Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Concession sites in the Allegheny National Forest – including Willow Bay and all other campgrounds – have been given 48 hours to close because of the federal government shutdown. The forest supervisor contacted Allegheny Site Management today about closing. Law enforcement and fire personnel are exempt from a shut down, but all so-called non-essential services in the ANF are closed down, or will be soon. Government employees are still manning the Kinzua Dam because it’s an essential operation of the US Army Corps of Engineers, but the dam will not be open to tourists during the government shut down. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to alert visitors to the Allegheny Reservoir about a blue-green algae bloom. The bloom could be harmful to people and pets if they come in contact with it. Direct contact, or even breathing airborne droplets, containing high levels of the toxins can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat as well as inflammation in the respiratory tract, according to the New York State Department of Health. The bloom was found in the New York State portion of the Allegheny Reservoir from Quaker Bay downstream to Willow Bay. Surface water affected by blue-green algae often is so strongly colored that it can develop a paint-like appearance. Under some environmental conditions, blue-green algae can become so abundant that they form floating rafts or scums on the surface of the water. NY Department of Health photos The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is continuing to investigate an oil leak into Willow Creek. The agency was called Tuesday afternoon after someone noticed the oil in the creek in Corydon Township. A DEP respesentative returned to the area today. DEP spokeswoman Freda Tarbell says about 75 gallons of oil leaked into the stream. She says the leak did not reach Willow Bay, and workers took steps to make sure it didn’t get there by placing absorbent material about a half mile from the mouth of the bay. Tarbell said they believe the source of the leak is a sales line owned by EnerVest of Houston, Texas, but they have not confirmed that yet.

By Kathy Mohney ANF The Bradford Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest will continue Earth Day events with several projects scheduled for this week with the Bradford School District. Today, two Allegheny NF employees visited the Bradford High School and Fretz Middle School to instruct students on what is planned and what is expected for each day in the field to better prepare them for the various projects. Following Monday’s introduction, the high school students will re-visit the planting site from last year’s Earth Day event and put seed down in an adjacent site which functions as a wildlife opening. Wildlife openings are created across the forest in order to provide a specific habitat which hosts a wide variety of animals such as grouse, deer, rodents, and pollinators. Students will plant with clover, wildflowers and grasses which flower at different times throughout the year in order to provide food throughout all seasons. At the adjacent site where last year’s Earth ...