Historic Delaware Water Gap Borough undergoing Village Study

An Appalachian Trail hiker enters Delaware Water Gap.

Historic Delaware Water Gap Borough is one of the few communities in Pennsylvania along the Appalachian Trail passes directly through, a long time stop for hikers and visitors to the Poconos in general.  Situated at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge, the quaint village is named after the “magnificent natural wonder carved by the Delaware River.” 

The Borough is currently undergoing a Village Study made possible by a grant from Monroe County.  This planning process serves to engage various stakeholders within the community with goals of sustaining the traditional look and feel of the Borough, improving and ensuring continued safety for life and property, promoting appropriate community development and maintaining a high quality of life. 

The study area for this project will focus on the primary commercial corridor within the Borough which includes many businesses, services and community groups that serve Appalachian Trail hikers, including: Church of the Mountain Hostel, the Deer Head Inn, Edge of the Woods Outfitters (only outfitter along the A.T. in Pennsylvania!) and Village Farmer and Bakery (home of the famous Hot Dog & slice of Apple Pie special).    The steering committee hopes to incorporate elements of how Delaware Water Gap could position itself as a gateway for outdoor recreation to the Appalachian Trail, the Kittatinny Ridge, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and various other valued natural and cultural assets that contribute to its unique sense of place and draw visitors.  We can’t wait to see the results!

Cumberland County presenting draft Land Partnerships Plan

LandPartnerships is a countywide strategy designed to improve and enhance the quality of life in Cumberland County through: farmland preservation, natural resource protection and parks, trails and greenways.  These plans are important policy statements at the County and local level that reinforce efforts that preserve and enhance significant landscapes such as the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor.

In April 2012, the Cumberland County Planning Department embarked on an 8-10 month effort to update the Plan in order to develop new recommendations for the next 5 years. The planning process includes a variety of opportunities for the public to provide input including a citizen survey and public meetings.  Two upcoming public meetings are planned to review and receive input on the draft Land Partnerships Plan.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 

Southampton Township Municipal Building

200 Airport Road, Shippensburg, PA

Monday, November 5, 2012

Lower Allen Township Municipal Building

2233 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA

For more information visit: Cumberland County Land Partnerships Plan 2012

Plainfield Township web site highlights Conservation Resources

Communities considering a web redesign for their municipal site or expanding on available conservation & recreation information should check out Plainfield Township's web site!   Plainfield Township’s (Northampton County) municipal web site is a great example of a community using their web presence to spread awareness amongst residents and/or visitors of the township's significant natural, cultural and recreational assets.  Site users get an immediate feel for Plainfield Township's "sense of place" through the site design/theme used as well as the resources and images prominently featured.  

The Environmental Advisory Council page also discusses municipal goals of protection, conservation, management, promotion and use of natural resources including air, land, and water located within its territorial limits. 

Plainfield Township in
Northampton Co.

Additional links to various additional local and regional conservation resources include area nature centers (Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, etc.), conservation groups (Audubon PA, Heritage Conservancy, etc.), trails (Appalachian Trail hikes in PA), and regional conservation partnerships (Lehigh Valley Greenways, Kittatinny Coalition, etc.). 

Plainfield Township's web site was funded in part by a Lehigh Valley Greenways grant administered by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

Upper Mt. Bethel Supervisors support land preservation effort

The Nature Conservancy is looking to preserve another
70 acres of property along the Kittatinny Ridge.
(Source: WFMZ.com)

Upper Mt. Bethel Township Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to formally support The Nature Conservancy's efforts to preserve 70 acres of forested land along the Kittatinny Ridge in Northampton County.  Upper Mt. Bethel sets a great example for municipalities along the Appalachian Trail and Kittatinny Ridge in their resolution.  See the full WFMZ article here.

Municipalities can play an important supporting role in backing funding proposals for land preservation and can even go as far as to hold conservation easements.  In this particular case, The Nature Conservancy is applying to Northampton County's Open Space Program to purchase this easement along Blue Mountain Drive.

WFMZ reports: "Ellen Lott, project manager with The Nature Conservancy, said the additional 80 acres would tie into 229 acres already preserved along the Kittatinny Ridge.  Lott said the ridge has both 'ecological and social importance to the residents of the area' by providing critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, while offering breath-taking scenic views.

It's important to keep the ridge forested for the wildlife and the people because it's such a visible landmark,' she said."

Izaak Walton League and Lebanon Valley Conservancy celebrate permanent protection of land within the Kittatinny Corridor

Click on image to view more photos!

Members of the Izaak Walton League, Lebanon Valley Conservancy and the Kittatinny Coalition as well as elected officials and various landowners within the Kittatinny Corridor gathered last evening to celebrate the permanent protection of the forested 39.96-acre Izaak Walton League property.  Now under conservation easement through the work of the Lebanon Valley Conservancy, this parcel at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge within a few miles of the Appalachian Trail crossing at Swatara Gap includes significant ecological and recreational resources: wildlife habitat, riparian area, vernal ponds, serves as a buffer to canoe recreational access to the Swatara Creek and facilitates protection of the planned Lebanon Valley Rail Trail Corridor through to Swatara State Park.

Audubon PA presents Galen Kleinfelter of Izaak Walton League 
with Kittatinny Ridge print

See article in the Lebanon Daily News here: Environmental groups preserve land in Union Township and more photos of the celebration here on Facebook.  About 50 invited attendees learned more about the history and conservation values of the property, conservation efforts in Lebanon County and within the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor.  Audubon PA and Appalachian Trail Conservancy reps made a brief presentation about the conservation values of the Kittatinny and its significance to the Appalachian Trail experience.  Multiple landowners signed up with the Kittatinny Ridge land registry, a program by Audubon PA to increase awareness of conservation options amongst landowners with high conservation-value properties. 

Elk Chili from nearby Woods Creek Grill was enjoyed by all.  Congratulations to the Lebanon Valley Conservancy and the Izaak Walton League for their continued efforts to preserve the Kittatinny Ridge landscape in Lebanon County!

The celebration took place under IWL's pavilion next to Swatara Creek.

Moore Township supervisors preserve almost 100 acres

Exciting news from the Lehigh Valley!  Moore Township Supervisors yesterday voted to buy development rights for two properties totaling almost 100 acres at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge with Wildlands Conservancy holding the conservation easement on the properties.  Congratulations to Moore Township residents and municipal leaders for taking this important step in preserving their community's natural assets and thanks to Wildlands Conservancy for all the work they do in protecting the Kittatinny Ridge, also known as Blue Mountain.  See article at link below from LehighValleyLive.com:

MooreTownship supervisors preserve almost 100 acres

Lehigh Valley municipalities form Birdtown Coalition

Vision: Municipalities within the Lehigh Valley are places where people love to live, work, and visit because the residents and officials actively support and recognize the value of birds and nature to thTeir own quality of life and culture.

Mission: To create a sustainable driver for regional long term environmental stewardship across the Lehigh Valley by creating awareness of the linkage of birds to the natural environment. 

Audubon Bird Town works to protect birds, not only because they are beautiful and awe inspiring, but because they are the touchstone of biological health. The vast distances they travel and the diverse ecosystems on which they depend, make them unique barometers of our planets health as well as our neighborhoods and backyards. When birds are at risk, so too is the greater ecosystem, the intricate web of life, and ultimately, humans. When we help birds and their habitats we help ourselves.

Lehigh Valley Bird Town: The coalition was founded to support Allentown Bird Town, but quickly expanded in recognition that Allentown’s success would be enhanced by involvement across the Lehigh Valley. The coalition is a collaboration of independent organizations brought together through our shared mission. By working closely together, the coalition will build success by leveraging individual and joint efforts of its members while each organization retains its own separate identity. Through our activities we will achieve broad demographic, geographic and habitat coverage. All of our activities will encourage proper Birding ethics.

Coalition Membership: We encourage regional and local, private, public and government organizations that share our mission and are willing to participate by supporting Bird Town events, habitat demonstration, or funding. It is our hope that additional Audubon Bird Towns will be created within the geography of this coalition. 


For more info check out the Lehigh Valley Birdtown blog!

Duncannon, Pennsylvania Designated as Appalachian Trail Community

Duncannon, PA (May 1, 2012) – On June 2nd, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will celebrate the official designation of Duncannon, Pennsylvania as the newest Appalachian Trail Community™. Event activities will begin at 8:30am at area trailheads with hikes sponsored by local hiking groups with the designation festival titled “Saving Our Community from Nature Deficit Disorder”. The designation festival will begin at noon at the Borough on Cumberland St. Activities include live music, vendors, workshops, presentations and raffle – followed by a ceremony at 2:45pm.

The community is working collaboratively to bring awareness to the Trail and to their respective community highlighting the Trail as a national resource and international icon. During the ceremony the ATC and town leaders will speak with a proclamation signing and an unveiling of new community signs.   Visit the Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee's Blog.

"Each year, municipal leaders, members of the Boy and Girl Scouts, Trail Angels, local citizens, and members of the school community take a great deal of pride in making Duncannon part of the Trail by offering a unique experience for those passing through a community nestled along the sparkling Susquehanna River. It is indeed an honor to be one of a small number of towns through which the Trail directly passes," wrote Daniel Sheats, Superintendent of Schools, in his letter supporting the community designation.   The event will also announce the winners of the 4^th grade postcard art contest, and will be made available for sale at the area’s local businesses.

The Appalachian Trail Community™ designation is a new program of the ATC, the nonprofit responsible for management and protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Launched in 2010, this program recognizes communities for their part in promoting awareness of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) as an important local and national asset.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is proud to celebrate communities that are helping to protect and promote the Appalachian Trail,” states Julie Judkins, Community Program Manager for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. “These new partnerships will increase local stewardship of public lands, support community initiatives for sustainable economic development and conservation planning as well as support healthy lifestyles for community citizens.”

A Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee was formed to process the community’s application, and will continue to work on behalf of the outdoor recreation and natural assets in the area. The committee is also planning improved river access and downtown beautification through their support of Apple Tree Alley, a proposed site plan that would transform the underused old railroad right-of-way corridor into a new space for community use and serve as the route of the A.T. in Duncannon, guiding hikers through a town park to connect them with amenities, river access points and businesses.

“Each hiker experiences not only a piece of America as they stroll Duncannon's sidewalks, but also senses the welcoming atmosphere innate to the neighborhood.” Karen Balaban, President Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club.

The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. The A.T. is approximately 2,180 miles in length, ranging from Maine to Georgia, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpath in the world. Volunteers typically donate more than 220,000 hours each year on Trail-related work and about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the A.T. each year. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the completion of the A.T.

For more information about this event visit www.duncannonappalachiantrailcommunity.com. For more information about the Appalachian Trail Community™ program visit www.appalachiantrail.org/atcommunity.

Duncannon Borough Plans for Revitalization with Apple Tree Alleywalk

Apple Tree Alley is an old railroad right-of-way running from Fritz Avenue to Noye Park between High and Market streets in Duncannon, PA.  The AlleyWalk Master Site Plan prepared by SEDA-COG in 2009 proposes a transformation of the underused corridor into a new space for community use and enjoyment.  As proposed, the AlleyWalk would extend approximately one mile in length between Little Juniata Creek and Fritz Avenue.  The AlleyWalk would be constructed within the limits of the existing Borough right-of-way and could serve as the route of the Appalachian Trail in Duncannon - guiding hikers through a linear town park with connecting hiker-amenities, river-access points and businesses!  For more info on potential Apple Tree Alley economic benefits visit Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community blog.

Apple Tree Alley as it appears today

The AlleyWalk concept provides dedicated park-like space where pedestrian and bicyclist uses are separated from motor vehicles as well as shared space designs where people and motor vehicle uses mix in a low-speed environment.

When completed, the AlleyWalk will serve a variety of community resident and visitor needs.  Suggestions for community activities along the AlleyWalk include parades, community yard sales, and other community event related activities.  The AlleyWalk would become part of the larger Susquehanna Greenway system in Pennsylvania and could be designated as the official route for the Appalachian Trail through Duncannon, which currently travels down High St. removed from the main business district.

Southern section of the Alley through residential area.

But even more than this, the AlleyWalk is about making Duncannon a better place - increasing its attraction as a place to live, work, and play - and improving public health by making better use of Apple Tree Alley as a community destination for walking and bicycling.  With thoughtful design, the AlleyWalk can also enhance real estate value and create new business opportunity in Duncannon.

Eldred Township (Monroe Co.) enacts Appalachian Trail Overlay District

Pursuant to the PA Appalachian Trail Act of 2008, a municipality can tailor the model Appalachian Trail Overlay district based on local context and natural resources.  The overlay includes two zones, the Primary Conservation Zone and the Secondary Conservation Zone.  Each may be modified depending on surrounding landscapes and land ownership (e.g. woodlands, agricultural land, steep slopes, viewsheds, etc.).  

The Eldred Township (Monroe County) Overlay District prohibits structures within 100’ of the NPS owned corridor.  Within 1,000’ of the A.T. Corridor, all non-residential uses are considered conditional uses and require review by the Board of Supervisors with consideration for their impact on the Trail.  It is intended to establish a visual buffer by imposing vegetation removal standards.

Learn more about the PA Appalachian Trail Act and how your municipality can effectively plan for the Trail.

Bushkill Township adopts Official Map to guide Land Use Decisions

An Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) can help a community take great strides towards conserving their most treasured natural resources, quality of life, and ways of life. Nowhere has this been more evident than in Bushkill Township, Northampton County.  Established in 1979, the EAC is a viable and effective conservation advisory body active in current municipal and land use planning efforts.

Bushkill has a strong natural and cultural heritage. In the face of a growing population and disappearance of open space, farmland, and greenway connections, maintaining this beautiful landscape is a priority to the EAC and the township. The EAC, together with Bushkill Township officials and several partners, has been the driving force behind a number of efforts to increase the protection of the township’s critical natural resources and to maintain a high quality of life.

Official maps are designed to help municipalities plan for the future by identifying lands that are critical to accomplishing long range goals. Described in Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code, Official Maps are often used to delineate lands where the municipality projects new schools, roads, and other infrastructure will be located at some point in the future.  Bushkill was one of the first municipalities in the Lehigh Valley and one of very few in Pennsylvania to use the Official Map to help protect its natural resources. The Official Map allows a municipality up to one full year following the submission of a development plan to either purchase the property at fair market value, or work with developers and landowners to create a plan that minimizes impact on streamside woodlands and other important natural resources.

Bushkill’s EAC has proven to be an invaluable resource for the township’s supervisors and residents. By focusing on critical resources and utilizing partnerships, this all-volunteer advisory group has made an extraordinary impact on their community’s future. There are many more exemplary Environmental Advisory Councils and local conservation efforts along the Kittatinny Ridge. For more information about starting an EAC in your community, please visit the Pennsylvania Environmental Council at www.eacnetwork.org or call 1-800-322-9214.

Bethlehem Authority's Historic Conservation Deal

In 2011, the Bethlehem Authority, managers of the watershed that provides drinking water to Bethlehem and surrounding areas, completed an agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that protects 22,000 acres of woodlands. Although located outside of the Kittatinny corridor, the City of Bethlehem depends on forests on the Kittatinny to protect its drinking water.  This agreement – by acreage, the largest private conservation deal in Pennsylvania history – protects a significant portion of the headwaters to the City’s water source, preventing the need for costly water treatments. The agreement was the first endeavor of TNC’s Working Woodlands Program, a powerful new tool to advance land protection, especially among large landholders, including water authorities, and hunting or scout camps.  Working Woodlands provides forest landowners with an in-depth property management plan, and access to forest certification and carbon markets.  In exchange, the landowners commit to sustainable forestry practices and grant a 60-year conservation easement.

Managing their forests sustainably will allow the Authority to obtain Forest Stewardship Council forest management certification, and forest carbon payments via Blue Source, LLC. Certification means the timber from the Authority’s lands will meet the increasing market demands for certified sustainably- produced lumber and will allow the Authority to sell carbon credits on the open market. Companies around the world purchase these credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

“Working forests are a keystone of The Nature Conservancy's conservation efforts, here in Pennsylvania and around the world,” said Bill Kunze, state director of TNC’s Pennsylvania Chapter. “Harnessing the power of markets in service to the long-term ecological and economic health of our forests can yield great benefit for both people and nature.”

In the end, the deal was a win both for the environment and the Bethlehem Authority. “Our primary mission is to supply the highest quality drinking water to the 115,000 plus customers of the Bethlehem Water System as we possibly can. Preserving the pristine quality of our watershed properties supports that mission. And the Working Woodlands Program enhances our ability to do just that,” said Stephen Repasch, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Authority.

For more information on Working Woodlands, visit TNC online at http://

www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/

pennsylvania/workingwoodlands/index.htm.

Wildlands Conservancy preserves Hauser Estate

In March of 2011, Wildlands Conservancy successfully completed the purchase of 172 acres of upland habitat on the Kittatinny Ridge and along the Appalachian Trail, protecting a key connection in an area popular with recreationists and wildlife. With native grasses and state-listed flora and fauna, the property has been a top priority of Wildlands for nearly all of the organization’s 38 years. However, it took the efforts of four separate conservation groups to finally complete the deal.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Lehigh Gap Nature Center nurtured a relationship with the owners, Dan and Susan Hauser, based on a shared land ethic. When the time came to sell the property, Wildlands Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Game Commission coordinated a speedy settlement and provided the required funding to make the project work. Protection of the Kittatinny Ridge—its habitat, its views and its story—is in everyone’s best interest and it takes teamwork. The newly-protected land, which borders State Game Lands 217 and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, and includes a portion of the Appalachian Trail, will eventually be transferred to the Game Commission, who will manage the land and provide permanent public access.

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.