Weiser State Forest

{{Short description|State forest in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Weiser State Forest | iucn_category = | iucn_ref =  | image = Roaring Creek Trail.JPG | image_caption = Roaring Creek Trail in the Roaring Creek Tract  | map = | image_map = Weiser State Forest Locator Map.PNG | map_size = | map_caption = Location of Weiser State Forest in Pennsylvania | relief =  | location = Pennsylvania, United States | nearest_city = | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|40|37|49|N|76|11|35|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref =  | length = | length_mi = | length_km = | width = | width_mi = | width_km = | area_acre = 17961 | area_ref = | elevation = | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation =  | authorized = | created = | designated = | established = | named_for = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | governing_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | administrator = | operator = | owner =  | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20040226043607/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/weiser.aspx Weiser State Forest] | module = }}

'''Weiser State Forest''' is a [[List of Pennsylvania state forests|Pennsylvania State Forest]] in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #18. The main offices are located in [[Cressona, Pennsylvania|Cressona]] in [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the [[United States]].

The forest is located on several small tracts in [[Carbon County, Pennsylvania|Carbon]], [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia]], [[Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin]], [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland]], and Schuylkill counties. District #18 also includes [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]] and [[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour]] counties. The [[Appalachian Trail]] runs through the state forest lands.

==History== [[File:Shamokin Reservoir (lower) 1.JPG|thumb|left|Shamokin Reservoir in Weiser State Forest]] Weiser State Forest was formed as a direct result of the depletion of the forests of Pennsylvania that took place during the mid-to-late 19th century. 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 forest]]s for various reasons. They [[clearcutting|clear cut]] the forests and left behind nothing but dried tree tops and rotting stumps. The sparks of passing [[steam locomotives]] ignited [[wildfire]]s that prevented the formation of [[Secondary forest|second growth forest]]s. 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.<ref name="vfsfhistory">{{cite web |url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |title = History of the William Penn State Forest |access-date = 2007-08-29 |publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823033728/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/valleyforgehistory.aspx |archive-date = 2007-08-23}}</ref> 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.<ref name="vfsfhistory"/>

[[Image:ConradWeiserSketch.jpg|thumb|left|Conrad Weiser|292x292px]]The forest is named for [[Conrad Weiser]], an important Pennsylvanian in colonial days, especially known as an [[interpreter (communication)|interpreter]] and emissary in councils between [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]s and Pennsylvania.

Prior to the July 1, 2005 realignment of Pennsylvania State Forest Districts, Weiser State Forest encompassed {{convert|17961|acre|ha}} and District #18 included Carbon, Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill, and the northern parts of Berks and Lehigh counties. After realignment, the state forest tracts in Columbia and Northumberland counties were added to Weiser State Forest, and Montour county became part of District #18 (they had previously been in [[Wyoming State Forest]] and District #20). Weiser State Forest and District #18 also lost territory as all of Berks and Lehigh counties became part of "Valley Forge State Forest" (renamed [[William Penn State Forest]] in August 2007) and District #17.

==Neighboring state forest districts== *[[Loyalsock State Forest]] (north) *[[Pinchot State Forest]] (north) *[[Delaware State Forest]] (east) *[[William Penn State Forest]] (southeast) *[[Michaux State Forest]] (southwest) *[[Tuscarora State Forest]] (west) *[[Bald Eagle State Forest]] (northwest) *[[Tiadaghton State Forest]] (northwest)

== Natural and wild areas ==

* [[Jakey Hollow Natural Area]] * [[Sheets Island Archipelago Natural Area]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/weiser.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040226043607/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/weiser.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 26, 2004 | title = Weiser State Forest | access-date = 2006-07-14 | 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 |access-date=2006-07-14 |date=June 2005 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225731/http://www.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }} [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PA+DCNR+Realigning+Forest+Districts.-a0133686456 Alt URL] *{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif | title = State Forest Districts | access-date = 2006-07-14 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060515050052/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/images/district_realignment.gif  |archive-date = 2006-05-15}} ''Note: Map showing districts after the July 1, 2005 realignment''

[[Category:Pennsylvania state forests]] [[Category:Protected areas of Berks County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Carbon County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]]