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Latodami Pond restoration underway
Going full swing, the work is progressing very quickly
and the project foreman states that the reconstruction should be complete
by March, barring any extreme weather. The farm pond will be enlarged to
almost its original size and depth with a new spillway and overflow outlet.
The severe erosion below the spillway will be repaired utilizing large
rip-rap with a gradual graded stream bed again to almost original contour.
Most noticeable at this time is the large cleared area below the pond which
will, in the spring, be redeveloped as one of our habitats for our expanded
Butterfly Meadow Project. The completed pond project will allow us to renew
educational projects and activities that we were unable to do for almost
ten years due to the condition of the pond. It is hoped that this will also
provide better conditions for us to rebuild the trail around the pond to be
handicapped accessible. Trail work is not part of the contractor’s project,
so we will be looking for community and corporate support to help with this
new major trail project.
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The upper fields of Latodami.
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The Friends are currently researching Latodami’s past
in order to compile a comprehensive historical file documenting its origin
and its place in Allegheny County’s history. We
invite you to submit historical data, pictures, drawings and maps
relevant to Latodami’s history. We also welcome you to
share your personal stories about Latodami with us. Please email contact@latodami.org
.
Welcome
The Latodami Environmental Education Center located in North
Park, in western Pennsylvania is a natural resource with a diversity
of habitats. It has been identified in the 2001 Allegheny County
Comprehensive Master Plan as an important Biological Zone and in 2004 the
Latodami Environmental Education Center was selected by the Mammal Technical
Committee of the PA Biological Survey as an Important Mammal Area (IMA).
Latodami consists
of a barn, a pond, stream and wetland habitats, and 300 acres of forest and
fields. Thirteen trails meander throughout the
various habitats and invite exploration of this unique area.
The 1914
Pennsylvania bank barn (with its authentic tile silo), stands as a monument
to the area’s agricultural past and serves as Latodami’s interpretive center.
Meg Scanlon, the park naturalist, maintains an office in a small cottage that
was once the home of the farm boss. A few outbuildings and an old country
mansion are also a part of the complex.
Latodami is a
sanctuary to more than 200 species of birds that
either nest here or use it as a stop over during migration. Some species that
breed here include tree swallows, warblers, wild turkeys and bluebirds.
Red-tailed hawks are often seen soaring on the air currents. Take the North
Trail to Skyline Trail to take advantage of the bird blind located in the
upper fields. Or follow the Observation Trail to the observation deck. Some
wildlife species that have been sighted include white tailed deer, fox, and
muskrat.
The Friends of Latodami Environmental Education Center want to preserve this important biological area for this generation
and the next. We hope you will visit Latodami
and experience the wildlife and native plants of
the area first hand, learn about habitat and
conservation, and hike the many trails. If you are interested in further
information, or wish to be placed on our email list, please email contact@latodami.org
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BARN OWLS at LATODAMI
Latodami has joined in the effort to re-establish a population of
self-sustaining Barn Owls (Tyto alba)
in Western Pennsylvania.
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See Owl Updates for more information. Live views
of our owl and other wildlife can be found on our WebCams
page.
Webcams brought to you by The Friends of Latodami
and Powered by
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Friends of
Latodami Environmental Education Center is an independent group that supports Latodami’s
mission. It is not officially affiliated with Allegheny County
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