· Overview
· History
· Biodiversity
· Forestry
· Agriculture

Overview

      The Sideling Hill Creek watershed is approximately 104 square miles in size and considered one of the most pristine streams of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Ridge and Valley Province, earning it “Exceptional Value” status by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. In all there are over 287 stream miles in the watershed, most of which are small perennial and intermittent streams forming nine different subwatersheds within the Sideling Hill Creek watershed. These subwatersheds include the Bear Creek, Stahle Run, Trough Run, East Branch Sideling Hill, West Branch Sideling Hill, Piney Creek, Johnson Branch, Blackberry Lick Run, and Crooked Run subwatersheds. Sideling Hill Creek and its tributaries are characterized by fluctuating stream flows, varying from less than 20 cubic feet per second in the precipitation-lean summer months to around 150 cubic feet per second in the early spring. More …

History

      The first European settlers arrived in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed in the 1730’s, which was at the time occupied by the Shawnee Indians. The European settlers moved into the region to set up trading posts and hunt the abundant game that lived in the forested ridges and valleys of southeastern Bedford County. Although a trivial matter at the time, many of the area’s earliest European settlers believed they were in either Maryland or Virginia as they moved into what was largely uncharted territory until the 1764 when Mason and Dixon surveyed the Maryland and Pennsylvania line. Little did they know that they ended up cutting the Sideling Hill Creek watershed almost in half! Throughout the late 1700’s and into the mid-1800’s the valleys in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed were slowly cleared to make room for agriculture, while the ridges were logged to provide local building materials and household fuel. More …

Biodiversity

      The ecological significance of Sideling Hill Creek is explained by examining the location and quality of this watershed. Situated in the middle region of the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania and Maryland, this stream is a direct tributary to the Potomac River. These are the main factors that influence the species and habitats of the watershed, and the remote nature of the region has historically dictated landuse patterns that have maintained natural features rather than destroying them. More …

Forestry

      Sideling Hill Creek watershed is roughly 75% forestland. As a result forestry and forest products are an important part of the economy of the area. While about 20% of the watershed is in public ownership or otherwise managed for the public good, that leaves 80% of the forestland in private hands. Much of that forestland is owned as part of a farm or other residence or as hunting camps for seasonal use. In general forest products are not the primary reason for ownership of forestland in the SHC watershed. But many people harvest timber on occasion to gain some income from their property. There are also several small mills in the area further indicating the importance of forestry in the watershed . WPC works with local landowners and groups like the Woodland Owners of the Southern Alleghenies (WOSA), and local Service and Extension foresters to promote sustainable forest practices in the watershed .

Agriculture

      Agriculture in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed can generally be characterized as being low intensity and predominantly base around livestock production for beef and dairy products. Of the watershed’s approximate 11,300 acres of agricultural land, 65.20% is active crop or pastureland and the remaining 34.80% is woodland. Approximately 45% of the area’s active agricultural landscape is used for hay production; 31% is used to produce row crops (primarily forage crops); and 24% of the agricultural land is pasture. Common crops grown in the Sideling Hill Creek watershed are corn silage, sorghum, rye, and alfalfa. More …