The Conservancy immediately transferred the property to the Game Commission to become part of State Game Lands #277, known locally as the “Land-O-Lakes” and borders the property along Route 6.
This newly protected property features a large wetland area, forestland and small feeder streams to French Creek. Located within the French Creek watershed, the property is now available for hunting, fishing and other recreational opportunities on SGL #277
The conservation value of this land is high due to its proximity to SGL #277 and the forest, bird and wetland habitats that exist on the property. For example, a large percentage of the property consists of wetlands.
These areas of land, which are either seasonally or permanently covered by water or saturated with water, are effective at capturing and storing atmospheric carbon.
Also, this property is near the Erie National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area, where more than 236 species have been recorded, including bald eagle, sedge wren, marsh wren, northern harrier, pied-billed grebe, American coot, common snipe, northern saw-whet owl and American woodcock.
As a privately owned property for decades, it was fondly known as “The Swamp,” where the landowners’ family patriarch would spend time hunting and fishing.
He taught his children and grandchildren those skills and values, while telling family stories and sharing the legacy of caring for and enjoying the natural environment.
The family no longer lives in the area, so it was important for them to protect the land they grew up cherishing for the benefit of future generations.
Ann Sand, the Conservancy’s land protection manager for the French Creek watershed, says the family wanted the property to be protected by the Conservancy and added to the game lands with the hope that it be used and enjoyed by the public.
“It was important to them that their family’s land heritage would be protected in perpetuity and located in an area where ongoing restoration efforts are underway by Ducks Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to maximize the habitat value and wetland diversity of the landscape,” Ann adds.
The Conservancy has protected more than 6,000 acres in the French Creek watershed. French Creek and its tributaries are documented as having the highest aquatic biodiversity of any stream of its size in Pennsylvania and all states to the northeast of Pennsylvania.
The watershed has been an important area of conservation focus for the Conservancy since 1969.
Funding to protect this land was made possible thanks to donations from private donors and PGC, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant through Ducks Unlimited.
More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western PA Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, join them on Instagram, visit the Conservancy’s YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin. Click Here to support their work.
The Conservancy has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than 250,000 acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, maintains 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers and the support of more than 9,000 members.
[Posted: August 2, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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