SCOTIA BARRENS TO RIDGELINE INITIATIVE:
Connecting woods, water, and wildlife in Central Pennsylvania
Additional Resources...
Below are some additional resources for learning about the Scotia region and forest management. To stay up to date on events and the latest news about the Scotia Barrens to Ridgeline Initiative, we recommend you subscribe to ClearWater's monthly enewsletter.
​
We look forward to staying connected and working together to protect and connect the region's landscapes and natural resources to create healthy habitats and thriving communities for all.
​
If you have any questions about our work or would like more information about the Scotia Barrens to Ridgeline Initiative, contacts us via email or phone at contactus@clearwaterconservancy.org / 814-237-0400. Thank you!
upcoming events
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Events!
subscribe
upcoming events
To learn more about the importance of young forests, download this presentation from Tammy Colt, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Habitat Hero: John Hoover​
Since 1866 – a year after the end of the Civil War – John Hoover’s family has owned property in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Over the decades, the largely forested property became subdivided and boundary lines and titles blurred with most of the land going into disuse. Nearly 40 years ago, when John inherited a portion of the original property, he figured the best way to unclutter boundary lines and make better use of the land was to buy as much of the surrounding forest and original deed as possible.
​
“I’m a mechanical engineer and mostly dealt in new product design and development,” said Hoover. “And this land issue was a challenge, a unique problem that I wanted to solve. It took me more than a dozen years but I ended up bringing together 600 acres under single ownership.”
​
Hoover currently lives in Connecticut but plans to retire soon and relocate to a home next to his forest.
The land is situated in a corridor that connects the 5,900-acre Bald Eagle State Park with 4,000 acres of State Game Lands. Its location makes it a potentially valuable commodity as a linkage for wildlife and natural resources, a vital connector between two protected areas.
​
“Something that occurred to me after I acquired all this land, is that I didn’t really have a goal in mind for the property itself,” said Hoover. “So, I talked with a forester, and he told me about the benefits of harvesting trees for the health of the forest and as a way to enhance game species such as deer, turkey and grouse.”
​
The first harvest, which cut and thinned out aspen trees, saw a dramatic increase in game species on the land. Six more harvests followed. Each targeted at a specific section of the property.
​
Each successful harvest helped his bottom line by selling timber while diversifying both his forest and the species of wildlife that visited it.
COMING SOON: NEW VIRTUAL FOREST TOURS FROM JOHN HOOVER'S PROPERTY!
​
Until then, view these virtual tours provided by http://amjv.org to showcase various forest management techniques like shelterwood harvest, overstory removal, and herbicide use.
​
