Uplands and Valleys of Mixed Land Use

Month-to-date precipitation at Altoona 3 W (10 km from the ecosystem) through October 17 is 0 in, which is 0.8 in below normal for this date. This dry October follows September 2026, when the county received 6.3 in of precipitation, 2.8 in above the 1901-2000 normal of 3.5 in.

Cambria County remains free from drought stress as of the week of October 13-19, 2026, with 0% of the county classified in abnormal dryness or worse. The absence of drought conditions has persisted through the past eight weeks.

Spotted lanternfly was recorded on 2026-10-14 in Altoona, with 12 sightings in the past month across Cambria and Blair Counties. Adult females are now laying eggs through early freezing; each mass holds 30-50 eggs adapted to survive cold. Egg masses laid now will hatch next spring, so elimination of eggs before winter is the most effective control point in the pest's lifecycle.

Six invasive herbaceous plants were observed September 19 at Gallitzin: Common Sow-thistle, Morrow's honeysuckle, dwarf snapdragon, Deptford pink, White Sweetclover, and common soapwort, along with native Virginia strawberry and introduced colt's-foot. This co-occurrence at one site suggests an area of disturbed ground or concentrated invasive encroachment during late summer.

Six observations of European beech were recorded September 26 at the same location in Loretto, suggesting an established ornamental or naturalized stand. Introduced European beech and native American beech are both susceptible to beech leaf disease, now present in 65 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties and caused by a foliar nematode that deforms leaves and can kill trees.

Flat-topped white aster was observed September 27 in Cresson Township. The native perennial blooms from midsummer into fall and provides late-season nectar for pollinators. The three-month period through September 2026 was 2.2°F above normal for the county, ranking 14th warmest in 132 years of record, creating conditions for typical or accelerated bloom timing during a notably warm growing season.

Twelve Yellow-rumped Warblers were reported at Canoe Creek State Park on October 16. This species is at its fall migration peak through Pennsylvania in October before departing south; their ability to digest waxy berries allows them to linger later into autumn than most warblers.

A caddisfly observation (Annulipalpia, fixed-retreat makers) was recorded on September 15, 2026, in Pennsylvania. Caddisflies are sensitive to pollution and require cool, oxygenated water, making their presence an indicator of good stream health.

Stream mayflies (Heptageniidae) were observed on September 19, 2026, near Tyrone Township. Their presence indicates clean, well-oxygenated flowing water, as mayfly nymphs require unpolluted conditions and high dissolved oxygen to complete their development.

Glendale Lake is listed as impaired on the EPA 303(d) list as of the 2026 assessment cycle. This designation indicates the lake does not support all of its designated water uses and requires a total maximum daily load cleanup plan.