Clear Creek State Forest comprises 16,229 acres in:
Jefferson County
Clarion County
Venango County
Forest County
Mercer County
Many of its acres hug the Clarion and Allegheny rivers. Other tracts rest on the Allegheny Plateau and grow a diverse collection of trees, including:
Red oak
White oak
Red maple
Birch
Beech
Tulip poplar
Clear Creek is one of eight state forests located in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
Clear Creek Forest Management
DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry manages our state forests for their long-term health and productivity while conserving native wild plants. These forests are “working forests” and provide a whole suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, all while maintaining the forest’s wild character.
Our state forests are managed for:
The management of our state forests is guided by the State Forest Resource Management Plan.
Public Input Meeting for Clear Creek State Forest Resource Management Plan
DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry is in the process of revising the Clear Creek State Forest Resource Management Plan (SFRMP). A district-level state forest management plan is written for each of the bureau’s 20 forest districts across the state.
Clear Creek State Forest staff hosted a public meeting (PDF) about its draft management plan on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
Citizens may view the newest draft of the Clear Creek SFRMP (PDF).
2018 Management Activities
View Clear Creek State Forest’s 2018 management activities (PDF) for upcoming projects and events to implement the State Forest Resource Management Plan.
Harvest Schedule
Local state forest harvest schedules promote and maintain desired forest landscape conditions while providing a sustainable flow of forest products.
Ecosystem Management
The Bureau of Forestry has adopted “ecosystem management” as its principal strategy for managing state forests. This approach seeks to conserve the natural patterns and processes of the forest while advancing long-term sustainability.
Ecosystem management promotes the conservation of plant and animal communities and the landscapes and habitats that support them. It also accounts for needs and values of people and communities.
This results in a holistic, integrated approach to managing forest resources.
A Working Forest
As you travel throughout the state forest, you’ll see examples of our forests “at work.” Some of these management practices are more noticeable than others, such as:
Others are more subtle, such as the:
Protection of a vernal pool
Buffering of a stream from timber harvesting
Setting aside of a special area to conserve its wild character or protect a rare plant community
Each of these management practices and activities play a vital role in the management and conservation of our state forest system.
Certified “Well Managed”
Pennsylvania’s 2.2-million-acre state forest system is one the largest certified forests in North America. The forest is certified (FSC-C017154) under the Forest Stewardship Council™ standards. The FSC® is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
Contact Clear Creek State Forest
Clear Creek State Forest District Office
158 South Second Ave.
Clarion, PA 16214-1904
814-226-1901