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Chapter 6 : Cultural Resources
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The Swatara Creek watershed has been a source of recreation since the time of the first settlers in the area. Areas utilized for recreational use are situated throughout the Swatara Creek watershed. Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, canoeing, swimming, etc. areas are common and are well utilized by the residents of, and visitors to the area. Although many of the streams within the Swatara Creek watershed are or have been impaired by pollution, fishing is still an important recreational activity. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) lists several species of game fish as being present within the watershed. These species include Large and Smallmouth Bass; Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout; Chain Pickerel; Yellow Perch, and Muskellunge. Because of the inherent differences in the waters within the watershed, determining the quality and quantity of fishing associated with each is not possible. However, streams or ponds and lakes receiving special management or designation by the PFBC are presented in Table 6-1. Canoeing has become an increasingly popular recreational activity on Swatara Creek and some of its major tributaries. Swatara Creek has been listed as a navigable waterway (Public Highway Declaration Act) since 1811 from its mouth at the Susquehanna River (Dauphin County) upstream to where Good Spring Creek enters Swatara. Lower Little Swatara Creek in Schuylkill County is also listed as a navigable waterway. Canoe and boat launch/take out points have been established at several areas along Swatara Creek and in other local waterways in the watershed. In addition, a water trail has been established by SCWA and the PFBC for the lower section of Swatara Creek.
Hunting has been and continues to be a tradition within the Swatara Creek watershed. Numerous public lands open for hunting are located within the watershed; these include State Gamelands, State Parks, State Forests, and Fort Indiantown Gap property. The majority of this land is located in the forested northern portion of the watershed. The majority of the southern portion of the watershed is privately owned farmland with limited access. However, in some cases to reduce crop damage, permission can be obtained to hunt on these private lands. Table 6-2 lists the available public hunting lands in the Swatara Creek watershed.
Camping, hiking, biking, and walking have become increasingly popular throughout the country as well as in the Swatara Creek watershed. Numerous public and private camping areas are available. In addition several trails and routes are currently available for use or are proposed for the future. In many instances, the hiking trails are located adjacent or in close proximity to the campgrounds and other public facilities. Mackin Engineering identified 185 recreational facilities during the field view and background information review of the watershed. The information is broken down by county, municipality, and sub-watershed where appropriate. It is detailed under the following subject headings. A total of 112 public parks were identified within the watershed. Hunting has been and continues to be a tradition within the Swatara Creek watershed. Numerous public lands open for hunting are located within the watershed; these include State Gamelands, State Parks, State Forests, and Fort Indiantown Gap property. The majority of this land is located in the forested northern portion of the watershed. The majority of the southern portion of the watershed is privately owned farmland with limited access. However, in some cases to reduce crop damage, permission can be obtained to hunt on these private lands. Table 6-2 lists the available public hunting lands in the Swatara Creek watershed. STATE PARKS: Two (2) state parks (Memorial Lake and Swatara) are located in the Swatara Creek watershed. These parks are located in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties and are described in the following paragraphs. Memorial Lake State Park The centerpiece of the 230-acre Memorial Lake State Park is the 85-acre Memorial Lake. The park offers boating (non-motorized), fishing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, and picnicking as its primary sources of recreation. Swatara State Park The 3,515-acre Swatara State Park is currently undeveloped. It offers only fishing, hunting, and hiking opportunities. Plans for the future development of the park are pending the outcome of a proposal to construct a 753-acre lake and dam on Swatara Creek within the park. Chapter 7 of this document presents and expanded discussion of the Park, its history, and its future development. COUNTY PARKS: The only identified County Parks in the watershed were found in Lebanon County. These parks include The Union Canal Tunnel Park and Monument Park in the City of Lebanon. No county parks were located within the Berks, Dauphin, and Schuylkill County sections of the watershed. Although the Sweet Arrow Lake recreation area is currently controlled by Pine Grove Borough, it may soon come under the jurisdiction of Schuylkill County. The Swatara Creek Greenway (detailed in Chapter 8), located within Dauphin County will also be associated with the Dauphin County Parks as it develops. MUNICIPAL PARKS: 109 municipal parks were identified within the Swatara Creek watershed. Tables 6-3a, 6-3b, and 6-3c summarize the parks and features for each of the counties in the watershed. No parks or public playground areas were located in the municipalities of Upper Tulpehocken Twp. in Berks County; North Londonderry, Union, South Annville, and North Annville Townships in Lebanon County; Branch, Porter, and Tremont Township in Schuylkill County; and Londonderry Township Dauphin County.
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