A year ago, CCHS Board member Bob Hazelton presented a CCHS program on the historical and cultural resources that were known about the Spring Creek Canyon, a program that he has given several times in the ensuing months. A good deal of additional information has been assembled since that first presentation and has formed the basis of a Cultural Resource Report for The Spring Creek Canyon Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for the Spring Creek Canyon. The report is included and available in "The Public Review Draft of the Spring Creek Canyon Master Plan" at http://www.canyonplanning.com.
Because of the importance of these cultural resources and because of the wide community interest that has centered around the transfer of these Rockview lands into a different ownership arrangement, the CCHS Board of Governors has submitted the following statement to the planning consultants, Environmental Planning & Design, LLC:
March 31, 2009
Andrew JG Schwartz and Carolyn Yagle
Environmental Planning & Design, LLC
100 Ross Street, 5th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Dear Mr. Schwartz and Ms. Yagle,
The Centre County Historical Society (CCHS) has appreciated the opportunity of working with you and participating through the Technical Advisory Committee in the document, The Spring Creek Canyon Conservation Strategy: A Master Plan and Management Plan for the Spring Creek Canyon. While information about some of the cultural resources within the Spring Creek Canyon site were identified when the planning process began, new information has been assembled and the possibility of additional cultural resources still to be identified have been highlighted in the creation of the document on Conservation Values of the Rockview Divestment Lands.
The CCHS recommendation to the Master Plan has outlined several methods or guidelines that meet state and federal requirements and procedures in the protection of cultural resources. They include a Cultural Resource Assessment of prehistoric and historic resources, National Register of Historic Places listing for the Benner Cemetery, and possible National Register listing for the Village of Rock. The Spring Creek Canyon offers a unique and significant educational opportunity -- one that will be substantially strengthened through the assessment, identification, and preservation of these cultural resources.
CCHS Recommendations:
The Centre County Historical Society joins ClearWater Conservancy in the following recommendations related to the significant and sensitive cultural and natural resources of the Spring Creek Canyon. These recommendations are in support of the Master Plan and in support of an effective management structure being in place before the land is transferred. CCHS recommends:
* DCNR and ClearWater should begin working on the conservation easement immediately
* Legislation to authorize the transfer of the 1,800 acres of Rockview land north of I-99 consistent with the use and management recommendations of the Master Plan may be introduced upon the completion of the Master Plan.
* However, the actual transfer of land will not take place until the time that the conservation easements are recorded and the Land Management Partnership is functioning at a sufficient level to address the issues associated with opening the land and its significant and sensitive natural and cultural resources to public use.
* Rockview State Correctional Institution will retain ownership and site security until these protective conditions are met and the land is transferred to new owners. Further, Rockview’s active management of the site in the interim between the completion of the Master Plan and the land transfer should also be consistent with the recommendations of the Master Plan (e.g., no tilling and planting of areas designated for restoration, no tree removal, no earth disturbance, etc.).
In addition to these recommendations, the Centre County Historical Society would like to make explicit the recommendations of educational opportunities discussed by the Technical Advisory Committee and implied in the Master Plan:
* Once the transfer of land has occurred and planning commences, that future work on the properties by the owners commit to broad community educational opportunities about cultural and natural resources.
Again, CCHS has appreciated the opportunity to be involved in planning for the future of the Spring Creek Canyon, and we look forward to working with others in the community to enhance awareness and appreciation of this exceptional Centre County resource.
