Zoar Valley

Zoar Valley

The Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area is a conservation area located at the confluence of the main and south branches of Cattaraugus Creek, on the border of Erie County and Cattaraugus County in western New York, USA. The area is within the Towns of Collins, Otto, and Persia.

"Zoar Valley" often refers inclusively to the larger valley of the Cattaraugus, but the state Multiple Use Area specifically encompasses an eight-mile section of the creek's Main Branch Canyon and three miles of the smaller South Branch. Canyon depths here are by far the greatest within the entire river corridor, ranging up to 380 feet (120 m) in the South Branch and 480 feet (150 m) along the Main Branch. Several nearly vertical rock faces approach 400 feet (120 m). Zoar Valley contains some of the last stands of old growth forest in Western New York and consists of 2,939 acres (11.89 km2). In 2007, as part of the drafting and implementation of Zoar Valley's Unit Management Plan, the entire state-owned length of gorge plus a 300 feet (91 m) buffer (where sufficient public land is held), and a 300 feet (91 m) buffer along several of the larger side creeks, was designated as the Zoar Valley Unique Area, which affords conservation protection comparable to that enjoyed by wildlands in the Adirondacks. The Unique Area contains the large majority of the currently known or suspected old-growth forest, all of the slope and cliff/talus plant communities, and all of the riverside floodplain and terrace woodlands. This achievement culminated a dedicated campaign by citizens, activists, and scientists/students to see this ecological gem awarded the recognition and preservation it has long deserved.