds on the mountain, some of which were created during the mining. However, others are natural vernal pools. Some of the ponds are surrounded by hemlocks and deciduous trees. Major streams near the mountain include Scotch Run, Beaver Run, and Catawissa Creek. The mountain is named after Alexander McCauley, who settled there in 1774.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 55 are Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. They have an area of 2,474 acres (1,001 ha). A number of ridges, such as Knob Mountain, Huntington Mountain, and Lee Mountain, are within their boundaries, as are streams such as Briar Creek and Little Shickshinny Creek. The main game animals there include deer, grouse, squirrel, and turkey. Numerous bird species also inhabit these game lands.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226 are Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. They have an area of 4,335 acres (1,754 ha). The terrain of the game lands mainly consists of woodlots and food plots. Streams such as Spruce Run and East Branch Chillisquaque Creek are within their boundaries. The main game animals in these game lands include deer, grouse, squirrel, and turkey.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 329 are Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Columbia County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. They have an area of 1,146 acres (464 ha). The game lands are mainly forested, but there is also some farmland. Little Catawissa Creek passes through them. The main game animals in these game lands include bear, deer, grouse, squirrel, and turkey.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, State Game Lands (PDF), pp. 6–7, retrieved February 11, 2015
1 2 Columbia County Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, Greenways and Open Space Plan (PDF), 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved February 20, 2015
1 2 3 The Pennsylvania Sportsman, Volume 32, Issues 5–8, Northwoods Publications, 1991, p. 85
1 2 3 4 5 The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (2004), Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory 2004 (PDF), p. 50, retrieved February 20, 2015
1 2 3 4 Pennsylvania Environmental Council (December 9, 2010), Catawissa Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved February 11, 2015
↑ Junior Pheasant Hunt — Oct. 10 - 17 , retrieved February 11, 2015
↑ "Pheasant stocking sites listed", Times Leader , November 2, 1997, retrieved February 23, 2015
1 2 3 "Habitat Work Underway on PA State Game Lands", PR Newswire, May 17, 2011, retrieved February 23, 2015
↑ "PGC to conduct prescribed burns", Weekender, April 26, 2014, retrieved February 23, 2015
↑ P.J. Reilly (September 11, 2013), "PGC aims to reduce problems at ranges", Lancaster Online, retrieved February 23, 2015

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[itour-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, State Game Lands (PDF), pp. 6–7, retrieved February 11, 2015

[green_lane-2] 1 2 Columbia County Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, Greenways and Open Space Plan (PDF), 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved February 20, 2015

[outdoors-3] 1 2 3 The Pennsylvania Sportsman, Volume 32, Issues 5–8, Northwoods Publications, 1991, p. 85

[inventory-4] 1 2 3 4 5 The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (2004), Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory 2004 (PDF), p. 50, retrieved February 20, 2015

[conservationplan-5] 1 2 3 4 Pennsylvania Environmental Council (December 9, 2010), Catawissa Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved February 11, 2015

[6] Junior Pheasant Hunt — Oct. 10 - 17 , retrieved February 11, 2015

[7] "Pheasant stocking sites listed", Times Leader , November 2, 1997, retrieved February 23, 2015

[prnewswire-8] 1 2 3 "Habitat Work Underway on PA State Game Lands", PR Newswire, May 17, 2011, retrieved February 23, 2015

[9] "PGC to conduct prescribed burns", Weekender, April 26, 2014, retrieved February 23, 2015

[10] P.J. Reilly (September 11, 2013), "PGC aims to reduce problems at ranges", Lancaster Online, retrieved February 23, 2015

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