Reed Township (Dauphin) Highlights Kittatinny & Appalachian Trail on new web site

Reed Township, Dauphin County, recently launched a new Township web site - www.reedtownship.com - highlighting the area's recreational resources and scenic assets along the Kittatinny Ridge in addition to general information about municipal officials, services and ordinances.

The Appalachian Trail enters Reed Township at the crossing of the Juniata River as it travels north from the Borough of Duncannon onto "The Island" and then proceeds across the Clark's Ferry Bridge towards the Peter's Mountain climb. The web site includes information on the Appalachian Trail, Susquehanna River Trail as well as the Peter's Mountain Hawkwatch and also highlights Agricultural Preservation and Conservation Services available in Dauphin County for those potentially interested in conserving their land or keeping it in agricultural use. The web site was created with assistance from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

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.