The area covered by the Snow Shoe S.E. quadrangle includes several different land types. There are a couple of large strip mines, now in the process of being reclaimed, and many new and capped gas wells. Picturesque small ravines and a portion of Allegheny Mountain Section foothills are also included. From aerial photographs and reconnaissance, it was clear that no large areas had been left undisturbed. All but one of the Exceptional Value Waters (EV) on this quadrangle were briefly visited to characterize their vegetation and a survey was made of the nature of communities along Beech Creek. Because of time constraints and the lack of photographic indicators, much of this quadrangle was not investigated in detail.

Hayes Run, located southwest of the town of Orviston, is an Exceptional Value Water (NCOO1) that supplies drinking water to the town of Orviston. Its surrounding vegetation is mainly young oak and black cherry (Prunus serotina) with occasional patches of hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and was not identified as a unique natural community. Portions of this site were not investigated. Permission to access certain areas is needed for further study.

Panther Run (NCOO2) empties into Beech Creek in the northwestern corner of this map. The portion of this EV stream covered by the Snow Shoe S.E. quadrangle is slightly disturbed, possibly due to the presence of hunting cabins along the creek. Only the creek community itself (NCOO2) is identified in this survey.

Rock Run (1) is a small creek just over a mile in length running westward into the head of Beech Creek. It is classified as an EV stream (NCOO3), but aerial reconnaissance did not indicate any unusual natural communities present and the ecologist did not visit it.

Two Rock Run is a creek that was also described on the Snow Shoe N.E. quadrangle. It is classified as an Exceptional Value Waters (NCOO4) but the communities along it are rather young and undeveloped. Though there are components of a northern conifer forest along much of its length, the presence of red oak (Quercus borealis) in large numbers suggests the community has suffered major disturbance, probably fire, from which it has not recovered well enough to be included in the inventory.

The major threat to the above communities is the possibility of new or existing coal mine sites along them producing acid pollution from careless management. Presently none of the sites visited showed any degradation, but the proximity of the mines, especially to Hayes Run, makes this a possibility. Gas wells are also being drilled in this area and there is also the potential of sediment pollution from these operations.

Four sections of Sproul State Forest are situated in the northern half of this quadrangle. Small pieces of State Game Lands No.92 and No.103 are found on the southern edge of this map. Ground level survey, forest stand map study and aerial investigations could find no unique natural communities in the area at this time.