62
THE COUNTY’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
PLANNING ISSUE
Woodlands will continue to be
lost or fragmented if they are
not adequately protected.
What’s New
•
In 2010, 58,147 acres, about 18.6% of the county, was
wooded. This represented a slight loss of about 3,476
acres of woodlands since 2000. Yet the size of the
county woodlands has grown since 1970, largely a
result of old farm fields that have reforested. In
addition to the overall loss to the size of woodlands,
existing forests have become more fragmented as a
result of development.
•
A study conducted by American Forests in 2003
demonstrated that urban forests in Southeastern
Pennsylvania, similar to other more traditional forms
of infrastructure, provide over $5.9 billion in
stormwater management benefits and $167 million in
air pollution reduction benefits. Additionally, trees
enhance property values by making building sites
more attractive. They also provide needed cooling in
the hot summer.
•
In 2012, over 2000 trees were planted in the
Norristown area through funding provided by
PennVest.
Geology
Climate
Hydrology
Floodplains
Air Quality
Steep Slopes
Soils
Wetlands
Woodlands
Wildlife
Natural Areas Inventory
Woodlands
Woodlands provide many benefits to the county. They
provide essential habitat for many local bird species and
wildlife. Woodlands also help reduce erosion, protect local
stream water quality, improve air quality, and offer
recreation opportunities for residents.
Three hundred years ago, Montgomery County was a dense
forest of hardwoods. Oaks were the dominant species. Over
time as the county was farmed and developed, woodlands
decreased. Also, the qualities of woodlands have changed
over time as a result of the expansion of non-native species,
disease and predators, fragmentation, and deer browse.
Many non-native trees and bushes have taken root in the
county. The most predominate of these is the Norway
maple, which has become a big part of several forests in the
county. Tree species have succumbed to various diseases
and predators, changing the overall forest composition.
Chestnut trees are non-existent, while American elms are
barely hanging on. Other trees, such as American hemlock
and ashes are being besieged by new threats.
One of the greatest threats to county woodlands is deer
browse. The overabundant deer population in the county
has caused aggressive browsing and buck rub on various
plants and shrubs to the extent that in some woodlands, the
understory has been eliminated. As a result, many of
Montgomery County’s woodland areas have little or non-
regeneration potential.
The forest has become more fragmented as roads, land
developments, utilities and other forms of development have
cut into them. Small and isolated woodlands often have
limited ecological value and are more vulnerable to non-
native invasive plants.
The principal types of woodlands in the county today are:
•
Red Oak
– A sizable portion of the large remaining
woodland areas in the county are oak forests. Northern
red oak is predominant, but black, scarlet, and chestnut
oak and beech trees are also found in these larger
forested and hilly areas of the county. In the early
1980s, many oak forests in the county were attacked by
gypsy moths.
Mature oaks in Worcester provide deep shade.
