1.0 Background Studies.
1.1 Regional Location and History.
1.1.1 Regional Setting.
Choconut Township is located at a Latitude of 41deg 58min N and Longitude 76 deg 00 min W in the northwest portion of Susquehanna County, north of Friendsville, northwest of Montrose and south of Binghamton, Endicott and Vestal, New York. Adjoining municipalities include the Townships of Apolocan, Forest Lake and Silver Lake plus the Borough of Friendsville in Susquehanna County along with the Town of Vestal in Broome County, New York. Route 267 (Route 26 in New York) links the Township to other portions of Susquehanna County and to New York State where access to Route 17, the Southern Tier Expressway, is very convenient. 'This major east-west route is, in fact, only 7 miles from the Choconut border.
1.1.2 History.
Choconut Township, named for the creek which runs south to north through it, was created from Rush Township in January, 1814. It then lacked what is now known as Apolocan Township and part of Friendsville. These were set off from Choconut in 1846 and 1848, respectively.
The unusual name is of Indian origin and the Township's first residents were Native American cultures who began occupying the Choconut area several thousand years ago. 7`he first European settlers came by way of New York and Connecticut in 1806 and built homes along the Choconut Creek. Shortly thereafter (1821), the area was described by as a visitor as follows:
"The country is, as respects the surface, what is generally called a ridgy or rolling surface - very few of the hills too steep for cultivation, and their summits equally fertile with any other part. In the hollows or valleys there are delightful clear streams, a proportion of which are large enough for any kind of water-works, and they abound with trout and other kinds of fish. I think it is the best watered country in my knowledge. From a conversation with the inhabitants, I was assured the air was generally serene and clear, the climate very healthy - seldom, if ever, any fog - clear of fever and ague, or fall fever. The Friends settlement is called Friendsville, and is situated on the great western turnpike leading to the Lake Country. There are divers turnpikes passing through said county from Philadelphia and New York, and our navigable waters furnish an easy mode for conveyance of produce to these markets - say one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty miles distant - and there is a prospect of having the distance considerably shortened."
The distance, of course, did get shortened in practical terms by inventions the writer surely never imagined - the automobile and telephone. Additionally, the development of the Binghamton area over the years brought goods and services then associated with Philadelphia and New York much closer. It is interesting, too, how much attention was paid to air and water quality nearly two centuries ago - attributes the Township still possesses and which, undoubtedly, continue to attract immigrant populations.
'The area around Choconut Lake was originally settled in 1810 by a great hunter known as Andrew Carman. The water body was named after him and known as "Carman's Lake" for some time thereafter. Later it was purchased by a Jacob Goodsell and became known as "Goodsell's Pond." A new group of settlers came to the area in 18 19, however, and among them was a Caleb Carmalt who purchased the Lake property and it remains in his family's hands to this day. Carmalt was one of several Quaker families from Philadelphia and Saratoga to settle in what is now generally known as Friendsville and he was a large landholder within the County.
During the 1830's a large number of Irish Catholics began settling in the Friendsville area and this eventually led to the establishment of St. Joseph's College and Church in the area of the same name, originally known as "Mannington." The College was an ecclesiastical school of excellent reputation and educated as many as a one-hundred students at a time. It was quite successful but suffered a major fire in 1864. Other churches were also established during the 1800's, including Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations, but most of these disappeared for one reason or another. Today, St. Joseph's remains and other denominations have established smaller churches throughout the general area.
Early industry included several sawmills, gristmills, tanneries, a cider-mill and a clothing works.
A store has existed in Choconut since 1815 but most of the remainder of the Township was never well served with stores. A few taverns apparently did well enough to survive and a post office and hotel were established at Choconut in 1829. Another post office was established at "Ellerslie" on the Apolocan Township border at the same time. This was in the vicinity of "Stanley's Pond" which still bears that name. An early formal school by the name of "Friendsville and Choconut Lyceum" was also established.
Over the years the Choconut valley was proposed for various improvements including an extension of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, but these did not come to pass and the Township remains distinctly rural in character. 1
1 Most of the above information comes from the History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
1.2 Natural Features.
1.2.1 Geology.
The relief of the Township was formed by glaciers and is, therefore, characterized by both steep slopes and depressions. 'The glacial deposits of stone and debris contribute the great variety of soils present in the area and account for their often limited suitability for on-site sewage disposal. The 'Township is part of the glaciated low plateau section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province and the primary geologic formation is the Susquehanna Group Formation, an old one which includes sandstones, shares, and conglomerates. It typically produces very good quality water in moderate supplies.
1.2.2 Terrain.
The average elevation of the Township is 1102 feet and the greatest local relief is found to the northwest of Township Road T-768 on Camp Choconut property (elevation 1840 feet) and the lowest point is along the Choconut Creek where it crosses the New York State border (elevation 1020 feet). Generally, the Township drains from south to north with virtually all of it being part of the Choconut Creek watershed. A very small portion northeast of Friendsville falls south into Baldwin Creek, a tributary of the North Branch of the Wyalusing Creek. Both later feed into the Susquehanna River and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay.
Topography is, of course, critical in determining suitability for road construction and the terrain of the area being fairly rugged has, in Choconut's case, prevented the development of good east-west routes to complement Route 267 as a north-south highway. This is a problem common to much of Susquehanna County. Route 167 also indirectly provides good north-south connections between Montrose and Choconut via collector Routes 4002 and 4006. Like Route 267, it also establishes a link with New York State, by whom the Township is much affected.
It must also be noted that the adjoining Town of Vestal includes a facility known as the Kopernik Space Education Center which is located south of Underwood Road and overlooking Choconut Township, taking advantage of the topography to establish a modern observatory. Associated with the Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton, this 26 acre site is used as both an education and research center and offers a superb science program geared to astronomy and space issues.
1.2.3 Water Resources.
The principal water system within the Township consists of Choconut Creek and its tributaries. This watershed encompasses virtually the entire municipality. Choconut Lake and Stanley Lake are the major water bodies. None of the 'Township's streams are classified as "exceptional" or "high quality" but water quality, as a practical matter, is very high and maintaining that quality is a matter of some concern to Choconut Township officials as well as those of surrounding communities. The Creek feeds into the Susquehanna River system and is the subject of a "Stream Watch" project conducted by the Vestal Senior High School Science Club. That group performs a number of chemical and physical tests on the Creek downstream from the Township and uses that information to monitor stream pollution which might ultimately feed into the Chesapeake Bay. They cooperate in this regard with "The Susquehanna River Watch" project.2
1.2.4 Soils.
An extensive analysis of soil conditions was made as part of this planning effort. It includes a Soil Suitability Map which indicates some 80-90% of the Township is unsuitable for mound-type on lot sewage systems. Areas along most of the Choconut Creek are limited by floodplain soils but, generally, seasonal high water tables and steep slopes are the primary problems. The Township soils are, in respect to these characteristics, more severely limited than most municipalities and this suggests future development must be carefully designed and steered toward those pockets of good soils which do exist.
It is important in this regard to note that soil types are generally mapped in units of five acres or more, within which smaller areas of higher quality soils can often be present. This means it is possible to accommodate development and growth with proper planning. Conservation subdivision techniques, where development is concentrated on such soils while preserving other areas as permanent open space, are clearly warranted in Choconut's case and will allow the Township to grow more than if it relied solely upon larger jot minimum lot sizes.
The County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance does permit conservation subdivisions (more commonly known as cluster developments) but does not mandate their consideration or use where they might constitute more appropriate methods for developing difficult properties. Also, the market tends to gravitate toward large lots because they are easy and non-controversial. However, where conservation subdivision techniques have been employed they have been successful from a marketing standpoint and the lots have significantly appreciated in value over time. Therefore, promotion of this concept could be a very effective means of overcoming Choconut's soil limitations, assuming the Township wants to grow and develop.
A reduced copy of the Choconut Township Soil Suitability Map follows and it is self-explanatory as to soil classifications, all of which are based upon U.S.D.A. Soil Survey mapping and linked to criteria for approval of subsurface sewage disposal systems under Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
1.2.5 Vegetation and Wildlife.
The Township is, for the most part, heavily wooded not unlike it was during the time the region was first settled and the area to the west of Lawsville was described as "one unbroken forest". The wide variety of deciduous trees is a recreational asset for the entire county and part of what makes the Township special. Hunting and fishing are very popular due to the abundance of and game and the wooded environment has attracted camping and second homes as a result. This is likely to continue and be even more of an economic resource in the future.
1.2.6 Wetlands.
A review of the Susquehanna County Soil Survey maps for Choconut Township and US.G.S. Wetlands Maps indicates the only large wetland areas in the Township is southwest of Stanley's Pond. However, a number of smaller areas of marsh and wetland do exist along the Choconut Creek and its tributaries. This area is an example of a stream valley characterized by Wyalusing soils which are typically subject to flooding and support wetland-type vegetation. Smaller pockets of wetlands are also found among Barbour, Basher, Lordstown, Mardin, Norwich and Volusia soils which are found in and along stream valleys. The soils map found in Township's Official Sewage Facilities Plan identifies vast portions of the Township which are subject to a seasonal-high water table and many of these include such smaller wetlands. Nonetheless, it is the water table which is the primary limitation and not these scatter wetlands.