woody's woods forest stewardship plan

July 2010

Forest Stewardship Plan

WOODY’S WOODS South Coventry Township

Chester County, PA

Natural Lands Trust

Prepared forSouth Coventry Township

1371 New Philadelphia Road Pottstown, PA 19465

610-469-0444

Prepared byDavid Steckel, Consulting Forester

[email protected] Andrea Stevens

[email protected] Natural Lands Trust

1031 Palmers Mill Road Media, PA 19063

610-353-5587

Service ForesterRick Hartlieb, Jr.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District Office 845 Park Road

Elverson, PA 19520 610-582-9660

July 2010

Natural Lands Trust

Forest Stewardship Plan

WOODY’S WOODS

Table of Contents

The Property ...................................................... 1 Landowner’s Management Goals for the Property .............................1 Directions to the Property ..................................................................1 The Property Within the Landscape ..................................................1 Species and Plant Communities of Special Concern .........................3

Management Units and Recommendations ...... 5 Management History ..........................................................................7 Management Unit Description ..........................................................7 Management Objectives ...................................................................12 Management Recommendations ......................................................12

Invasive Plants ............................................................................12 Forest Sustainability .....................................................................17 Forest Disturbance .......................................................................18

Wildlife Habitat Enhancement .....................................................19 Hazards and Aesthetics ................................................................20 Property Boundaries ....................................................................21 Educational Opportunities ...........................................................22

Recommendations Schedule ........................... 23

Maps USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle ..................................before pg 1 Interior Forest .....................................................................................2 Watershed Boundaries ........................................................................4 1937 Historic Aerial Photograph .......................................................7 1971 Historic Aerial Photograph .......................................................7 Soils ...................................................................................................10 Stewardship Issues and Features .......................................................15

FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLAN for WOODY’S WOODS

Natural Lands Trust


Appendices A. Woody’s Woods Plant Species List.

B. Results of Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas (2004–2008) for Blocks 81C53 and 81C54.

C. Results of Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Project Planning Environmental Review for Woody’s Woods.

D. Aerial photograph showing locations of GPS points and table with descriptions of points.

E. Data sheets for forest plots.

F. Penn State Entomological Notes “Gypsy Moth”.

G. “Examples of Species that Use Cavity Trees and Snags” and “Dead Wood for Wildlife”.

H. Invasive species publications and links

I. Potential Funders for High Priority Projects

J. Native alternatives to invasives at Woody’s Woods

K. “Indicators of Deer Impact for Pennsylvania Forests”, USDA and Penn State University.

L. Signature Page

Natural Lands Trust

Natural Lands Trust

Woody's Woods Boundary

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WOODY'S WOODSSouth Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle

Compiled By: MTM 09/03/091031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, PA 19063610-353-5587 ~ www.natlands.org

1. Parcel boundaries received from Chester County.2. USGS 7.5' Topographic Quandrangle (Pottstown) received from PASDA (www.pasda.psu.edu).

Disclaimer: This map is not a survey. The information imparted with this map is meant to assist Natural Lands Trust, Inc., describe the placement of certain retained, reserved, or excluded rights and to calculate acreage figures. Property boundaries, while approximate,were established using the best available information, which may have included: surveys, tax maps, field mapping using G.P.S., and/or orthophotos. Natural Lands Trust, Inc., makes no representation as to the accuracy of said property lines (or any other lines), and no liability is assumed by reason of reliance thereon. Use of this map for other than its intended purpose requires the written consent of Natural Lands Trust, Inc.

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The Property 254 acres

Landowner’s Management Goals for the Property

• Enhance forest health and habitat for resident and migratory birds and other native wildlife.

• Preserve scenic and aesthetic values.

• Promote passive recreation (e.g., hiking, horseback riding, bird watching) along sustainable trails.

• Provide environmental education opportunities for all generations.

Directions to the PropertyFrom Route 422 in Pottstown, take Route 100 South for approximately 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Favinger Road and travel for 0.5 mile. Turn left onto Coventryville Road and continue for approximately one mile to a parking area and the southern access to Woody’s Woods on the right. A second parking area and northern access to the site (the “Nesley Entrance”) is located on Harmonyville Road.

The Property within the LandscapeWoody’s Woods is located in South Coventry Township, Chester County, northwest of the intersection of Route 100 and Route 23 (see USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle, opposite). Pottstown lies north of the site and Warwick Township and French Creek State Park are located to the west. Woody’s Woods encompasses 254 acres and falls within a block of land that is bordered by Coventryville Road (southeast), Harmonyville Road (north), and Chestnut Hill Road (west). Two public parking and access areas with informational kiosks are located on Coventryville Road and Harmonyville Road. Land use in the immediate area of Woody’s Woods is a mixture of small towns surrounded by agricultural and forest lands.

Woody’s Woods supports a relatively diverse flora in a mature forest community (see Appendix A for a plant species list). The property is a major part (214 acres) of an interior forest block that encompasses approximately 354 acres (see Interior Forest map, page 2). Interior forest is defined as habitat that is located at least 100 meters from bordering non-forested areas. Interior forest is important for forest nesting birds, many of which are in decline due to forest fragmentation associated with sprawl development. This important habitat and other ecological and environmental benefits of Woody’s Woods are currently threatened by factors—deer overbrowsing and invasive plants—that are jeopardizing forest sustainability.

Surface rocks and boulders are common in the forest at Woody’s Woods. The primary rock types underlying the property are sandstone conglomerates known as the Hammer Creek conglomerates.

Entrance to Woody’s Woods at Coventryville Road.

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Pigeon Creek

Rock Run

French Creek

Rock Run

French Creek

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Interior Forest


1. Watershed boundaries received from PA DEP.2. USGS 7.5' Topographic Quandrangle (Pottstown) received from PASDA (www.pasda.psu.edu).


Woody's Woods BoundaryInterior Forest Block at Woody's WoodsAdjacent Interior Forest Blocks

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birds in abundance.” Appendix B includes the results of the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas (2004–2008) for two blocks (81C53, 81C54) that cover the Woody’s Woods property.

Species and Plant Communities of Special ConcernResults from a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Environmental Review indicate no known impacts within the Woody’s Woods project area (see Appendix C). We observed one state-ranked species during our site visits—lettuce saxifrage—which has an S4 ranking (uncommon in Pennsylvania).

The first 12 acres of Woody’s Woods were purchased by South Coventry Township in 1971 with the intention of locating a water tower on top of the hill, one of the highest points in the region. The property has been open to the public since the purchase of the Coventryville Road access in 1993. Current uses of the site include hiking, dog walking, horseback riding, bird watching, archery hunting, geocaching, and general nature education. Woody’s Woods offers several miles of trails that follow old logging roads across the hilly terrain. Additional uses of the property in the future may include cutting of down wood for firewood by township residents and timber harvesting.

The site ranges in elevation from about 400 to 819 feet. The boundary between two watersheds—the Pigeon Creek Watershed (north) and the French Creek Watershed (south) bisects the property at its highest point (see Watershed Boundaries map, page 4). A first-order tributary of Pigeon Creek crosses the property near the Harmonyville Road access point.

Woody’s Woods lies in the eastern fringe of the Hopewell Big Woods Conservation Area (73,000 acres or approximately 110 square miles), the last large unbroken forest remaining in southeastern Pennsylvania and one of the most important natural areas in the region. Woody’s Woods is also located within the eastern extent of the 12,000-acre Hay Creek–French Creek Important Bird Area (Site #74). Important Bird Areas (IBAs) were established to assist in a “world wide effort to identify and protect outstanding habitats for birds and wildlife.” The Hay Creek–French Creek Forest Block IBA is described by Audubon Pennsylvania as “a large block of relatively unfragmented, low elevation forest with interior forest

Moss covered conglomerate rock.

A typical wooded trail at Woody’s Woods.

A first-order tributary of Pigeon Creek near Harmonyville Road.

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Pigeon Creek

French Creek

Rock Run

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Compiled By: MEB 07/22/101031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, PA 19063610-353-5587 ~ www.natlands.org


Watershed Boundary

Watershed Boundaries

1. Watershed boundaries received from PA DEP.2. USGS 7.5' Topographic Quandrangle (Pottstown) received from PASDA (www.pasda.psu.edu).


Pigeon CreekWatershed

French CreekWatershed

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Management Units and Recommendations

One vegetative type extends across the Woody’s Woods property and is best described as a maturing to mature upland forest intermediate form between a red oak–mixed hardwood forest and a tuliptree–beech–maple forest. A description of this forest (a management unit) and stewardship recommendations that support South Coventry’s management goals for the property are included in the following sections. David Steckel and Andrea Stevens of Natural Lands Trust conducted four site inspections of the property (September 3, 2009, November 17, 2009, January 19,

2010, and May 6, 2010) to document the stewardship features and issues using digital photography and GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. An aerial photograph showing all GPS data points collected and a description of these points are included in Appendix D. We also collected data from 8 forest plots across the property to quantify forest composition, timber quality (e.g., size, stocking level, insect and disease problems, wildlife food and cover value such as cavities, snags, fruit). The data collected from the forest plots are included in Appendix E.

Red oak-mixed hardwood / tuliptree-beech-maple forest with ferns in the groundcover layer.

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Red oak-mixed hardwood / tuliptree-beech-maple forest on lower slopes with more tuliptree and blackgum.

Red oak-mixed hardwood / tuliptree-beech-maple forest in an area with more beech.

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Management HistoryPrior to township ownership, the Woody’s Woods property was used for woodlots and supplying trees to make charcoal in local pits to fuel iron furnaces in the area. Aerial photography from 1937 shows more than half of the property cleared of trees at that time. Much of the forest re-established by 1971 (see 1937 and 1971 Aerial Photography, below). South Coventry Township entered into a timber sale agreement to harvest part of the site in 2005. This logging operation was scheduled to be completed in two years.

Management Unit Description Red oak, black oak, and tuliptree are canopy dominants in the forest at Woody’s Woods. Tuliptree is more common on lower slopes, while red and black oaks increase on mid to upper drier slopes. Subordinate canopy species include chestnut and white oaks, black birch, blackgum (occasionally

occurring as a canopy tree), red ash, red maple, and hickories. The moderately dense understory and shrub layers are characterized by young red maple, American beech, black birch, sassafras, shagbark hickory, mountain laurel, maple-leaved viburnum, lowbush

Old charcoal pit.

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1937 Aerial Photography


1. Parcel boundaries, streams and roads received from Chester County.2. 1937 Aerial Photography received from Pennsylvania Geological Survey (www.pennpilot.psu.edu).


NEW PH

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ROSE LA

COVENTRYVILLE RD

HARMONYVILLE RD

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1971 Aerial Photography


1. Parcel boundaries, streams and roads received from Chester County.2. 1971 Aerial Photography received from Pennsylvania Geological Survey (www.pennpilot.psu.edu).


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Pinxter-flower.

Resprouting American chestnut.

Pink lady’s-slipper orchid.

Mountain laurel close to flowering in May.

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blueberry, pinxter-flower, greenbrier, and spicebush. Resprouting American chestnut was occasionally noted during our site visits. A Farm Atlas map from 1883 identifies the high point on the property as “Chestnut Hill,” suggesting the presence of chestnut forests at that time.

Common groundcover species in the forest include bracken fern, hay-scented fern, spotted wintergreen, partridge-berry, and white wood aster. Additional forbs seen during our May site visit included Solomon’s-seal, bedstraw, violets, pink lady’s-slipper, whorled pogonia, interrupted fern, and hay-scented fern.

A first order tributary of Pigeon Creek flows near the Harmonyville Road access to the property.

Seeps and springs occur in this area as well as near the headwaters of another tributary close to the northeastern boundary of the property. American elder, polypody fern, jewelweed, blue marsh violet, royal fern, cinnamon fern, evergreen wood-fern, and lettuce saxifrage (S4 rank – uncommon in the state) are found in these drainages.

In general, plant species diversity and structural diversity in the forest at Woody’s Woods is good throughout all vegetative layers (canopy, understory, shrub, groundcover) although tree regeneration (seedlings and saplings) is sparse due to deer overbrowsing. A plant species list based on our site visits is included in Appendix A.

Headwater stream near Harmonyville Road access.

Spring near Harmonyville Road access.

Flowering violet in creek bed.

Cinnamon fern along forest floor near creek.

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The forest rests largely on Joanna loam on slopes of 3–25% (JoB, JoC, JoD) and extremely stony Joanna loam on slopes of 8–50% (JpD, JpF). Very small areas of extremely stony Brecknock channery silt loam on 8–25% slopes (BxD) and extremely stony Lehigh channery silt loam on slopes of 0–8% (LkB) occur near the Harmonyville Road access. Penn silt loam on slopes of 3–8% (PeB) occurs in a small area along the southwestern boundary (see Soils map, left). The 1963 soil survey for Chester County provides information about the tree species that grow well on the soils in this area. These species include white, red, and chestnut oaks, hickories, tuliptree, walnut and beech.

The forest overstory at Woody’s Woods is adequately stocked. The quality of the timber is good to very good with diameters at breast height (dbh) for canopy trees ranging from 12" to 22". A very light infestation of gypsy moth was noted in some areas of the site. A fact sheet about the gypsy moth prepared by the Penn State Cooperative Extension is included in Appendix F.

The forest at Woody’s Woods is important to wildlife for food, water, and cover. Thickets of mountain laurel provide evergreen cover and deciduous

cover overall is moderately dense. Snags are abundant (an average of more than 5 per acre) and provide habitat for perching and feeding. Nesting cavities in live and dead trees are few, but serve as important nesting or roosting sites for birds (e.g., woodpeckers, wood ducks), mammals (e.g., squirrels, raccoons, bats), amphibians, and reptiles. In addition, insects found in dead snags or under loose bark are food for birds including woodpeckers, brown creeper, and white-breasted nuthatch. See Appendix G for a list of species that use cavity trees and snags and an article entitled “Dead Wood for Wildlife.”

Woody’s Woods comprises a large block of contiguous and interior forest that has good structural diversity, providing critical habitat for interior Gypsy moth egg cases.

JoC

PeB

PeCJoD

LkB

BxD

JoBJpDJoD

JoB

JoD

JoB

JpF

PeB

JpD

PeC

JoD

JoDPeC

JoB

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Soils


1. Parcel boundaries, waterways, and ponds received from Chester County.2. Soils received from USDA--NRCS.


Woody's Woods BoundarySoils

Lehigh (LkB)Brecknock (BxD)Penn (PeB, Pec)Joanna (JoB, JoC, JoD, JpD, JpF)Prime farmlandFarmland of statewide importance

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forest birds, particularly neotropical songbirds. This forest also furnishes a good supply of both hard mast (tuliptree, oak, hickory, beech) and soft mast (viburnums, spicebush, greenbrier) for wildlife food. American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits by Alexander Martin, Herbert Zim, and Arnold Nelson is an excellent source describing the wildlife food value of plants. Professor Douglas Tallamy of the University of Delaware has also compiled an extensive list of native and non-native plant species and their use by lepidopteran (butterfly and moth) species, an important food source for interior forest birds (see http://copland. udel.edu/~dtallamy/host/index.html).

Although the forest is relatively healthy with good species and structural diversity, there are signs that the sustainability of the forest may be compromised. Deer browsing is light to moderate and invasive plants (noted in this report in bold) are encroaching into all layers of the forest, the most abundant including Norway maple, tree-of-heaven, Japanese barberry, oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, Japanese stiltgrass, and garlic mustard. Norway maple and tree-of-heaven are invasive trees that usurp growing space from native trees and, in the case of Norway maple, cast a dense shade that prohibits Norway maple (yellow leaves).

The evergreen cover of mountain laurel in the shrub layer of the forest (November 2009).

Cavity tree that provides important habitat for wildlife.

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establishment and growth by all other woody or herbaceous plants. Garlic mustard and Japanese stiltgrass are invasive herbs that threaten the diversity of the native herbaceous flora on the site. There is also an invasive native plant, hay-scented fern, which has formed dense patches on the ridgetop plateau of the property. This species competes vigorously with native herbs and woody plants (trees and shrubs). Invasive plants commonly occur in areas disturbed by nature (e.g., gaps created by down trees, bare soil created by overabundant deer) and human activities (e.g., at Woody’s Woods – edge areas around the parking lots and cell phone towers, the recent timber harvest area and associated skid trails and landing, and an old pasture area in the northeast corner).

Management Objectives• Enhance forest health and habitat for resident and

migratory birds and other native wildlife.

• Preserve scenic and aesthetic values.

• Promote passive recreation (e.g., hiking, horseback riding, bird watching) along sustainable trails.

• Provide environmental education opportunities for all generations.

Management Recommendations

Invasive plantsA ubiquitous problem encountered in the stewardship of natural lands in southeastern Pennsylvania—and increasingly recognized as a threat worldwide—is the presence of invasive plant species. An invasive species is one that rapidly spreads and outcompetes multiple native species, chiefly because of the absence of predators, pathogens, and herbivores that keep it in check in its native range. Most invasive plants are particularly well adapted to colonize disturbed areas. In southeastern Pennsylvania, disturbance from human activities, particularly sprawl, coupled with the rich horticultural history of the southeastern counties, has afforded numerous invasive species the opportunity to become well established throughout the region. Even though the occasional immigration of new species into plant communities is a normal Japanese stiltgrass near the log landing area.

Hay-scented fern. Porcelain-berry near Coventryville Road access.

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Tree-of-heaven at Coventryville Road access.

process, the current high rate of introduction—fueled by the planting of exotic (non-native) species for horticulture, wildlife management, and erosion control—is threatening the integrity of native plant communities and lowering native biodiversity. Not only do invasive plants alter the makeup of the plant communities on a site, but they also may affect soil chemistry and hydrology and are usually less beneficial to wildlife than the native plants they replace, contributing further to the loss of biodiversity.

At Woody’s Woods, invasive plant species occur in areas where soils have been disturbed by human or natural impacts. Invaded areas include the two access points to the site (white mulberry, tree-of-heaven, shrub honeysuckle, wisteria, porcelain-berry), along edge areas and near the brush piles at the cell towers (oriental bittersweet, tree-of-heaven), near heavily used trails or roads (Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese honeysuckle, garlic mustard), along the

Invasive species (tree-of-heaven, oriental bittersweet) near Harmonyville Road access.

Oriental bittersweet (red berries) climbing into canopy trees.

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Forest gap invaded by multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, and winged euonymus.

logging skid trails and in the log landing area (tree-of-heaven, Japanese stiltgrass), and in forest gaps, particularly near the northeastern property boundary (Norway maple, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, winged euonymus). The Stewardship Issues and Features map, opposite, highlights areas that are and will continue to be invasive “hotspots”—areas that currently have moderate infestations and will likely be initial establishment sites for new pest species—as well as locations (not to be considered comprehensive) of individual plants or small populations.

In general, it is best to address invasive plant control with a top-down (starting in the canopy and working down through the understory, shrub, and groundcover layers), least-first strategy (starting in the least impacted areas). Starting in areas that are least impacted limits degradation of the healthiest areas and provides quicker satisfaction for people involved in the process. The “Invasive Vegetation Management” section of the Natural Lands Trust Stewardship Handbook for Natural Lands in Southeastern Pennsylvania (2008) provides guidelines for monitoring and controlling invasive plants typical of the southeastern Pennsylvania landscape.

When considering invasive plant management, it is important to keep in mind that effective control of invasive plants, especially in the understory, shrub, and groundcover layers of the forests, will only be possible if implemented in conjunction with a deer management program (see “Forest Sustainability” section below). It is also important to understand that the extensive

Forest gap invaded by tree-of-heaven, Norway maple, and Japanese barberry.

Large winged euonymus.

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COVENTRYVILLE R

D

HARMONYVILLE RD

ROSE LA

ROSE LA

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NEW PHILADELPHIA RD

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Stewardship Issues and Features


1. 2005 Aerial Photography received from DVRPC.2. Woody's Woods Boundary received from Castle Valley Engineers.3. Stewardship Issues and Features created from GPS data collected by Natural Lands Trust from site visits conducted on May 6th, 2010, January 19th, 2010, November 17, 2009, and September 3, 2009.


Woody's Woods BoundaryStewardship Issues and Features

X Fire Pit

X Trash/Debris

#*

Potential Hazard

!( Spring

" Charcoal Platform

l_I I· Forest Inventory Plot

!(I Invasive Plants#*

T Trail Issues (Erosion/Rutting)

")A Aspen StandInvasive Hot Spots

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• Norway maple and tree-of-heaven are most effectively controlled with a basal bark application of triclopyr (e.g., Garlon 4) herbicide and basal oil. We recommend using a 20–30% mix of triclopyr in basal oil applied in a band around the base of the trunk, avoiding runoff. Depending on the season, it may take time for this treatment to work; for example, a winter application may result in leaf out in spring, followed by defoliation. Once the trees are dead, they can be cut down (if they create a potential hazard for visitors) without stimulating suckering or left as snags for wildlife habitat.

• Improve the integrity of the forests on the property by controlling invasive shrubs such as winged euonymus, multiflora rose, shrub honeysuckle, and Japanese barberry. These invasive shrubs can be cut to the stump and a glyphosate herbicide applied to the cut stump. Alternatively, after cutting, the shrub can be left to resprout and the young foliage treated with a glyphosate herbicide. If herbicide is not used, these species can be excavated and pulled out, although soil disturbance should be kept to a minimum to prevent conditions favorable for future invasions.

• In gaps where invasive shrubs and trees have been removed, replant with native species to improve wildlife value and protect exposed slopes from erosion. See Appendix J for a list of suggested native species that could be planted to replace the common invasive plants at Woody’s Woods. Also consult the “Native Plant Materials” section of the Natural Lands Trust Stewardship Handbook for Natural Lands in Southeastern Pennsylvania (2008) for a list of native species that are appropriate for the forests on the site. Native plants will only be able to re-establish themselves at Woody’s Woods if South Coventry Township reduces deer pressure in concert with invasive plant removals. If deer pressure is not reduced, native species that are planted will likely be consumed.

• Control Japanese stiltgrass in forest gaps and along trail edges by hand-pulling or weed-whipping before flowering and seed set in August and September. This should be repeated for several years to deplete the seed bank of this persistent annual grass.

edge area and seed sources in the region and the prolific nature of these plants guarantee that even with complete eradication at Woody’s Woods, invasive species can quickly reestablish themselves as a serious stewardship problem if not monitored and addressed on a regular basis.

Recommendations for managing invasive plant species at Woody’s Woods are listed below in general order of priority. Any individual using herbicides to control invasive plants on property used by the public should be certified as a Commercial or Public Pesticide Applicator by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (see http://www. pested.psu.edu/applicators) and be able to distinguish native species from invasive species (e.g., sugar maple from Norway maple; cutgrass from Japanese stiltgrass). Appendix H includes a list of publications and links to websites that provide information about the identification of invasive plants.

Many invasive control measures could be implemented by volunteers including scout troops, students at local colleges, local landscapers (with herbicide applicator licenses), and a potential “Friends of Woody’s Woods” group. Several public agencies and private foundations provide grant funding for invasive management work. Appendix I includes a table listing potential funding sources for invasive plant control and other high priority stewardship activities. Some grant funders give preference to sites such as Woody’s Woods that are part of Important Bird Areas.

RECOMMENDATONS

• Cut vines climbing into canopy trees. All oriental bittersweet, porcelain-berry, and wisteria vines should be cut and the cut stumps treated with a systemic herbicide, if possible (e.g., glyphosate). Treat the foliage of Japanese honeysuckle vine with a glyphosate herbicide (e.g., Roundup) on a warm day in the winter when native species are dormant. Because the native grape vine is beneficial for native wildlife, only cut grape vines that are climbing into the canopy of trees and compromising their structural integrity. Cut stumps of this native vine can be left to resprout. Care should be taken not to cut Virginia creeper or poison ivy vines. These are native species that benefit wildlife and rarely become large enough to impact canopy trees.

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• Control garlic mustard in the groundcover of the forest by pulling, bagging, and removing plants from the site before seed set in the spring. This is a good spring activity for volunteers of all ages and should be started as soon as possible to prevent further spread.

• Control hay-scented fern to encourage native herbs and tree and shrub regeneration.

• Consider installing interpretive signs in areas where invasive plant control is ongoing. These signs could explain the importance of managing invasive plants to restore the integrity of the interior forest habitat.

• Consider initiating an outreach program to educate the neighbors of Woody’s Woods about the impact of invasive plants in natural areas. Any invasive management initiatives by neighbors (including not using them in landscape plantings) will assist with the invasive species control in Woody’s Woods by reducing the seed source in the immediate area.

• Establish a “Friends of Woody’s Woods” group of local citizens interested in the protection and stewardship of Woody’s Woods and use this group to help monitor and manage the invasive plants on the property.

Forest SustainabilityDeer overabundance is a problem that affects most natural areas in our region. Deer impact forest health by consuming seeds (particularly acorns) and browsing on seedlings, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. As population density increases, this activity can adversely affect populations of other wildlife species, especially songbirds, through a decrease in plant species and structural diversity within the forest. Currently, deer overbrowsing is having a moderate to severe impact on regeneration at Woody’s Woods and it would be prudent to place greater focus on this issue. We noted seedlings of ash, black birch, and American beech along the forest floor, but oak seedlings are rare. Oaks provides critical hard mast for more than 50 native wildlife species in this region, and as mentioned earlier, they are host plants for numerous insects which, in turn, are an important food source for migratory songbirds.

Gap with oak seedlings suppressed by deer browsing and competition from black birch.

Lack of regeneration in gap filled with hay-scented fern.

Browsed tuliptree stump.

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The “Wildlife Management” section of the Natural Lands Trust Stewardship Handbook for Natural Lands in Southeastern Pennsylvania (2008) provides an overview of the deer overbrowsing issue and management options, including information about Natural Lands Trust’s deer management program.

RECOMMENDATONS

• A first step in addressing deer overabundance would be to periodically survey Woody’s Woods for deer browsing and the density of the understory. The USDA and Penn State University have developed a visual assessment tool for determining the level of deer impact (see “Indicators of Deer Impact for Pennsylvania Forests” in Appendix K). This assessment tool could be used to gauge the success of the existing deer hunting program at Woody’s Woods. Currently, Woody’s Woods is generally at the impact level of 3 or “moderate” (on a scale of 5). To sustain a healthy forest community, the deer density should be maintained at approximately 10 deer per forested square mile (640 acres). This would mean that to limit negative impacts to forest health and reduce the deer impact level to 2 (“low”), Woody’s Woods should support no more than 4 deer. This level will allow for a structurally and species diverse forest with adequate tree and shrub regeneration and a diverse native wildflower flora.

• Encouraging hunters to preferentially remove does would help lower and maintain a reasonable deer density at Woody’s Woods. The township should also work with neighbors as part of the deer management planning for the property.

• The ongoing education of the public, particularly neighboring residents, about the effects of overabundant deer will be critical to the success of a more effective deer management program. One option to visually demonstrate deer browsing impact is the installation of small (10 meters square) exclosures. The growth of vegetation within these exclosures is often dramatically different than in surrounding areas with unrestricted access by deer. Ideally, exclosures (with accompanying interpretive signage to educate the public about the importance of

reducing the deer population to maintain forest health) should be erected in several different parts of a forest on relatively flat ground and near public trails. The setup and monitoring of deer exclosures is a valuable educational exercise that could be undertaken by local schools and colleges.

Forest DisturbanceThe extent of interior forest within Woody’s Woods is uncommon in southeastern Pennsylvania and provides a diverse native flora and important habitat for threatened forest birds (e.g., Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush). Every effort should be made to avoid activities that create disturbance (increased light and exposed soil) that could facilitate the spread of invasive plant populations that often outcompete native groundcover species and reduce interior forest habitat through fragmentation. The fragmentation of the forest increases “edge habitat,” likely resulting in lower reproductive success for interior forest birds because of greater competition for foraging and nesting sites, high nest depredation by raccoons and feral cats, brood parasitism by cowbirds, fewer nest sites, poor prey availability, or a combination of these factors.

Given the township’s primary stewardship goals of enhancing the health of the forest and promoting passive recreational uses, continued timber harvesting is not recommended at this time. The recent timber harvest on the site has created open areas, exposed soils, erosion on steep slopes, and additional edge habitats where invasive plant species have become established. This timber harvest was a selective cut that removed trees with high economic value without implementing measures to protect soil resources and encourage the establishment of native tree regeneration. The poorly designed and retired logging roads on the site have caused erosion and rutting issues in several areas (see trail issues shown on Stewardship Issues and Features map, page 15).

RECOMMENDATONS

• If the township is successful at reducing the deer population and the presence of invasive species, and oaks are regenerating sufficiently, timber harvesting could again be initiated in parts of the

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property. At that time, the township should work with a consulting forester to develop a timber harvesting plan that includes a cutting sequence that uses current best management practices and is designed to generate a sustainable source of income.

• Visitors should be informed that moving quietly through the property (especially during the nesting season) will not only benefit nesting birds, but also improve opportunities for viewing colorful songbirds. It is also important to keep dogs leashed and on trails during nesting periods. Studies have documented that disturbance of birds can result in

Area logged in 2008.

flushing of parents from nests, abandonment of both eggs and chicks by parents, thermal stress on eggs and chicks, and flight of chicks from the nest.

Wildlife Habitat EnhancementAn aspen grove in the forest could provide preferred habitat for ruffed grouse (see location of grove on Stewardship Issues and Features map, page 15). The buds, catkins, and leaves of aspen offer a primary food source for grouse throughout the year. Dense young stands of aspen also offer protection for young grouse.

Logging road running down steep slope.Ruts in logging road.

Skid road running through spring near Harmonyville Road access.

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Hazards and AestheticsWe noted several issues related to potential hazards and aesthetics during our site visits. Woody’s Woods includes short segments of road frontage and two parking areas along Harmonyville (north) and Coventryville (south) Roads. As a landowner, the township is responsible for making a reasonable effort to prevent injury or property damage from trees and branches on the property. A tree monitoring program focused on trees near adjacent public roads and residences and areas of congregation or facilitated pause (parking lots, benches, kiosks) is a means to quickly identify hazard trees and minimize liability

Walls of old reservoir near Nesley Plant and Harmonyville Road access.

Potential hazard tree (dead tree on right) near Coventryville Road access.

Stone reservoir near Harmonyville Road access.

Grove of aspen.

RECOMMENDATON

• Once the invasive species are in control and the deer population is reduced to a reasonable level, consider cutting the aspen and allowing the trees to resprout to provide a food supply for ruffed grouse on the property.

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exposure. In addition, two reservoirs or old basins are located near the Harmonyville access point and these may provide attractive nuisances and potential hazards to the visiting public.

Issues impacting the aesthetics of the site include debris along the southeastern property boundary (an old farm dump), the log landing area, and brush piles near the cell towers.

RECOMMENDATONS

• Engage a qualified arborist to conduct an annual inspection of the trees at road frontages, parking areas, and areas near benches along the trails. This inspection should identify hazard trees—defined as

those with compromised structural integrity that are within falling distance of structures or areas frequently accessed by visitors, neighbors, or motorists. Hazard trees should be removed or pruned as necessary.

• Evaluate the historical significance and potential liability associated with the two water reservoirs near the Harmonyville Road access. Remove or fill in the two basins if not historically important.

• Remove surface material from the old farm dump and discontinue brush piles near the cell towers if an alternative site can be identified within the township.

Property BoundariesPublic natural areas that are bordered by private parcels often suffer from unwarranted use by the surrounding community (e.g., dumping of trash and yard waste, encroachment). In general, the boundaries of Woody’s Woods surveyed for this report were respected by neighbors and some boundaries are clearly marked.

RECOMMENDATONS

• Establish a program to monitor property boundaries on a regular basis for encroachment.

• Extend current posting to all boundaries of Woody’s Woods to inform neighbors and prevent

Organic debris in piles near cell towers.Old farm dump near the southeastern

property boundary.

These boundary signs should be posted every 50 to 100 feet along all boundaries at Woody’s Woods and should indicate township ownership.

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unintentional encroachment. Posting every 50–100 feet is adequate and particularly important where the property abuts private land.

Educational OpportunitiesWoody’s Woods offers a unique opportunity to educate the public in the local community about forest ecology and the importance and many benefits of a healthy ecosystem. (An old tree identification trail is an example of an interpretive opportunity). We encourage the township to reach out to leaders of local school districts and community colleges to encourage field trips to the site and use of the site as a research facility. Celebrations and activities connected to Earth Day and Arbor Day could also be held at the site.

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TIMING

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Beginning 2019

Beginning Fall 2010

Beginning Fall 2010

Ongoing

PRIORITY

High

MediumMedium

Medium

Low

Low

High

Medium

High

Low

ACTIVITY

Invasive plantsCut/treat vines Control Norway maple and tree-of-heavenControl invasive shrubs Replant with native species Control Japanese stiltgrassControl garlic mustardInstall interpretive signs

Neighbor outreachEstablish “Friends of Woody’s Woods”

Forest SustainabilitySurvey for deer impact Encourage removal of does and work with neighbors Install deer exclosure

Forest DisturbanceWork with consulting forester on sustainable harvesting Outreach to visitors about moving quietly through forest

Wildlife Habitat EnhancementConsider cutting the aspen and allowing the trees to resprout to provide a food supply for ruffed grouse

Hazards and AestheticsWork with arborist to identify and address hazard trees Evaluate historic significance and remove/fill two basins near Harmonyville Rd

Remove surface material from old farm dump and discontinue brush piles near cell tires, if feasible

Property BoundariesMonitor property boundaries Extend current posting to all boundaries

Educational OpportunitiesEncourage schools and colleges to use the site

Recommendations Schedule

COVE

NTRYVIL

LE R

D

NEW PHILADELPHIA RD

COVENTRYVILLE R

D

ROSE LA

ROSE LA

HARMONYVILLE RD

COVENTRYVIL

LE RD

COV

EN

TRYVIL

LE R

D

419

413

416412

420

418

417

414

415

269

250

262

255

268

251

263

272

265

267

266

264

275276

278

259

252253

254

256

257

258

277

260 261

270

271

273

274

216

231

220

211

219

226

217

214

213

210234

233

232

230

229

228

227

225

224

223

222

221

218

212

215

485

486484

488

487

482481

483

0 600300Feet

WOODY'S WOODS

South Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Stewardship Issues and Features

Compiled By: MTM 05/28/10

1031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, PA 19063610-353-5587 ~ www.natlands.org

1. 2005 Aerial Photography received from DVRPC.2. Woody's Woods Boundary received from Castle Valley Engineers.3. Stewardship Issues and Features created from GPS data collected by Natural Lands Trust from site visits conducted on May 6th, 2010, January 19th, 2010, November 17, 2009, and September 3, 2009.



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woody's woods forest stewardship plan

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