Dedication of Allegheny River’s First Eco Corridor
Emlenton Bridge: The Open Door to the Corridor.
Emlenton Borough proclaims section of Allegheny River as state’s first Eco Corridor
Emlenton, PA: On April 24th, 2021 at 1:00 pm, the Borough of Emlenton, PA in Venango County will formally announce the adoption of a proclamation to create the first Eco Corridor on the Allegheny River, potentially creating the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania. Speakers will include; Cheyenne Moore, University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Rebecca Thomas, Slippery Rock University, Corie Eckman, Slippery Rock University, and Ron Steffey, Steffey Trail Connections. The Press is encouraged to attend this social distanced announcement. A public event will be held later.
Eco Corridors are an ecological functioning zone that serves as a passage between areas to facilitate biodiversity, preservation of habitat, and movement of various species. Emlenton’s landscape is unique in that the Borough owns acreage on both sides of the Allegheny River throughout the length of the town.
The Eco Corridor will play an important role as it will set an example and showcase Emlenton as the first community to embrace the river’s environment and its importance in the community. Other communities are encouraged to join in and create “Stepping Stone Corridors”, corridors that are not connected in a continuum but will have increased benefit to the river’s ecology through facilitating the movement of various species and preserving even more habitat.
“The Eco Corridor is an asset to the borough in addition to the National Heritage Area, Federal Wild and Scenic Corridor, and the DCNR’s 2017 River of the Year designation, as they combine to showcase our community in positive ways”, said Nancy Marano, Emlenton Borough Manager.
From Cheyenne Moore, University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student; “As a researcher who has worked in and around the Eco Corridor and has seen the habitat there, I’m so excited and thankful for this effort to preserve and celebrate this area.”
Multiple universities and volunteers will aid in the development of the Eco Corridor. Among those interested in collaborating and helping to develop the Eco Corridor in partnership with the Borough of Emlenton are Clarion University’s Kurt Regester (animal ecologist), Slippery Rock University’s Rebecca Thomas (parks and recreation), Bucknell University’s Chris Martine (plant genetics and botany), and University of Pittsburgh Ph.D. student, Cheyenne Moore.