Protect Hawn's Bridge Peninsula

Mike Jackson
Target: 

Colonel Edward P. Chamberlayne
District Commander
Baltimore District Corps of Engineers
P. O. Box 1715
Baltimore, MD 21201

Signatures:

 236

236
999
We've got 236 signatures, help us get to 999

Petition

Please deny the permit application for any development on Hawn's Bridge Peninsula. The Hawn's Bridge Peninsula is part of the Raystown Dam Natural Heritage Area (Biological Diversity Area) identified in the Huntingdon County Natural Heritage Inventory. The Inventory identifies such areas as "containing plants or animals of special concern at state or federal levels, exemplary natural communities, or exceptional native diversity."

The area in which a marina and other facilities are pr...

Please deny the permit application for any development on Hawn's Bridge Peninsula. The Hawn's Bridge Peninsula is part of the Raystown Dam Natural Heritage Area (Biological Diversity Area) identified in the Huntingdon County Natural Heritage Inventory. The Inventory identifies such areas as "containing plants or animals of special concern at state or federal levels, exemplary natural communities, or exceptional native diversity."

The area in which a marina and other facilities are proposed includes red cedar-mixed hardwood rich shale woodland and Virginia pine-mixed hardwood shale woodland communities. These rare habitats support rare shale barrens plants and animals. According to the Huntingdon County Natural Heritage Inventory (p. 162, on-line publication), "The shale barren communities and associated plant species depend upon the harsh conditions found on these steep, dry slopes where competition from other species is low." One of the largest threats to a barrens community is disturbance. The establishment of a marina, camping sites, restaurants, and associated amenities on the Hawn's Bridge Peninsula would certainly cause the types of disturbances which the Inventory warns against.

From an aesthetic viewpoint, converting the forested peninsula to an entertainment-oriented facility with a marina would create an eyesore. The Peninsula and surrounding slopes are forested almost to the water's edge, providing a beautiful backdrop to Raystown Lake.

Petition background

From the Army Corps' website regarding the development proposal:  http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dams-Recreation/Raystown/Proposed...  

"In 2011, Austin-based developer Rod Roberts of Lancer Resources, L.P., purchased 2000 acres of land adjacent to Terrace Mountain and Hawn’s Bridge Area of Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania, from Gladfelter Paper Co., which owned the land prior to the development of Raystown Lake. In October 2015, Huntingdon County Business and Industry (www.hbic.com), the leading economic development agency for Huntingdon County, reported that preliminary plans for a major development on Mr. Robert’s property were in the works. 

Project plans include a luxury resort hotel atop of Terrace Mountain.  The Corps will be evaluating a proposal for a lease that would consist of 400 acres intended for operation of a marina and related concessions in the Hawn’s Bridge section of Raystown Lake Project, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Baltimore District.  

The Corps has committed to providing Mr. Roberts additional details that outline a clear path forward for review of his development proposal, not for a development of a lease. To date, all communication with the developer has been preliminary in nature. The government review required for a development of this size is methodical and thorough."

 

 

 

 

Help spread the word about this petition!

We signed: Protect Hawn's Bridge Peninsula

Mary
Duncansville, PA
Sat, 2016-10-01 09:40
#236
Darlene
Claysburg, PA
Tue, 2016-09-27 21:44
#235
Walter
Altoona, PA
Tue, 2016-09-27 21:31
#234
Tasha
Waynesboro, PA
Tue, 2016-09-27 21:23
#233
Charles
Tyrone, PA
Tue, 2016-09-27 21:03
#232
John hunter
Altoona, PA
Tue, 2016-09-20 10:18
#231
Matthew
Clearville, PA
Sun, 2016-09-18 21:22
#230
Donald James
HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA
Sun, 2016-09-18 19:00
#229
Bob
Waaldorf, MD
Thu, 2016-09-08 22:49
#228
Cathy
Coburn, PA
Thu, 2016-09-08 22:09
#227
Thank you for your interest in this issue. This petition has expired and is no longer accepting signatures.
Thank you for your interest in this issue. This petition has expired and is no longer accepting signatures.