|
Chester County Agricultural Area
With deep, highly fertile soils, abundant natural rainfall, and a long growing season, the agricultural lands of Chester County are considered to be some of the best non-irrigated farmlands in the world, and have been for nearly 300 years.
This region of gently rolling piedmont hills is a prime example of the agrarian heritage of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and remains a working landscape farmed by Old Order Amish, Amish, Mennonites, and “the English.” The region is dotted with villages and crossroad towns, and numerous mills and covered bridges serve as a testament to the landscapes of the past.
The region’s farmland is fed by numerous streams and rivers, including Octorara, Northeast, Big and Little Elk, Brandywine, French, Pickering, White Clay, Buck and Doe Runs, and Conestoga River. Not simply a farming region though, Southwest Chester County is also home to unique natural areas including the Laurels Preserve, the Serpentine Barrens of Goat Hill, Nottingham and Chrome, the Big Elk Woods, Thistle Hill, and Sadsbury Woods, as well as forest cover in its steep valleys and wet lowlands.
Even though residents have consistently voted to increase taxes in order to preserve the land they love and their way of life, increased development pressures mean more efforts are needed.
WE NEED TO ACT
With over half the region’s soils designated as Prime Agricultural Soils by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, it is imperative to curb the approximately 5,000 acres per year lost to residential and commercial development. Furthermore, based on 2002 proposed lot/units, three townships had the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest development in the county. Failure to protect this region from sprawling development will result in the irreparable loss of our nation’s best farmland.
FACTS & FIGURES
Total Acres: 211,000
High Value Acres: 148,000
Developed Acres: 35,000
Protected Acres: 37,000
Additional Protected Acres Goal: 70,000
Data current as of July 2006
RESOURCE FEATURES
- Prime farmland soils
- Exceptional and high value streams
- Globally rare plant habitat
SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS
- Serpentine Barrens, Chester County Natural Areas Inventory
- Octorara Creek, Buck and Doe Runs, and the White Clay Creek - important water supply sources, Chester County’s Watersheds Report
- Vast majority of southwest Chester County designated “rural” landscape where agriculture should remain the primary land use, Chester County Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes
TREASURES
MUNICIPALITIES (all or part)
East Fallowfield, East Marlborough, East Nottingham, Elk, Franklin, Highland, Kennett, London Britain, London Grove, Londonderry, Lower Oxford, New Garden, New London, Newlin, Oxford, Parkesburg, Penn, Sadsbury, Upper Oxford, West Fallowfield, West Grove, West Marlborough, West Nottingham and West Sadsbury
MULTI-MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION(S)
Joint Oxford Recreation Authority, Octoraro Regional Planning Commission
WATERSHEDS/SUB-AREAS
Octoraro Creek, Northeast Creek, Big and Little Elk Creek, West Branch Brandywine Creek, Buck and Doe Runs, White Clay Creek and Red Clay Creek
GROWING LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THE AREA
Brandywine Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chester County 2020, Elk Creeks Watershed Association, French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Natural Lands Trust, Octoraro Watershed Association, Red Clay Valley Association, S.A.V.E. (Safety Agriculture Villages Environment), White Clay Creek Conservancy, White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee, Pennsbury Land Trust, East Marlboro Land Trust, Kennett Land Trust, Chester County Commissioners, PA and U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Brandywine Valley Association
|
 
|
Print Preview