Number: 2006-01
WHEREAS, in a preliminary assessment of the Cherry Valley area of northeastern Pennsylvania, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ranked Cherry Valley very high as a potential national wildlife refuge; and
WHEREAS, six species listed as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) have been documented within or near Cherry Valley: the bog turtle (possibly the most significant population of the listed subspecies), the dwarf wedge mussel, the northeastern bulrush, the small whorled pogonia, the bald eagle, and the Indiana bat (a historic resident, with efforts under way to re-establish favorable conditions); and
WHEREAS, Cherry Valley provides habitat for at least 79 species of national or regional concern, which either nest in Cherry Valley or migrate through the area during critical times in their life cycle, including neo-tropical migratory birds such as the Cerulean Warbler, the Worm-eating Warbler, and the Wood Thrush; waterfowl such as the American Black Duck; several globally rare plants, such as the spreading globeflower; and anadromous fish species; and
WHEREAS, the Cherry Valley watershed encompasses a large segment of the Kittatinny Ridge, an important migration route for birds of prey throughout the Northeastern United States. Every migratory raptor species in the Northeast is regularly observed along the Kittatinny Ridge during the autumnal migration, including the bald eagle, the golden eagle, and the broad-winged hawk; and
WHEREAS, the Kittatinny Ridge also includes a long segment of the Appalachian Trail, a nationally significant natural-cultural-recreational feature; and
WHEREAS, many of the significant wildlife habitats found in the Cherry Valley, especially the rare calcareous wetlands, have disappeared from other localities in their range; and
WHEREAS, ongoing studies have documented the high water quality of Cherry Creek; and
WHEREAS, public meetings over several years have demonstrated strong, deep, and growing local support for a Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Area landowners, business and community leaders, media, and elected officials have consistently voiced their enthusiasm for a Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge; and
WHEREAS, numerous local communities and public and private conservation entities share complementary goals for protecting Cherry Valley and are energetically conserving wildlife habitat and farmland. Along with State land-management agencies and the National Park Service, these local entities represent potential strong partners for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, a number of local landowners have already put their land into conservation easements or other conservation arrangements; and
WHEREAS, a voter-approved Monroe County Open Space Fund and a voter-approved Stroud Township municipal land conservation fund have contributed to many of these projects; and
WHEREAS, two federally owned parcels of land are contiguous to the area: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and a 700-acre segment of the Appalachian Trail owned by the National Park Service; and
WHEREAS, National Wildlife Refuges are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and hunting, fishing and trapping are wildlife management tools supported and utilized by the agency;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 17-18, 2006, in New Orleans, Louisiana supports the establishment of a Greater Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.