Hereford Manor Lake is located less than 30 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Encompassing 428 acres, Hereford Manor Lake and its surrounding property are critical to the community ecosystem and provide valuable green space for fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching.
Restore Hereford Manor Lake is dedicated to the facilitation of the quick repair and restoration of the Hereford Manor Lake dam. The dam is currently designated as a high-hazard, unsafe dam by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat commission and is among many throughout the sated to receive this unwanted distinction. In partnership with Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation, we have established an avenue to tax-deductible contributions to restore the dam and our great lake!
The Committee to Restore Hereford Manor Lake is composed of individuals, organizations, and companies that believe there are many benefits to this project.
This is a regional project that provides benefits to residents of Beaver, Butler, Allegheny and Lawrence Counties, including Eastern Ohio.
There are significant cultural, historical, and economic development aspects to restoring the Lake.
Tourism will increase because of the recreational opportunities provided by the lake.
Restoration of the lake will create temporary construction jobs in the region and create jobs related to increased tourism and recreation. Provides valuable green space for fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching.
History of the Lake
Hereford Manor Lakes has the dubious distinction of being located on the borders of three Counties; Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence. This location impacts potential commitments from each
County in participating in a partnership that could be formed to preserve the lake fisheries.
The property is located in a rural area of Beaver County, away from the County’s population Centers. And although Hereford Manor Lakes benefits all residents of the western Pennsylvania region.
The immediate service area population concentration is primarily located within the Harmony, Zelienople, and Cranberry Township areas of Butler County. However, Butler County is also being asked to partner with the Commission to resolve similar problems associated with the Commission’s Glade Run Facility.
Furthermore, Hereford Manor is located near Brush Creek Park, a Beaver county owned and operated park facility of similar size and offerings. Brush Creek Park’s only limitation is that it does not provide quality lake fishing opportunities of Hereford Manor Lake.
Franklin Township, where Hereford Manor Lake is located, is also concerned about the future of the lakes and they too desire to retain a lake fishery on the property. But, given Franklin Township’s small population and limited resources, they are not in a position to contribute resources towards making the improvements required to bring the dams into compliance with state regulations.
Regardless of county and / or municipal participation, our analysis indicates a substantial demand for Angling opportunities in the Hereford Manor region. According to 2006 Fishing Licenses sales, there Are over 122,000 licensed anglers within the local service area, a thirty mile radius of the facility, and Over 195,000 licensed anglers (not including Ohio residents holding out-of-state licenses) within the Regional service area, a sixty mile radius. Licensed anglers in the regional service area represent over 25% of total fishing licenses sold in Pennsylvania. Further, these numbers do not include youth, under The age of sixteen as they are not required to hold a license. When compared to the supply of lake Fishing opportunities similar to Hereford Manor, Hereford Manor’s lakes represents 16%, 65 acres, of The 336 acres of similar lake fishing opportunities located in the local service area. Losing Hereford Manor as a lake fishery is bound to have a significant negative impact on the amount of money being spent in the region by anglers pursuing their sport in western Pennsylvania.
History of the Site
The Hereford Manor Lakes property was purchased by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in 1972 from Mr. J.M. Cunningham.
While the property was under Mr. Cunningham’s ownership it was strip mined, and as a result Mr. Cunningham created the Lower and Upper Lakes that currently exist on the property. A survey of the property prepared for the Fish and Boat Commission in
1972 indicates the lower dam was constructed in 1949. We suspect the upper dam was also created around this time. The lakes were developed by placing dams across Doe Run. Local residents have indicated that Mr. Cunningham operated the property as a pay lake until it was acquired by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Hereford Manor Lake Property History
pre 1949: property owned by Mr. J.M. Cunningham who began strip mining activities on the property
1949: Lower Lake constructed
1957: Upper Lake constructed
pre 1973: Strip mining activities ceased and Mr. Cunningham operated pay lakes
1973: Property purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1979: Dams deemed High Hazard as part of the Phase I National Dam Safety Inspection Report
2003: Upper Lake was drawn done to provide additional storage capacity and relive pressure on the Lower Dam
Aerial photos of the property obtained from www.pennpilot.psu.edu provide us with images of the property over the past sixty-eight years. The first available aerial photograph of the property is from April 29, 1939. In this photograph you can see Doe Run traversing the property before being dammed and before the creation of the lakes.
Wildlife Foundation
We have partner with Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation to Administer the Donation Process
Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation celebrates the rich heritage of Pennsylvania wildlife, habitat and sportsmen and sportswomen. The foundation provides all wildlife enthusiasts with a way to show their commitment through much needed financial support. Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation funding aids wildlife habitat, scientific wildlife research and education, youth education and land preservation. Through a $12 million Capital Campaign, the foundation also plans to create a wildlife education and research center.
This 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization provides an avenue of funding for projects and organizations to help enhance Pennsylvania’s natural resources as well as promote the rich tradition of hunting and conservation. Answer the call today and help ensure that the natural resources we have enjoyed as children and adults will be here for future generations.
The Foundation was established for the purpose of conserving the birds and mammals of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are the only Foundation dedicated to all Pennsylvania birds and mammals and the ecosystems in which they live.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Foundation is able to raise, receive, acquire, and distribute funds and other property.
The Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation focuses on:
Conservation of birds and mammals
Wildlife education and outreach
Preservation of our rich hunting and trapping heritage
Bird and mammal research
Restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitats
Establishment of a state of the art Wildlife Education and Research Center
Human dimension studies
The principal benefactor of the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation is the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The Commission is an independent agency that was established by the General Assembly in 1895 to manage and protect the wildlife resources of the Commonwealth.
The Foundation is separate and independent from the PA Game Commission with its own Executive Director, Officers and Board of Directors.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation is to provide private support to enhance wildlife habitat, wildlife scientific research, wildlife education, land preservation, youth programs, and a science and research center.
“Now, through the Foundation, anyone can contribute to wildlife management.”
The birds and mammals of Pennsylvania are treasures that are enjoyed by all of its citizens. No general fund monies are used to support wildlife. In the past, there was no easy way for citizens to support wildlife, unless they were hunters, trappers, or shooters. Now, through the Foundation, anyone can contribute to wildlife management.
The Foundation challenge is to conserve wildlife where need is the greatest, where private support will make a difference and to ensure a leading role in protecting and creating habitat for all 480 birds and mammals that live in Pennsylvania. Contributions to the Foundation are fully tax deductible.