| Moshannon State Forest | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
 Sign for the Moshannon State Forest onPennsylvania Route 504 in Centre County | |
  Location of Moshannon State Forest's headquarters in PennsylvaniaLocation Map of Moshannon State Forest Holdings | |
| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°12′30″N78°34′32″W / 41.20833°N 78.57556°W /41.20833; -78.57556 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Moshannon State Forest |
Moshannon State Forest is aPennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #9. The main offices are located in theunincorporatedvillage of Penfield inHuston Township,Clearfield County,Pennsylvania in theUnited States.
The forest is located chiefly inCentre, Clearfield, andElk Counties, with small parts of the forest also inCameron andClinton Counties.
Moshannon State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. Conservationists like Dr.Joseph Rothrock became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and iron companies had harvested theold-growth forests for various reasons. Theyclear cut the forests, and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passingsteam locomotives ignitedwildfires that prevented the formation ofsecond growth forests. The conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for the state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies and the lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that had depleted the natural resources of the forests.[1] The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today'sPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. ThePennsylvania General Assembly passed a piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations". This was the beginning of the State Forest system.[1]
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began purchasing tracts of land for what is now Moshannon State Forest on September 28, 1898.[2] The first purchase was 352 acres (142 ha) on the banks of Montgomery Run to the north ofClearfield. It was purchased for just $65.45 to settle a delinquent tax payment. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' web page, the state is still acquiring land that meets the "current guidelines" to become state forest land.
Much of the land that is now Moshannon State Forest has been purchased from lumber and land holding companies. At the time of purchase the land was largely devoid of trees. It was mostly dried brush and burnt scrub. This was a direct result of theclearcutting of the vast stands of old growth forest during the mid-to-late 19th century and very early 20th century.[2] The lumber companies chopped down thehemlock andwhite pine forests that once covered much of Pennsylvania. According toConrad Weiser, who wrote in 1737,
The wood is so thick, that for a mile at a time we could not find a place the size of a hand, where the sunshine would penetrate, even on the clearest day.[2]
All of the virgin forest was gone by 1921. It has since been replaced by a thrivingsecond growth forest ofbeech,yellow poplar, a variety ofbirch,oak,hickory,cherry,chestnut andmaples. OnMay 31, 1985, a 2.2-mile-wide F4 tornado tore through part of the forest, destroying an estimated 88,000 trees.[3]
Three Pennsylvania State Parks are located within Moshannon State Forest:
