Allegheny Islands Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness is located in the Allegheny National Forest
. It comprises seven islands in the Allegheny River, totaling 368 acres (1.5 km²). All are alluvial origin. The islands are located between Buckaloons Recreation Area and Tionesta, Pennsylvania
.
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness was created by Congress in 1984 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
. It is one of the smallest wilderness areas of the United States
.
, shagbark hickory
, green ash
, and silver maple
. Crull's
and Thompson's Island
contain 156 acres (63.1 ha) of mature and old-growth forests.
s have returned to the area, and otters have been re introduced. The area is home to osprey
s, soft-shelled turtles, great blue herons, kingfishers, common mergansers, mallard
s, and beavers.
The Allegheny River is home to a variety of freshwater mussels.
The islands are home to the federally endangered clubshell mussel (Pleurobema clava) and the Northern riffleshell
(Epioblasma torulosa rangiana).
They are also home to rare fishes, including the bluebreast darter (Etheostoma
camurum), and the spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum).
Allegheny National Forest
The Allegheny National Forest is a National Forest located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The forest covers of land. Within the forest is Kinzua Dam, which impounds the Allegheny River to form Allegheny Reservoir. The administrative headquarters for the Allegheny National Forest is located in Warren...
. It comprises seven islands in the Allegheny River, totaling 368 acres (1.5 km²). All are alluvial origin. The islands are located between Buckaloons Recreation Area and Tionesta, Pennsylvania
Tionesta, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 615 people , 282 households, and 166 families residing in the borough. A more recent estimate has Tionesta's population being 592, a loss of 3.69%. The population density was 457.5 people per square mile . There were 337 housing units at an average density of...
.
The Allegheny River Islands Wilderness was created by Congress in 1984 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
. It is one of the smallest wilderness areas of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Flora
These islands are characterized by river bottom forest types such as willows, American sycamoreAmerican sycamore
Platanus occidentalis, also known as American Sycamore, American plane, Occidental plane, and Buttonwood, is one of the species of Platanus native to North America...
, shagbark hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
, green ash
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica is a species of ash native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta and eastern Colorado, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern Texas....
, and silver maple
Silver Maple
The silver maple —also called creek maple, river maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, water maple, or white maple—is a species of maple native to eastern North America in the eastern United States and Canada...
. Crull's
Crull's Island, Pennsylvania
Crull's Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest....
and Thompson's Island
Thompson's Island, Pennsylvania
Thompson's Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest.The island's forests contain old growth Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, American Sycamore, and Slippery Elm....
contain 156 acres (63.1 ha) of mature and old-growth forests.
Fauna
Bald EagleBald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s have returned to the area, and otters have been re introduced. The area is home to osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s, soft-shelled turtles, great blue herons, kingfishers, common mergansers, mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
s, and beavers.
The Allegheny River is home to a variety of freshwater mussels.
The islands are home to the federally endangered clubshell mussel (Pleurobema clava) and the Northern riffleshell
Northern riffleshell
The northern riffleshell, scientific name Epioblasma torulosa rangiana, is a subspecies of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This subspecies is endangered....
(Epioblasma torulosa rangiana).
They are also home to rare fishes, including the bluebreast darter (Etheostoma
Etheostoma
Etheostoma is a diverse genus of small freshwater fish in the family Percidae. It contains nearly 140 member species. Most are native to North America. They are commonly known as darters although the term "darter" is shared by several other genera...
camurum), and the spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum).
List of Islands
- Crull's Island, PennsylvaniaCrull's Island, PennsylvaniaCrull's Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest....
- Thompson's Island, PennsylvaniaThompson's Island, PennsylvaniaThompson's Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest.The island's forests contain old growth Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, American Sycamore, and Slippery Elm....
- R. Thompson's Island, PennsylvaniaR. Thompson's Island, PennsylvaniaR. Thompson's Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness.Most of the trees on R. Thompson Island were destroyed during a local tornado in 1975.-References:...
- Courson Island, PennsylvaniaCourson Island, PennsylvaniaCourson Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest.The island is a prime location for old growth, virgin, and river bottom forests.-References:...
- King's Island, PennsylvaniaKing's Island, PennsylvaniaKing Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest.King Island is one of the more accessible of the seven islands in the Allegheny River Wilderness Islands. It is a prime location for old growth, virgin, and...
- Baker Island, PennsylvaniaBaker Island, PennsylvaniaBaker Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness in Allegheny National Forest.Most of the trees on Baker Island were destroyed by a 1985 tornado.-References:...
- No-Name Island, PennsylvaniaNo-Name Island, PennsylvaniaNo-Name Island is a alluvial island in the upper Allegheny River. It is part of the Allegheny Islands Wilderness.The island is a prime location for old growth, virgin, and river bottom forests.-References:...