SAVE BIG ELK CREEK
providing recreational opportunities while preserving nature
The Issues
Distance is key in minimizing habitat disturbances. Big Elk Creek State Park consists of a mile wide buffer, or natural corridor, along its namesake creek. This means that invasive human activities are kept more than a half mile away from the creek’s center point.
This natural corridor is an environment where endangered and rare plant and wildlife species thrive. Their existence is a testament to the successful preservation practices that were in place prior to DCNR’s recent acquisition of the park.
An unbalanced approach to recreation can so severely degrade our State Park that not only is the environment damaged but the quality of the recreational experience itself is diminished.
Natural Corridor
Big Elk Creek State Park, in combination with the adjoining Fair Hill Park, is part of contiguous block of open space of nearly 8,000 acres. Together with White Clay Creek Preserve, these three parks make up one of the largest central open spaces in the Mid-Atlantic. This open space creates a critical Natural Corridor for wildlife.
Development within Elk Creek State Park is the greatest threat to the biodiversity and natural areas it contains. The bald eagles, short-eared owls, bog turtles, regal fritillary butterfly, native orchids, and various other endangered and rare species that call the park home require undisturbed habitats.
DCNR’s proposed development plan (red) eliminates nearly half of Big Elk Creek Park’s natural corridor (green). Intensive human activity will be introduced in an area that has only been subject to farming over the last 100+ years. These activities will adversely impact the Park’s soil, vegetation, wildlife, and water.
Learn more here.
Impervious Surfaces
Impervious surfaces include pavement, roofs, and highly compacted soils. These surfaces prevent rainwater from naturally soaking into the ground leading to increased water quantity, decreased water quality, and increased water temperatures. Creek inhabitants are stressed, displaced, or killed by debris, sediment, pollutants, and warmer water.
DCNR's proposed development plan adds approximately 20,000 sqft of permanent roofing, 12,000 sqft in RVs, and miles of access road. None of these conditions are currently present in Big Elk Creek State Park.
Agriculture
Big Elk Creek State Park is home to some of the most naturally productive farmland anywhere in the country. For decades, tenant farmers have managed the park’s farmland in accordance with best practices as evidenced by the thriving ecosystem. These agricultural fields serve as important ground water recharge areas, valuable habitat providing feeding and resting areas for wildlife, and minimize sediment erosion.
DCNR’s proposed development plan eliminates all farming. Continual maintenance over a 20+ year period will be required to transition these fields into young woodland. Aggressive methods will need to be employed to prevent invasive plant species from overtaking the land.
Pollution
For more than 100 years, Big Elk Creek Park has been free from pollution as park activities were limited in scope and duration.
DCNR’s proposed development plan drastically increases the impact of human activity on the land. Each new building adds to the burden of water consumption, wastewater production, stormwater management, energy consumption, and traffic. Increased and prolonged human inhabitance in the park will disturb the soil, vegetation, and natural habitats. The park will experience increased levels of litter, light, noise, and air pollution like never before.
Local Infrastructure
Big Elk Creek State Park is situated in Elk, Franklin, and New London Townships. The park is accessed by state and township roads currently serving subdivisions and Amish farms. These townships struggle to maintain their roads and accommodate existing traffic volumes.
Commercial zoning is limited in the surrounding townships. Therefore, any potential economic benefits that could be realized from increased tourism to the area is severely limited.
DCNR’s proposed development plan will increase both heavy (RV) and light motor vehicle traffic through the townships.
DCNR's Fiduciary Duty
In 1971, Pennsylvania’s Constitution was amended to recognize the environmental rights of the people forming a public trust. Pennsylvania’s natural resources were placed in this trust for the benefit of the people.
The Commonwealth was designated as Trustee, or Fiduciary, of the trust.
As Fiduciary, the Commonwealth must abide by the terms of the trust, namely to “conserve and maintain” our natural resources preventing degradation, diminution or depletion.
The Commonwealth must execute their duty with prudence, loyalty, and impartiality.
(See Pa. Envtl. Defense Found. v. Commonwealth, 161 A.3d 911, 932 (Pa. 2017) quoting Robinson Township v. Commonwealth, 83 A.3d 901, 956–57 (Pa. 2013)).
Operational Costs
Park development represents long term commitments to maintenance and operational costs.
Even with ever increasing state budgets, DCNR struggles to meet its current obligations. Rising maintenance costs outpace the state's allotment to the agency. DCNR estimates a funding backlog of $900 million in infrastructure repairs.
Watershed Studies and Conservation Plans
Developing Big Elk Creek State Park not only destroys the park, but the entire natural corridor of which it is an integral part. Several studies, which DCNR funded with taxpayer dollars, came to this conclusion.
For example, Pennsylvania’s Natural Heritage Program classifies Big Elk Creek as a Natural Heritage Area of Regional Significance in the greater Northeast mid-Atlantic region. They found that building additional houses or infrastructure within the Natural Heritage Area should be avoided to prevent fragmentation of the habitat and loss of species of concern.