Colton Point State Park: Difference between revisions

Prior to the arrival of [[William Penn]] and his [[Quakers|Quaker]] [[Province of Pennsylvania|colonists]] in 1682, up to 90&nbsp;percent of what is now Pennsylvania was covered with woods: more than {{convert|31000|sqmi}} of [[eastern white pine]], [[Tsuga canadensis|eastern hemlock]], and a mix of [[hardwood]]s.<ref name="timber">{{cite web |url = http://www.lumbermuseum.org/history.html |title = The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum -– History |accessdate = September 30, 2008 |publisher = Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission}}</ref> The forests near the three original counties, [[Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks]], and [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]], were the first to be harvested, as the early settlers used the readily available timber and cleared land for agriculture. By the time of the [[American Revolution]], [[logging]] had reached the interior and mountainous regions,<ref name="timber"/><ref name="taber">{{cite book |last=Taber III |first= Thomas T. |title= Williamsport Lumber Capital |year= 1995 |edition= 1st |publisher= Paulhamus Litho, Inc. |location= Montoursville, Pennsylvania |chapter= Chapter Two: The Boom — Making It All Possible |pages = 23–34 | oclc = 35920715}}</ref> and became a leading industry in Pennsylvania.<ref name="timber"/> Trees furnished fuel to heat homes, [[tannin]] for the state's many [[Tanning|tanneries]], and wood for construction, furniture, and [[barrel]] making. Large areas of forest were harvested by [[Charcoal maker|colliers]] to fire [[bloomery|iron furnaces]]. Rifle stocks and shingles were made from Pennsylvania timber, as were a wide variety of household utensils, and the first [[Conestoga wagon]]s.<ref name="timber"/>

While Colton Point and Leonard Harrison State Parks and parts of the surrounding Tioga State Forest are now the Pine Creek Gorge National Natural Landmark, it is their status as part of a Pennsylvania State Natural Area that provides the strongest protection for them.<ref name="pinecreekgorge"/> Within this Natural Area, logging, mining, and drilling for oil and gas are prohibited. Furthermore, only foot trail access is allowed.<ref name="seasons epi">{{cite book | last = Owlett | first = Steven E. | title = Seasons Along The Tiadaghton: An Environmental History of the Pine Creek Gorge | year = 1993 | chapter = Epilogue | pages = 97–98 | edition = 1st | publisher = Interprint | location = Petaluma, California | isbn = 0-9635905-0-2 }}</ref> In 1988 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, precursor to the DCNR, described it as <blockquote>about 95% State owned, unroaded, and designated the Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area. It is a place of unique geologic history and contains some rare plant communities, an old growth hemlock stand, ... active bald eagle nest[s] ... and is a major site of river otter reintroduction. Departmental policy is protection of the natural values of the Canyon from development and overuse, and restoration of the area to as near a natural condition as possible.<ref name="seasons rtt 2">{{cite book | last = Owlett | first = Steven E. | title = Seasons Along The Tiadaghton: An Environmental History of the Pine Creek Gorge | year = 1993 | chapter = Rails to Trails | pages = 86–96 | edition = 1st | publisher = Interprint | location = Petaluma, California | isbn = 0-9635905-0-2 }}</ref>