STONY CREEK VALLEY protect and preserve central Pennsylvania's wilderness!

THE PROBLEM A large wilderness area close to urban areas is tempting to all sorts of development. What was the "Swap"? What does Stony Creek offer?

ORGANIZATIONS that support our efforts to preserve Stony Creek Valley

DIRECTIONS to Stony Creek and a map and links to other maps and rail-trail information.

A trail report from Reading Eagle writer Rita Florani. Yellow Springs Hike and a report written by Scott Bills Land Management Group Soupervisor for the PA Game Commission.

HOW TO HELP  links to legislators and links to other web sites

BACKGROUND how Stony Creek became the first component in PA's Wild & Scenic River Program. 

THE STONY CREEK COALITION-  successfully protecting the Stony Creek Valley Since 1974!

If you have a question or just want to write in support please use this link info@savestonycreekvalley.com

Schedule:

Our next Stony Creek Valley Coalition meeting will be December 13th at Harper's Tavern, 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome, we order off the menu so come a few minutes early to order. If you are not part of the "usual group" please RSVP so we can reserve a spot for you.

Ask to see the new poster by Tom Powers, a recreation of the Cold Springs Train Station.

 

The annual October "Drive Through" was cancelled due to flood damage.

Larry Herr took a hike in Stony Creek Valley on Oct. 2 and made the following report on storm damage: Hi all, had a nice hike yesterday, the gate at the top of cold spring is still closed and will be for a while as the P.G.C is going to replace the bridge at cold spring.The railroad bed has been cleared of the downed trees but is barely passable.It looks like the beaver dams are beening rebuilt but I couldnt get to most of them because of high water.I think the game commission will start repairing the damage soon as there are two dozers parked at Cold Spring. Because of the high water the creek has changed somewhat and I was amazed to see that Kitzmiller dam had a concrete dam breast the same as Cold Spring. I always thought it was just logs and earth.

INTRODUCTION

The Stony Creek Valley lies just north of the Pennsylvania cities Harrisburg and Lebanon. The portion designated as a Pennsylvania Wild & Scenic River is an 18 mile long valley running roughly parallel to the Appalachian Trail. It is part of State Game Lands 211, a 44,000 acre wilderness.

2010 began the 4th decade in which we are working to keep the Stony Creek Valley wild, scenic and freely accessible to the people of Pennsylvania.

What is at Stake

Just 14 miles north of Harrisburg PA is Saint Anthony's Wilderness, which at 44,000 acres is the largest wilderness area in central or eastern PA. Stony Creek Valley is the portion of this wilderness most easily reached from Harrisburg and Lebanon. In fact, it is within a 30 mile drive of 700,000 citizens. It is within a two day drive of half the US population! 30 years ago the Stony Creek Valley Coalition fought to save Stony Creek Valley by having Stony Creek designated as a Scenic River under the Pennsylvania Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. We thought then that we had saved this gem� part of �by preventing any use other than as wilderness. The PA Game Commission (PGC), which owns the Valley as part of  State Game Land 211�purchased in part with Federal funds�was charged with its protection.

How our Largest Eastern PA Wilderness Was Saved The First Time

In 1974 PP&L wanted to dam the Creek and flood the Valley to generate electricity. The Stony Creek Valley Coalition formed in response to this threat and in 1979 PP&L abandoned its plans. In 1980, the General Assembly made Stony Creek the first river in Pennsylvania�s Wild & Scenic River Program. The protected land is 18,000 acres bounding Stony Creek from ridge top to ridge top.

The Swap

Sometime in September 2007, an agreement was signed by PGC staff and the head of the PA Department of Military and Veterans affairs. The agreement would give the FTIG absolute control over 900 acres (5%) of the Valley for 90 days a year, including during several hunting seasons. In return, the FTIG �swaps� a small (430 acre) parcel of land with modest value to the PGC. FTIG also �promised� that someday, someone (NOT the FTIG) might buy the Game Commission some additional land, somewhere. In essence, the proposal is for the PGC to swap 900 acres of wilderness for "Echo 1" which is bounded on all sides by FTIG training ranges.

On May 2 2008 officials from the National Guard at Indiantown Gap announced to the local media that they were, at least temporarily, ceasing the construction of the Multi Purpose Training Range (MPTR) that would have necessitated use of 900 acres in Stony Creek, State Gameland 211. Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to save Stony Valley once again. The funds intended for the MPTR will be used for other projects by the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Although this appears to be good news, the National Guard is completing the Environmental Assessment for the project and considers the Use Agreement with the PA Game Commission to be a viable document. We are working to "beef-up" the legislation that designates Stony Creek as a Pennsylvania Wild & Scenic River to better protect the wilderness.

An expansive wilderness like Stony Creek, so close to so many people will always tempt development - it is the southern boundary of the Marcellus Shale being explored for natural gas. This effort is not at all against the PA National Guard, it is to make sure that all of the Stony Creek valley remains publicly owned and accessible, for all time.

Stony Creek Valley Coalition 2202 Weavertown Rd. Lebanon, PA 17046