Manada Conservancy preserves Wetland Habitat on Peters Mountain

Peters Mountain.  Photo by Manada Conservancy

In 2009 the Manada Conservancy, a regional non-profit land trust, assisted a Dauphin County couple in the permanent protection of their 41-acre Peter’s Mountain property, which contains extensive seeps, springs and wetlands. The property’s wetlands contain several rare or threatened plant species, and provide valuable habitat for amphibians and other wildlife. By placing a permanent conservation easement on their property, the landowners ensure that all future owners of the land will be bound to keep the property in its undeveloped state.

Peter’s Mountain is one of a series of ridges in south-central Pennsylvania within the Kittatinny Ridge corridor. Migrating raptors may jump from one ridge to the next in order to take advantage of the best available wind conditions. All of these ridges are valuable for their roles in infiltrating rainwater and maintaining high water quality in groundwater and surface sources in the valleys.

Manada Conservancy, knowing the many values of this property, was eager to work with the landowners to find a solution that permanently conserved the property, but allowed the landowners to continue their current use and management of the property. A conservation easement, a voluntary agreement between a willing landowner and a qualified land trust or government, was a perfect fit.

For more information on Manada Conservancy, please visit www.manada.org, or to find a land trust near you and learn more about conservation easements, visit the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association at www.conserveland.org.