Northcentral Conservancy

Acres Added to PPL Wetland Working with Dr. Jim Finley from Penn State University, Charlie helped participants begin to think Conservation Easement about how a forest reflects the impacts of human In March NPC filed an amendment to a 2008 activities. Often, the difference between what you’d conservation easement in Montour County. The expect to find based on the site conditions and what amendment added 6.05 acres to the April 2008 you actually find can help you understand how an conservation easement in Derry Township, Montour area has been used in the past. County on property owned by PPL bringing the total Friday, Charlie and Renee’ Carey, Executive acreage under easement at this site to 108.96 acres. Director, spent their day in a session on how shale The original conservation easement conserves a gas development is impacting conservation. Charlie stretch of riparian buffer along participated in panels on land trust experiences in and wetlands created as part of a mitigation project. working on leased property and a panel on how land Chillisquaque Creek is an agriculturally impaired trust policies have evolved to address new situations stream that enters the West Branch Susquehanna and concerns. Renee’ facilitated the daylong session, River below Watsontown. Several of the stream which consisted of 5 panels. restoration projects Montour County The following week, Renee’ Conservation District completed returned to State College for using NPC’s Growing Greener grants the Pennsylvania Rural Water have been on Chillisquaque Creek. Association’s conference. She The in-stream work combined with presented as part of a workshop other practices will improve the water on how conservation easements quality of the Creek. and local land trusts can work with The added acreage also contains a water authorities to implement newly created mitigated wetland, as source water protection plans. well as some naturally occurring Conserving working farms Joining Renee’ was Matt Marusiak with wetlands. The wetland complex in this and foretshtes Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Pat area is very functional. NPC’s Land Protection Bowling with DEP’s source water program. Many Specialist, Charlie Schwarz, has photographed a water suppliers have developed source water variety of dragon flies and spiders at the site. protection plans to help guide them in maintaining and protecting their community drinking water Staff Presents at supplies. Many plans examine how protecting the area used for ground water recharge and around Pennsylvania Land wells can help maintain the quality of the water Conservation Conference and supply. Conservation easements are one tool that the Pennsylvania Rural Water could be used to implement the plans and goals of protecting the water recharge and wellhead areas. Association Conference April was a busy month for NPC’s staff. The Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference was Checked out our website lately? April 4, 5, and 6 in State College. Charlie Schwarz, NPC’s Land Protection Specialist, co-presented an all Why not visit us at day mobile (in the classroom and in the forest) www.npcweb.org workshop on reading the forested landscape. REPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 2 • SPRING 2013 Conservation Easement Inspections Underway

At least once a year NPC’s Land Protection Specialist, Charlie Schwarz, visits every property under conservation easement. His inspections allow NPC to verify the property is still being used for its conservation purposes and allow the current property owner to ask questions. These visits are the “meat” of NPC if you will. They are us upholding our conservation easement obligations. Last year we began posting some of Charlie’s Liz Miele, executive chef of the Herdic House Restaurant, presents NPC photos and comments on NPC’s Facebook page. Board Member Dick Penfield (right) and Celebrity Waiter Jerry Walls Several people have commented that they enjoy these (left) with a check for the evening's proceeds updates, so as space in the newsletter allows we’ll make Celebrity Waiters Raise Land them a regular feature. Protection Funds EASEMENT INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS 2013 If you dined at the House Restaurant March 18, 2013 – Took another retired forester to on March 15, you might have noticed things were a examine the woodland on a conserved property where little crazy. Gloria and Liz were there. Their normal the landowner is primarily interested in wildlife habitat bartenders and staff were there. However, there were improvement. A management plan proposing an also some Celebrity Waiters and Bartenders taking extensive timber sale had been written for the orders, mixing drinks, and preparing salads table side. woodland and submitted to NPC for review and Once again, NPC’s volunteers stepped up and went approval. As part of the review we compared what we to work memorizing specials, taking orders, serving saw with the recommendations in the plan. Although dinners, making salads, mixing drinks, and singing (or the plan was somewhat ambiguous, it seemed to call not singing, depending on what the table wanted). for cutting almost all of the large trees. Through the talents of the volunteers as well as a raffle With snow on the ground we could easily see where and silent auction, over $3,400 was raised! deer had pawed through the snow and fallen leaves to THANK YOU TO: feed on acorns. Cutting the larger trees, which are far Celebrity Waiters and Bartenders: from maturity, in this woodland would degrade its Brian Brooking (Woodlands Bank) ability to provide high quality food for deer, turkey, bear, Jon Kohr (Old City Restoration) squirrels and other wildlife as well as its future capacity Rick Mason (PennDOT) to grow higher value forest products. Tony Nardi (Fish Real Estate) Judge Tom Raup (Raup, Wiley and Sholder) Jennifer Ruelens (Fish Real Estate Management) Mark Shuman (Clear Channel Communications) Jerry Walls (community planner) Mary Zeitler (Fish Real Estate) Greg Zeitler (community volunteer) Gloria Miele and Jim Wood for donating a dinner at their home for the Silent Auction (and to Liz Miele for agreeing to prepare said meal) Yuki’s Clothing and Accessories for donating the designer handbag for the raffle MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITY • January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013

CORPORATE BLACK CHERRY RED OAK WHITE PINE MEMBERS ($100-$249) (Continued ) ($25-$34) Many thanks to our corporate Patricia W. Booth Patty L. Bowman Esq. Scott & Cherry Bearer members for their support of Dale & Mary Bower Jack & Michele Davidson Mrs. Anne Donnelly NPC's mission. Please take Dr. Robert & Loretta Coltrane Patrick Gallagher Dennis & Holly Dusza note of those businesses Frank R. Comfort Nick & Debbie Goff Joseph & Ginny English which have shown they care R. Jeffrey Coup Egbert & Frances Hall Robert & Margaret Hershey about the future of our Victor & Mary Engel Tim & Anne Holladay Dr. & Mrs. Mohamed communities with their Anthony C. Ferraro Kent Knisley Khalequzzaman corporate memberships and Gary & Susan Harris Douglas Loffredo Ken & Jane Light show them YOUR support. Henry F. Hartmann Jr. Paul Lumia Jon S. Malsnee Charlotte Mengel AMERICAN KESTREL William & Kelly Hastings Kenneth & Ann Lundy ($500-$749) William B. Heffner III William & Susan Martens Susan O'Donnell Woodlands Bank Stephen E. Jaquith Max Mitchell Sandy Rife Rudy & Carol Kafer Kathleen O'Brien Armine Wodehouse SMALL BUSINESS Tiffani M. Kase, Esquire Carol Pollard & Richard White ($500-$749) MEMORIAL Josephine Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Chester Pribble CONTRIBUTIONS Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. Marc & Diane Lewis Allan & Betsy Quant Memorial for Barbara Harris Beiter's Inc. Lloyd Wilson Chapter 224 Deborah Reeder by Richard & Grace Carey DCNR - Bureau of Forestry - of Trout Unlimited Sam Shaheen Memorial for Jim Hettler Tiadaghton Loyalsock Creek Roger & Nancy Shipley by Richard & Grace Carey Pine Creek Outfitters Watershed Association Robert G. & Rose Ann Wallace Mr. & Mrs. James Meyer Memorial for June Alsted Charles & Margaret Wettling by George & Shirley Durrwachter GENERAL MEMBERS Mark & Brenda Oberheim Dr. Douglas Wion Memorial for Ralph Spinney Stuart & Judy Olinsky Dorothy Yannaccone ELK Pine Creek Headwaters by George & Shirley Durrwachter ($5,000+) SUGAR MAPLE Memorial for Protection Group ($35-$49) George & Shirley Durrwachter Jack & Joann Rishel Harold & Beulah Yerk Dr. Robert Ecker by Linda Schramm BOBCAT Lance E. Robson George E. Farley ($1,000-$4,999) James C. Rogers William & Cindy Ferguson Wayne H. & Carol Scott Sr. Annie Sanders OTHER CONTRIBUTION Stephen & Diane Groff Stephen & Dorothy Schopfer Andrew & Elizabeth Harris BLACK BEAR Leon & Rosella Hurst ($500-$999) Henry & Ann Street Janice Hiller Dr. Lester G. Kleckner Dick & Carolee Thatcher Gilbert L. Maton Earle & Pattie Layser YEAR END APPEAL Jason & Chandra Weigle Gordon & Margie Shaw Dr. & Mrs. Donald L. Oakley Ron & Sondra Beach WHITE-TAILED DEER RED OAK Mr. & Mrs. James R. Parsons Joseph & Ginny English ($50-$99) ($250-$499) Michael & Jeanne Rapp Cole & Suzanne Lee Peter & Mary Brandenburg Peggy A. Ault David & Barbara Weaver Richard & Susan Sprout Steve & Deb Martin Ted & Tracey Barbour Stephen & Christine Sleboda George L. & Penny H. Bower Thank You...to all those who continue to support the work of the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy “Raise the Region” Generates Over $2,400 for Land Protection If you live in one of the county’s in which the First matching funds and Auto Trakk, Larson Design Group, and Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania PNC Bank donating another $37,500 in prize money. NPC works you are probably already familiar with Raise the received 27 donations and a total of $2,439.35. Thank you Region. The on-line giving event was held March 12, 2013 to everyone who donated to NPC (or any non-profit with over 4,300 gifts being made to over 160 nonprofits. during the event)! These funds will help us continue to The on-line donations totaled $726,827 with Blaise meet with landowners, answer questions, and work on Alexander Family Dealerships donating $125,000 in conserving this region’s working farms and forests. Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy NON-PROFIT ORG. PO Box 2083 U.S. POSTAGE Williamsport PA 17703 PAID 570-323-6222 http://www.npcweb.org/ PERMIT NO. 201 WILLIAMSPORT, PA Return Service Requested

Fish-mas Eve 2013

Trout Season’s Opening Day is a Great Time to Celebrate Land Conservation. NPC member Joe Radley uses the term “Fish-mas Eve” to refer to the day before trout season opens. I guess that makes the opening day Fish-mas, but I’ll have to check with Joe on that. Even if you don’t fish (and I haven’t in probably over 10 years), trout season’s opening day is a great time to think about all the land conservation work and other A fisherman tries his luck at Naval Run Road work NPC has done. Below are three projects that tie kayakers, and other creek users were getting to the into (get it - tie, fly tie, trout) trout and fishing. Creek from the property. It’s unusual to pass by during NPC worked with the Fishing Creek Sportsmen’s fishing season and not see at least one car here. Association and Columbia County in 2007 to secure Partnering with landowners, conservation districts, three conservation easements along Fishing Creek. watershed associations and corporations has allowed These conservation easements require public access to NPC, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Creek in order to continue the fishing tradition in Department of Environmental Protection to install this region. Two of the sites are above Benton and the in-stream habitat structures to both stabilize stream third is near Zaner’s Bridge. banks and increase aquatic habitat. Dr. Mel When NPC worked with the owners of the Pine Zimmerman, Lycoming College, has a student studying Creek Camper Court to purchase their property just the aquatic life found at these sites post-construction. below we knew it wouldn’t take long for the Once she’s done, we’ll be sure to share the results in our public to start using the property. We were right; within newsletter. weeks of the campground closing, fishermen, tubers,

A fly fisherman casting near Zaner’s bridge. Installing in-stream habitat structures