Clear Creek State Forest

Clear Creek State Forest (formerly Kittanning State Forest) is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #8. The main offices are located in Clarion in Clarion County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Until August 2007, it was named Kittanning State Forest. The forest is located on a total of across three separate tracts in Jefferson County, Venango County, Forest County, Mercer County, and Clarion County. Clear Creek State Forest is managed under the "Multiple Use Management" system. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources considers many different uses for the forest land and places top priority on the most important use for any given area. Clear Creek State Forest is currently open for recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Several timber, oil and gas companies use the natural resources of the forest. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for wildlife management in Clear Creek State Forest. History Clear Creek 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 forests for various reasons. They 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.