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Land Exchange to Benefit Missions of Pennsylvania Game Commission and DCNR; Game Commission Improves Access to SGL 211 in Dauphin County; Board Takes Actions on Other Items

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 October 2009, 09:46 CDT

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a land exchange with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that is designed to enable the two agencies to better meet their respective public missions. The exchange, which now must go through a series of public meetings hosted by DCNR and receive approval from the state Legislature and Governor Edward G. Rendell before taking effect, has been in the development stages for over a year.

"For years, the Game Commission and DCNR -- two of the largest landowners in the Commonwealth -- have acquired lands for public use, but have differing primary objectives and uses for these lands," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "As land has been acquired, situations have arisen in which contrasting land use policies and regulations have caused confusion for the general public and a decreased ability for each agency to meet its management and public recreational goals.

"In response to this situation, the two agencies have prepared a series of exchanges aimed at easing conflicts, while enhancing the two separate agencies' abilities to meet their independent objectives."

Roe noted that, in fact, since 1947, the two agencies have been working collaboratively through a cooperative agreement on management of a large portion of the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area, in which portions are designated as State Game Land (SGL) 214 in Crawford County and other portions are within the borders of Pymatuning State Park. Likewise, the two agencies recently have been working collaboratively on the management of DCNR's surface ownership of SGL 283 in Clarion County, where the Game Commission has easement ownership rights.

"This is truly a win-win situation for our state forest and park visitors and the sportsmen of Pennsylvania," said DCNR Acting Secretary John Quigley. "We take pride in managing our state forest and parks system for many values and uses. Whether it's horseback riding or increased waterway access, this acquisition now permits DCNR to offer so much to so many when they visit the Clear Creek State Forest and Cook Forest State Park along the Clarion River Corridor.

"Meanwhile, the tradition and rich heritage of waterfowl hunting and management that surrounds Pymatuning State Park and has been overseen by the Game Commission for many years can only be enhanced by this agreement."

Roe and Quigley noted that statutory requirements governing exchanges and transfers for both agencies stipulate that such arrangements must be for "equal or greater value." In this case, it is only reasonable to ensure that the total exchange is viewed as "equal."

Roe noted that the "equal" exchange requirement might appear to rule out the exchange package which, in total, results in the Game Commission transferring 4,816 acres to the DCNR, while the DCNR is transferring 4,250 acres to the Game Commission. However, as part of the exchange, DCNR is transferring 1,863 surface acres of water, and the Game Commission is transferring its 1,698-acre ownership of easement on State Game Land 283 in Clarion County.

"In reality, the Game Commission's gaining ownership of the 1,863 surface acres of water from DCNR is critical to the Game Commission's mission of managing waterfowl in the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area," Roe said. "The lack of Game Commission-ownership of this area is one of the challenges the agency faces in making necessary adjustments to water levels in Pymatuning Lake that are designed to enhance waterfowl habitat.

"Although DCNR maintains control of water level due to its retaining ownership of the water level control devices, the Game Commission's ownership of the 1,863 water surface acres will enhance the agency's ability to manage the area for waterfowl habitat and influence the potential use of water level as a management tool. By agreement, water levels will be changed only when deemed appropriate by the Game Commission, DCNR and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission."

Similarly, Quigley emphasized that DCNR's gaining ownership of the 1,689-acre easement from the Game Commission on SGL 283 is important to support an increased interest by many stakeholders in the area to provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities along the Clarion River Corridor. While the Game Commission is transferring ownership of its easement and portions of land it owns, the agreement includes a guarantee of a perpetual right for the public to hunt and trap on this land.

In addition to the two major exchanges involving portions of Pymatuning State Park and SGL 283, the two agencies are taking time to address other less significant exchanges that also will enhance the ability of each agency to address recreational infrastructure needs, which also will benefit the general public's use of these lands. A breakdown of each exchange is as follows:

1) DCNR will convey to the Game Commission a 4,248-tract of land which is a portion of the Pymatuning State Park, in North Shenango, Sadsbury and Pine townships, Crawford County, adjacent to SGL 214, with the condition to allow for a potential trail use agreement on the abandoned railroad grade to the north of the property, and a two-acre tract of land adjacent to SGL 54 in Heath Township, Jefferson County. DCNR will retain ownership of the areas, and the interior holdings retained by DCNR will generally include current DCNR infrastructure such as the septic sand mounds, the house, the garage, the DCNR Spillway, the "bowl" area, the sluice gates, the water well and the picnic area. The two agencies agree to a shared use of the existing water well, septic sand mound and related infrastructure with each agency retaining a protective right for future use in the event that either agency abandons their respective future use; and

2) DCNR will retain ownership of the area containing the lands currently leased to the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to include the Linesville State Fish Hatchery and its affiliated infrastructure, as well as the land 100 feet perpendicular from the shore into the sanctuary water commencing at and including Linesville Creek.

In exchange for the lands to be transferred from DCNR, the Game Commission will convey to DCNR five tracts or parcels of land or surface easement rights constituting 4,573 acres of SGL 283 in Farmington, Highland and Mill Creek townships, Clarion County, excepting a right-of-way 50 feet in width to the Game Commission; and a 181-acre part of SGL 54 in Heath Township, Jefferson County; a 10-acre part of SGL 62 in Hamlin Township, McKean County, excepting a right-of-way access to the Game Commission , onto SGL 62 through Kinzua Bridge State Park; and a 52-acre portion of SGL 44 in Spring Creek Township, Elk County.

Roe stressed that the lands being transferred to DCNR will remain open to public hunting and trapping.

With today's approval by the Board of Game Commissioners, future action will include two public open-house sessions, sponsored by DCNR, to gather input on the land transactions. Details of the two open-house sessions are as follows:

• The Pymatuning (Linesville) open house will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Linesville High School Cafeteria, 302 W. School Drive, Linesville. For details, call 814-683-5551; and
• The Cook Forest State Park (Kittanning State Forest District) open house will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Clarion Holiday Inn, 45 Holiday Inn Rd., Clarion. For details, call 814-226-8850.
  

GAME COMMISSION IMPROVES ACCESS TO SGL 211 IN DAUPHIN COUNTY

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a purchase of two easements across State Game Land 211 in Rush Township, Dauphin County, to enable the agency to improve its wildlife habitat management efforts on this important area just outside of Harrisburg. The purchase price is $13,000, and will be paid to the Harrisburg Authority from the Game Fund.

"Acquiring these two easements will enable the Game Commission's Food and Cover Crews, foresters and Wildlife Conservation Officers to enter portions of SGL 211 off Route 325 in Clarks Valley that currently are inaccessible because of the physical terrain and lack of legal access," said Doug Killough, Game Commission Southeast Region director. "These access corridors will be available for hunters and trappers seeking access to these portions of SGL 211, as well."

The first easement, which is about 2,000-feet long by 50 feet wide, amounts to about 2.3 acres. The second easement, which is about 2,600-feet long by 50 feet wide, amounts to about three acres.

SGL 211 presently consists of 44,432 acres in Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, and is the third largest SGL in the Commonwealth.

BOARD TAKES ACTION ON OTHER ITEMS

In other action, the Board of Game Commissioners today:

• Gave final approval to regulations that would establish a special elk conservation license auction and license issuance process. On Oct. 9, House Bill 747 (Act 101 of 2008) was signed into law, and authorized the Game Commission to auction off one antlered elk license per license year through an eligible wildlife conservation organization. Due to the intermediary role the wildlife conservation organization serves in the sale of this license, the Game Commission has determined that the implementation of a voucher process will streamline and simplify the process of transferring the license to the winning bidder of the auction;
• Gave final approval to sweeping changes to the agency's falconry permit process to meet new U.S. Fish and Wildlife standards, as well as simplify, reorganize and enhance current state regulations. These changes are supported by the Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust. Presently, there are 168 permitted falconers in the state;
• Gave final approval to regulatory changes designed to authorize political subdivisions to apply for an agricultural deer control permit for the limited purpose of managing the agricultural deer control activities occurring on a conglomeration of separate, but otherwise individually eligible properties within the boundaries of the political subdivision. This structure will not only reduce demands on each respective landowner, but it will enhance the effectiveness of a larger deer control plan promoted by the community by consolidating the management of the deer control activities into one central location;
• Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to permit lawful menagerie permit holders, who operate their facilities as a primary means of gaining a livelihood, from certain importation and possession restrictions;
• Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to make technical changes to clarify and make consistent the structure of the Game Commission regulations related to small game hunting. Additionally, the changes propose to allow for the use of crossbows and muzzleloading rifles and handguns .40 caliber or less;
• Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to allow for commercial and noncommercial guides to obtain a permit to guide for the harvest of coyotes on State Game Lands;
• Gave approval to increasing prize money awards for the agency's Working Together for Wildlife and Waterfowl Management Stamp art contests; and
• Affirmed the first quarterly meeting of 2010 will be held on Jan. 24, 25 and 26, at the agency's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue Exit of Interstate 81.
  

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission

Source: PR Newswire

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