North Pocono Communities  

Municipalities in this section include: the Borough of Moscow and Spring Brook, Covington, Madison, Roaring Brook, Elmhurst and Jefferson Townships.  The listed recommendations are related to the protection of and potential projects along tributary streams to the Lackawanna River, including:  Roaring Brook, Spring Brook, Stafford Meadow Brook, Eddy Creek, Grassy Island Creek, Laurel Run, White Oak Run and Aylesworth Creek and their tributaries. 

Moscow Borough 

A middle reach of Roaring Brook lies within the Borough of Moscow, with a portion of this reach serving as the municipal boundary between Moscow and Madison Township.  Portions of two named tributary streams to Roaring Brook also lie within the municipality.  They include the confluence to upper reaches of Van Brunt Creek and the confluence and lower reaches of Langan Creek, a tributary to Van Brunt Creek. 

General Recommendations: 

1.     The Borough of Moscow should include the protection of Roaring Brook, Van Brundt Creek and Langan Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     The Borough of Moscow may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development. 

3.     This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources. 

Recommendations for Roaring Brook and its tributaries: 

1.   Roaring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and borough prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs, such as Theta Company property within the Elmhurst Reservoir shed.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.  

2.   The development of a watershed coalition among citizens, business interests and  municipalities in the North Pocono area is presently under discussion by LRCA and local watershed stake holders.  LRCA recommends that support for this initiative is an outcome for implementation under this plan. 

3.   The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Steamtown National Park and the Iron Furnaces, through Nay Aug Gorge and continue upstream to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.  

4.   The Roaring Brook Greenway can continue with trail development on the 12-mile reach of the Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail Corridor.  A link to Jefferson Twp. and the Mt. Cobb-Moosic Lake area from the rail corridor at Wimmers, can connect to the Trolley corridor and PA Gravity Railroad corridor for a loop trail system over Moosic Mountain.  An additional link trail to Moscow and Covington can be developed by rebuilding the Elmhurst Reservoir Bridge and using a forestry road and pipe line corridor to Kellum Creek, and Roaring Brook to Moscow.  Therefore, this plan recommends development of a North Pocono Rail-Trail and Community Trail feasibility study to further this potential.  

5.   Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational   facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following Moscow Borough links be eligible for funding, in addition to the previously mentioned North Pocono Rail-Trail and Roaring Brook Greenway.

•       development of the Greenway Trail along the Roaring Brook and Hollister/Elmhurst water pipeline right-of-way, with a trailhead link near the Moscow Sewage Treatment Plant.

•       development of links to North Pocono school campus, from the Moscow commercial and residential districts

•       development of Greenway and Community Trail links along local roadways to Covington Township

6.   The Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC), a land trust affiliate of the LRCA, works with public and private interests throughout the Lackawanna Watershed.  The LVC has prioritized the acquisition and protection of cultural and natural resources.  A long term LRCA/LVC goal is the creation of a Lackawanna Watershed Nature Center.  The Roaring Brook watershed offers several opportunities for a nature center.  The LRCA recommends development of a nature center as an outcome of this plan eligible for implementation funds.  

Spring Brook Township  

A large middle portion of Spring Brook and eight of its tributaries lie within Spring Brook Township.  They include:  most of Trout Creek and middle reaches of its tributary Monument Creek, all of Plank Bridge Creek, most of Panther Creek and its tributary Painter Creek, all of Rattlesnake Creek and its tributary Six Springs Creek, and lower through middle reaches of Green Run.  In addition, headwater reaches of Van Brunt Creek, a tributary to Roaring Brook, lies within the northeast corner of the municipality.  

General Recommendations:  

1.     Spring Brook Township should include the protection of Spring Brook, Trout Creek, Monument Creek, Plank Bridge Creek, Panther Creek, Painter Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Six Springs Creek, Green Run and Van Brunt Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     Spring Brook Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development. 

3.   This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.  

Recommendations for Spring Brook and its tributaries:  

1.      Spring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Spring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs. This plan recommends the acquisition of a majority of the Theta Company properties within the Spring Brook Intake, and Nesbitt and Watres Reservoir sheds, or the development of a conservation easement program to insure the maintenance of these lands as watershed, open space, natural resource, and timber lands, continue into the future.  These lands should be included in the review and policy outcomes of the Lackawanna County Open Space Study. 

2.      Recreational trail developments offer a potential to provide passive recreational access in the Spring Brook watershed to link the Lackawanna Valley to the Lackawanna State Forest, State Game Lands and other resources in the upper Lehigh River watershed.  This plan recommends a trail program be developed along the former Wilkes-Barre and Eastern railroad alignment, which parallels Spring Brook.  Other trail links on township roads and fire management roads should be included.   

Covington Township  

Upper headwater reaches of Roaring Brook and four of its tributary streams lie within Covington Township.  The tributaries include:  all but the confluence area of Langan Creek, all of Lake Run and its tributary Emerson Run, and all of the East Branch of Roaring Brook.  In addition, upper headwater reaches of Spring Brook lie within the southwest portion of the municipality.  

General Recommendations:  

1.     Covington Township should include the protection of Roaring Brook, Langan Creek, Lake Run, Emerson Run, the East Branch of Roaring Brook and the headwaters of Spring Brook, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     Covington Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development. 

3.     This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.  

Recommendations for Roaring Brook and its tributaries:  

1.   Roaring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs, such as Theta Company property within the Hollister Reservoir shed.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.  

2.   The development of a watershed coalition among citizens, business interests and municipalities in the North Pocono area is presently under discussion by LRCA and local watershed stake holders.  LRCA recommends that support for this initiative is an outcome for implementation under this plan.      

3.   The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Steamtown National Park and the Iron Furnaces, through Nay Aug Gorge and continue upstream to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.  

4.   The Roaring Brook Greenway can continue with trail development on the 12-mile reach of the Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail Corridor.  A link to Jefferson Twp. and the Mt. Cobb-Moosic Lake area from the rail corridor at Wimmers, can connect to the Trolley corridor and PA Gravity Railroad corridor for a loop trail system over Moosic Mountain.  An additional link trail to Moscow and Covington can be developed by rebuilding the Elmhurst Reservoir Bridge and using a forestry road and pipe line corridor to Kellum Creek, and Roaring Brook to Moscow.  Therefore, this plan recommends development of a North Pocono Rail-Trail and Community Trail feasibility study to further this potential.  

5.   Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational   facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following Covington Township links be eligible for funding, in addition to the previously mentioned North Pocono Rail-Trail and Roaring Brook Greenway:

•       continuation of Greenway Trail along Roaring Brook and/or Lackawanna Rail Corridor where feasible

•       links to Covington regional park  

•       links to Covington Twp. park and Daleville commercial center

•       links to Hollister-Fryetown natural areas  

•       links to Lehigh watershed and Pocono area at Gouldsboro  

6.  The Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC), a land trust affiliate of the LRCA, works with public and private interests throughout the Lackawanna Watershed.  The LVC has prioritized the acquisition and protection of cultural and natural resources.  A long term LRCA/LVC goal is the creation of a Lackawanna Watershed Nature Center.  The Roaring Brook watershed offers several opportunities for a nature    center.  The LRCA recommends development of a nature center as an outcome of this plan eligible for implementation funds.  

Recommendations for Spring Brook:  

1.     Spring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley.  The protection and conservation of Spring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs (Spring Brook Intake, Nesbitt and Watres Reservoirs in Spring Brook Twp.), or the development of a conservation easement program to insure the maintenance of these lands as watershed, open space, natural resource, and timber lands, continue into the future.  These lands should be included in the review and policy outcomes of the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.    

Madison Township 

Upper headwater reaches of Roaring Brook and three of its tributary streams lie within Madison Township.  They include:  all of Bear Brook and Kellum Creek and middle reaches of White Oak Run.  

General Recommendations:  

1.     Madison Township should include the protection of Roaring Brook, Bear Brook, Kellum Creek and White Oak Run, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     Madison Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development. 

3.     This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.  

Recommendations for Roaring Brook and its tributaries: 

1.   Roaring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs, such as Theta Company property within the Elmhurst and Curtis Reservoir sheds.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.  

2.   The development of a watershed coalition among citizens, business interests and municipalities in the North Pocono area is presently under discussion by LRCA and local watershed stake holders.  LRCA recommends that support for this initiative is an outcome for implementation under this plan.      

3.   The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Steamtown National Park and the Iron Furnaces, through Nay Aug Gorge and continue upstream to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.  

4.   The Roaring Brook Greenway can continue with trail development on the 12-mile reach of the Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail Corridor.  A link to Jefferson Twp. and the Mt. Cobb-Moosic Lake area from the rail corridor at Wimmers, can connect to the Trolley corridor and PA Gravity Railroad corridor for a loop trail system over Moosic Mountain.  An additional link trail to Moscow and Covington can be developed by rebuilding the Elmhurst Reservoir Bridge and using a forestry road and pipe line corridor to Kellum Creek, and Roaring Brook to Moscow.  Therefore, this plan recommends development of a North Pocono Rail-Trail and Community Trail feasibility study to further this potential.  

5.   Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational   facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following Madison Township links be eligible for funding, in addition to the previously mentioned North Pocono Rail-Trail and Roaring Brook Greenway:

•       a link at Curtis Reservoir

•      a community trail system to be developed with a feasibility study  

•       a link on the Elmhurst Reservoir Trail along Kellum Creek to Aberdeen Corners  

6.   The Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC), a land trust affiliate of the LRCA,  works with public and private interests throughout the Lackawanna Watershed.  The LVC has prioritized the acquisition and protection of cultural and natural resources.  A long term LRCA/LVC goal is the creation of a Lackawanna Watershed Nature Center.  The Roaring Brook watershed offers several opportunities for a nature    center.  The LRCA recommends development of a nature center as an outcome of this plan eligible for implementation funds.   

Roaring Brook Township 

Portions of three tributary streams to the Lackawanna River lie within Roaring Brook Township.  They include:  middle through upper headwater reaches of Stafford Meadow Brook, middle reaches of Roaring Brook, and the upper headwaters of Eddy Creek in the northern corner of the township.  In addition, three named tributary streams to Roaring Brook, including:  lower through middle reaches of White Oak Run and Rock Bottom Creek and upper headwater reaches of Van Brunt Creek.  The  upper headwater reaches of Green Run, a tributary to Spring Brook also lie within the southwest portion of the municipality.  

General Recommendations:  

1.     Roaring Brook Township should include the protection of Stafford Meadow Brook, Roaring Brook, White Oak Run, Rock Bottom Creek, Van Brunt Creek and Eddy Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     Roaring Brook Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development. 

3.     This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.  

Recommendations for Stafford Meadow Brook:

1.    Most of the land in the upper three-fourths of the Stafford Meadow Brook watershed, which lies in Roaring Brook Township, is made up of property belonging to Theta Land Company.  These lands, which include watersheds associated with Lake Scranton, William Bridge Reservoir, Hazard Pond and Bear Swamp, provide important open space, water supply, timber, recreational and aesthetic resources to the Northeast Pennsylvania region.  Therefore, LRCA recommends through this plan that:

•       Significant large tracts of these properties should be conveyed to public and private conservation agencies, to protect water resources and to insure long term natural resource protection.

•      These lands and similar holdings need to be included for assessment and management recommendations in the pending Lackawanna County Open Space Study.

•       Funding from state, federal and private resources for the acquisition and protection of these lands is recommended as an action of the highest priority.

•      If any development does occur on former PG&W watershed lands, the recommendations in the PG Energy Land Use Plan for limited,  conservation type subdivisions, state of the art storm water management systems, limited impervious surfaces and substantial buffer zones along water courses should be considered as requirements by township and county agencies.

2.   This plan recommends that Bear Swamp, headwater wetlands along Simerson Road and the Stafford Meadow Brook corridor, be protected with 1000 foot buffers, to be acquired and managed as part of the open space and natural areas included in the pending Lackawanna County Open Space Plan.

3.   The Stafford Meadow Brook corridor between Lake Scranton and the  No. 5 Reservoir in Roaring Brook Township and Little Virginia and the McNichols School in South Scranton has potential for a recreational, cultural and educational interpretive trail.  The plan recommends development of a trail program along Stafford Meadow Brook, to ingrate with Scranton urban neighborhoods, the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Montage and Glen Maura, the Lackawanna Trolley Tour and the Lackawanna County Open Space Plan.

4.   The LRCA and PG&W had once considered development of a nature center in the caretaker’s house at Williams Bridge Dam, near Lake Scranton.  LRCA recommends that the Pennsylvania American Water Company develop a watershed resource educational and research station at this site.

  Recommendations for Roaring Brook and its tributaries:  

1.   Roaring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs, such as Theta Company property within the Elmhurst and Curtis Reservoir sheds.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.  

2.   The development of a watershed coalition among citizens, business interests and municipalities in the North Pocono area is presently under discussion by LRCA and local watershed stake holders.  LRCA recommends that support for this initiative is an outcome for implementation under this plan.  

3.   County, state and federal agencies should consider the scenic, recreational and cultural importance of the Cobbs Gap reach of Roaring Brook.  This reach through the Borough of Dunmore, and Roaring Brook and Elmhurst Townships includes the Pennsylvania Gravity Railroad Inclines, Moosic Mountain natural areas, the Moosic Lake Trolley corridor, early historic settlement Roads, and Scrub Oak Mountain.  The pending Lackawanna County Open Space Plan presents an opportunity to focus on these resources.  This area should be prioritized for acquisition of property, public use easements, public access sites for fishing and trail use and a public use and natural resource management plan .    

4.   The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Steamtown National Park and the Iron Furnaces, through Nay Aug Gorge and continue upstream to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.  

5.   The Roaring Brook Greenway can continue with trail development on the 12-mile reach of the Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail Corridor.  A link to Jefferson Twp. and the Mt. Cobb-Moosic Lake area from the rail corridor at Wimmers, can connect to the Trolley corridor and PA Gravity Railroad corridor for a loop trail system over Moosic Mountain.  An additional link trail to Moscow and Covington can be developed by rebuilding the Elmhurst Reservoir Bridge and using a forestry road and pipe line corridor to Kellum Creek, and Roaring Brook to Moscow.  Therefore, this plan recommends development of a North Pocono Rail-Trail and Community Trail feasibility study to further this potential.  

6.   Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational   facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following Roaring Brook Township links be eligible for funding, in addition to the previously mentioned North Pocono Rail-Trail and Roaring Brook Greenway:

•      links and access areas are recommended in the Cobbs Gap area for trails  and fishing access  

•      links in the Elmhurst and Curtis Reservoirs area are recommended for fishing and trail access.

7.   The Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC), a land trust affiliate of the LRCA, works with public and private interests throughout the Lackawanna Watershed.  The LVC has prioritized the acquisition and protection of cultural and natural resources.  A long term LRCA/LVC goal is the creation of a Lackawanna Watershed Nature Center.  The Roaring Brook watershed offers several opportunities for a nature    center.  The LRCA recommends development of a nature center as an outcome of this plan eligible for implementation funds. 

Recommendations for Eddy Creek:

1. This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the  acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the Theta Company property within the Dunmore Reservoir No. 3 and No. 4 sheds.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.

Elmhurst Township  

A short reach of Roaring Brook, including a portion of its reach through Elmhurst Reservoir lies within Elmhurst Township.  

General Recommendations:  

1.     Elmhurst Township should include the protection of Roaring Brook, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans. 

2.     Elmhurst Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.

3.     This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: 

•      open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds,  and historical and cultural resources.

Recommendations for Roaring Brook: 

1.   Roaring Brook and its tributaries contain vital drinking water resources for the  Lackawanna Valley. The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends that the state, county, and township prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs, such as Theta Company property within the Elmhurst Reservoir shed.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.  

2.   The development of a watershed coalition among citizens, business interests and municipalities in the North Pocono area is presently under discussion by LRCA and local watershed stake holders.  LRCA recommends that support for this initiative is an outcome for implementation under this plan.  

3.   County, state and federal agencies should consider the scenic, recreational and cultural importance of the Cobbs Gap reach of Roaring Brook.  This reach through the Borough of Dunmore and Roaring Brook and Elmhurst Townships includes the Pennsylvania Gravity Railroad Inclines, Moosic Mountain natural areas, the Moosic Lake Trolley corridor, early historic settlement Roads, and Scrub Oak Mountain.  The pending Lackawanna County Open Space Plan presents an opportunity to focus on these resources.  This area should be prioritized for acquisition of property, public use easements, public access sites for fishing and trail use and a public use and natural resource management plan .    

4.   The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Steamtown National Park and the Iron Furnaces, through Nay Aug Gorge and continue upstream to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.  

5.   The Roaring Brook Greenway can continue with trail development on the 12-mile reach of the Erie and Wyoming Valley Rail Corridor.  A link to Jefferson Twp. and the Mt. Cobb-Moosic Lake area from the rail corridor at Wimmers, can connect to the Trolley corridor and PA Gravity Railroad corridor for a loop trail system over Moosic Mountain.  An additional link trail to Moscow and Covington can be developed by rebuilding the Elmhurst Reservoir Bridge and using a forestry road and pipe line corridor to Kellum Creek, and Roaring Brook to Moscow.  Therefore, this plan recommends development of a North Pocono Rail-Trail and Community Trail feasibility study to further this potential.  

6.   Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational   facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following Elmhurst Township links be eligible for funding, in addition to the previously mentioned North Pocono Rail-Trail and Roaring Brook Greenway:

•      a trail head link along PA Rte. 590 near Elmhurst Reservoir  

•      a bridge over PA Rte. 435  

•      a link along Main Street to the Community Park 

•      a bridge reconstruction at the Elmhurst Reservoir

7.   The Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC), a land trust affiliate of the LRCA, works with public and private interests throughout the Lackawanna Watershed.  The LVC has prioritized the acquisition and protection of cultural and natural resources.  A long term LRCA/LVC goal is the creation of a Lackawanna Watershed Nature Center.  The Roaring Brook watershed offers several opportunities for a nature center.  The LRCA recommends development of a nature center as an outcome of this plan eligible for implementation funds.   

Jefferson Township 

Upper headwater reaches of four tributary streams to the Lackawanna River lie within Jefferson Township.  They include, Grassy Island Creek, Laurel Run, Aylesworth Creek, and White Oak Run and its tributary Indian Cave Creek.  In addition, the upper headwater reaches of two tributary streams to Roaring Brook, including White Oak Run and Rock Bottom Creek also lie within the municipality. 

General Recommendations: 

1. Jefferson Township should include the protection of Grassy Island Creek, Laurel Run, Aylesworth Creek, White Oak Run and its tributary Indian Cave Creek and the two Roaring Brook tributaries, White Oak Run and Rock Bottom Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.

2. Jefferson Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions.  This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.

3. This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect:  open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.

4. Although Wallenpaupack Creek is not in the Lackawanna River Watershed, its headwater reaches in Jefferson Township - the area around Moosic Lake and the Moosic Lake Glen in particular - are important natural and water resource areas.  This plan recommends that the township include protection of appropriate resources in the Wallenpaupack headwaters along Moosic Mountain in its plan and ordinances.  The Moosic Lake Glen is also a significant natural area, containing old-growth hemlock and pine which includes a steep north facing hemlock and rhodora ravine, with numerous waterfalls and splash pools.  Also, there is a stone masonry, barrel vault, culvert dating from 1850 along a section of the loaded track of the PA Coal Company gravity railroad, which crosses Wallenpaupack Creek below the Glen.  This plan recommends that Jefferson Twp. consider implementation projects to support the acquisition, protection and conservation of these resources.

Recommendations for Grassy Island Creek:

1. The upland headwater areas of Grassy Island Creek should be managed long term for conservation use, exclusively.  The development of conservation easements on, or a conveyance of Theta Company properties within the Moosic Mountain headwaters reach to a conservation agency are recommended actions in this plan.

Recommendations for Laurel Run:

1. The upland headwater areas of Laurel Run should be managed long term for conservation use, exclusively.  The development of conservation easements on, or a conveyance of Theta Company properties within the Moosic Mountain headwaters reach to a conservation agency are recommended actions in this plan.

Recommendations for Aylesworth Creek:

1. The upland headwater areas of Aylesworth Creek should be managed long term for conservation use, exclusively.  The development of conservation easements on, or a conveyance of properties within the Moosic Mountain headwaters reach to a conservation agency are recommended actions in this plan.

Recommendations for White Oak Run and its tributary:

1. The upland headwater areas of White Oak Run and Indian Cave Creek should be managed long term for conservation use, exclusively.  The development of conservation easements on, or a conveyance of properties within the Moosic Mountain headwaters reach to a conservation agency are recommended actions in this plan.