Lackawanna State Forest

Geobox Protected Area
name = Lackawanna State Forest
native_name =
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category_local = Pennsylvania State Forest
category_iucn = Managed Resource Protected Area (IUCN VI)

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image_caption = Looking southwest from Pine Hill, Lackawanna State Forest, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties
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country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = Counties
region = Luzerne
region1 = Lackawanna
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city =
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location =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 34
lat_s = 10
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 42
long_s = 30
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 2265
elevation_round = 1
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 8115
area_round = 1
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management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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free_type = Nearest city
free = Scranton, Pennsylvania
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map_caption = Location of Lackawanna State Forest in Pennsylvania
map_locator =
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/lackawanna.aspx Lackawanna State Forest]

Lackawanna State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #11. The main offices are located in Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania in the United States.

The forest is located on two tracts in Lackawanna and northern Luzerne counties. Their total area is convert|8115|acre|km2|2. District #11 also includes Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.

The reorganization of Pennsylvania State Forests that took effect July 1, 2005 added the southern part of Luzerne County to District #11 (it was previously in the defunct Wyoming State Forest). Other aspects of the realignment include moving the District #11 office from Scranton convert|10|mi|km|0 north to Lackawanna State Park, and the acquisition of a new tract, "Theta Forest" (not included in the description above).

History

Lackawanna State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid to late 1800s. Conservationists like Dr. Joseph Rothrock became concerned that the forests would not regrow if they were not managed properly. Lumber and Iron companies had harvested the old growth forests for various reasons. The clear cut the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing steam locomotives ignited wildfires that prevented the formation of second growth forests. The conservationists feared that the forest would never regrow if there was not a change in the philosophy of forest management. They called for the state to purchase land from the lumber and iron companies and the lumber and iron companies were more than willing to sell their land since that had depleted the natural resources of the forests. cite web |url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |title = History of the William Penn State Forest |accessdate = 2007-08-29 |publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] The changes began to take place in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock was appointed the first commissioner of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, the forerunner of today's Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a piece of legislation in 1897 that authorized the purchase of "unseated lands for forest reservations." This was the beginning of the State Forest system.

Neighboring State Forest Districts

The U.S. states of New York and New Jersey are to the north and east, respectively
*Delaware State Forest (southeast)
*Weiser State Forest (south)
*Loyalsock State Forest (west)

Nearby State Parks

*Archbald Pothole State Park in Lackawanna County
*Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County
*Prompton State Park in Wayne County
*Salt Springs State Park in Susquehanna County
*Varden Conservation Area in Wayne County

References

*cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/lackawanna.aspx
title = Lackawanna State Forest
accessdate = 2006-07-12
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "Note: As of July 2006, this web page has not been updated to reflect the Pennsylvania State Forest Districts realignment."
*cite web
url = http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=443999&A=11
title = DCNR REALIGNING FOREST DISTRICTS
accessdate = 2006-07-12
year = 2005
month = June
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
*cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif
title = State Forest Districts
accessdate = 2006-07-12
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment"