Pennsylvania Game News - January 2014 - 12

into the late 1700s. Foundations of a
fort, storage building and grain mill
are found along Buffalo Creek and are
frequented by several historical groups
and geocachers. This was the western
outpost fort that supported Fort Pitt in
controlling Native American conflicts
in outlying areas.
SGL 232 also has two ancient Native American sites dating back 6,000
to 8,000 years.
Relics found on
these sites include
tools made using
eastern elk antlers.
Both of these sites
were identified
and documented
when archeological checks were
undertaken prior
to wetlands construction. The largest of the two is a
mound site at the confluence of Buffalo Creek, Brush Run and Buck Run.
"Mound Builders," is a name given to
prehistoric societies that built mounds
apparently for spiritual, burial and/or
ceremonial purposes. The mounds were
central in their culture. Other such
mounds have been found in western
Pennsylvania. This area of SGL 232
consequently receives extra patrols
to discourage the unlawful taking of
artifacts.
The initial property purchase for
SGL 232 occurred in May 1960 with
the acquisition of 182 acres. Several
other small tracts were acquired over
the next 30 years. In 2003 and 2004,
the PGC brokered a land exchange
with the Washington County Economic Development Council that
added 3,754 acres. An additional 413
acres was acquired through a partner-

ship with the Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy bringing the total deeded
acres for SGL 232 to 5,265 acres.
After acquiring the property, it was
mapped and 5 percent of all open areas
were planted with warm-season grasses.
Most of time, these fields have been
maintained with prescribed fire. Forested areas have been and will continue
to be managed through sustainable
forest harvesting.
Up until about
1950, the land was
worked as a large
corporate farm,
totaling about
2,000 acres. Then
it was subdivided
and sold as smaller
farm sites. Most of
land was acquired
b y We s t P e n n
Power for a proposed hydroelectric
dam on Buffalo Creek. Permitting
problems would lead to the proposal
being scrapped and the land again went
up for sale.
The first Marcellus gas well in
Pennsylvania was drilled on SGL
232, generating the need for numerous rights of ways for gas, water and
electric. Partnering with the National
Wild Turkey Federation's "Energy for
Wildlife" initiative has led to rights of
ways rich in habitat diversity that have
become popular with deer, turkeys and
hunters.
Since the PGC has taken ownership of the land, it has restored several
wetland areas that provide valuable
wildlife habitat and unique habitatmanagement opportunities. Five restoration wetlands totaling 22 acres have
been completed in partnerships with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

SGL 232 is actively
managed to create
a diverse mix of
invaluable habitat
that benefits a variety
of wildlife species.

WWW.PENNGAMENEWS.COM

http://WWW.PENNGAMENEWS.COM

Pennsylvania Game News - January 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - January 2014