OUR MISSION IS... …natural resources in Letter from the President Central PA for future Join your local land trust today! generations through land Dear CPC Members and Friends, and restoration of 30 acres on the east branch In my second year as president of the Central headwaters of the Letort Spring Run. acquisition, conservation Pennsylvania Conservancy, I am proud to CPC responds to land conservation needs easements, education, report on the progress CPC has made in and opportunities at the grassroots level, in and outreach. For over 30 2016, and I am excited to share with you the our own backyards, and works in tangible direction in which we are headed. ways to protect what we all love about Central years, CPC has functioned CPC has an excellent track record and has Pennsylvania—its scenic farms and open as the local land trust for been steadily advancing its mission since spaces, meandering limestone streams and 1982. We have protected over 6,000 acres springs, forested ridges and slopes of the Franklin, Cumberland, of land through conservation easements, Kittatinny Ridge and South Mountain, and the Perry, Dauphin, and Juniata land acquisition, or transfer acquisitions to wildlife that depends on these special habitats. state agencies. CPC currently stewards 23 This report details our efforts and requests counties. CPC stewards easement properties and 3 preserve properties. your help to make it happen. and operates the historic In 2016, we permanently protected 500 acres CPC relies on a small core of part-time on the Kittatinny Ridge via a conservation Ironmaster’s Mansion at Pine professional staff, a group of dedicated easement, and we acquired and transferred volunteers, and supportive members who Grove Furnace State Park 2 key parcels in Cumberland County to the believe that conservation of our natural where it also hosts programs Pennsylvania Game Commission. We have resources is of the highest priority. Annual an additional 2 easement projects and 2 dues are essential to supporting our core work and events. acquisition projects in progress. The historic while we pursue grants and sponsorships for Ironmaster’s Mansion at Pine Grove Furnace designated projects. CPC is the ONLY land State Park is now operating at full speed as trust serving four of the five counties in our a hostel for hikers on the Appalachian Trail, service area, and therefore your membership a group rental facility, and an educational, ensures that the organization may continue to historical, and community resource. leverage grant monies to our region. Our annual report reflects our upcoming I urge you to please consider supporting CPC. priorities, including the Windemaker If you are already a member, please take the Project—a transfer acquisition with time to renew your membership. I share your Pennsylvania Game Commission, a workshop commitment to PA woods, water, wildlife, for woodland owners about planning for mountain land and farmland, and thank you 2016 succession and stewardship of valuable deeply for entrusting CPC to carry out its forestland, a new landowner guide to mission. ANNUAL conservation easements, the Ironmaster’s In Conservation, REPORT Challenge, and the Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute. This year will also be highlighted by CPC’s acquisition, protection, Kenneth R. Waidelich, CPC President CentralPAConservancy.org CPC 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | PG 1 Strategic Land Protection on the Kittatinny …conservation easements and acquisitions PROXIMATE Matthew Rice Easement PROTECTED LAND County Farmland Preservation Tuscarora State Forest Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary Protecting 500 Central PA Conserv. Easement Audubon Hawk Watch Acres on Perry County’s Kittatinny Ridge In December 2016, CPC recorded a conservation easement with Perry County landowner Matthew Rice, permanently preserving 500 acres of forested ridge habitat on the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain. This property, part of a contiguous forest block of over 4,000 acres, is in close proximity to other protected lands including Tuscarora State Forest, the Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary, Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch, county- preserved farms, and other nearby CPC easement properties in Perry County. 1 inch = 1 miles Ben Mummert November 28, 2016 ¹ 0 1 2 Miles “We applaud the long-term vision and conservation commitment of landowners like Matthew Rice, who partnered with Central PA Conservancy to achieve the protection of special resources on this part of the Ridge in Perry County-its geology, scenic value, recreational assets, prime habitat for woodland species, and water resources,” says CPC Executive Director Anna Yelk. If not protected, these natural resources would be threatened by construction, fragmentation, and mismanagement. The property was valued in the highest category for protection, according to a GIS analysis completed by The Nature Conservancy and PA Audubon and funded by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for use by land trust partners of the Kittatinny Coalition (www.kittatinnyridge.org). The Kittatinny Ridge landscape is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and within the state as an Important Mammal Area (IMA) for threatened bats and Allegheny woodrat. As a key funder and partner in this effort, Appalachian Audubon Society president Kathy Kuchwara claims, “This project is important as it adds to the protection of the forested Kittatinny Ridge for songbird nesting, raptor migration, and water quality for residents of Perry County. The partnership of a landowner, a local land trust, and a local chapter of the National Audubon Society to permanently protect ridge habitat for wildlife and future generations is something we can all be proud of.” Fox Hollow Rd The Windemaker Tract CPC and PA Game Commission (PGC) have partnered to acquire a key property on the Kittatinny Ridge, north of il arora Tra TY 0 Tusc ts Gap→ COUN 3 Sterret PERRY 2 2mi to # L Carlisle, adjoining state game land (SGL#230). CPC holds SG R ra Trail EMAKE Tuscaro WIND a purchase option and seeks to raise $80,000 through rs Gap n Waggone o mi to i ←4 t c grants and donations. Stretching between the ridge and e t o r P d 0 300 yards down-slope, the property is designated within n 3 Y 2 a NT D COU # L RLAN UMBE L r C o SG t c the highest category for protection, it offers prominent e r i D C views of the mountain from throughout the Cumberland P C , t r e Wertzville Rd Valley, and is accessible to outdoors enthusiasts in the m m u M n Harrisburg-Carlisle region. e B d , Rd R 6 a l Eno 1 g n 0 i r 2 / p S 2 2 / 7 p 1 in = 0.5 miles a $ M CPC 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | PG 2 CPC Receives Challenge Grant 2016-2017 Events to to protect and restore the Promote Letort Site’s Ecological Features Letort Spring Run Headwaters & Community Benefits The Department of Conservation region, community galvanization, and and Natural Resources (Community continued efforts to protect the Letort and Conservation Partnerships Program) its greenway. is finalizing a grant award to CPC that would fund up to $150,000 of the $303,000 You can help bring back this unique site acquisition of the former watercress farm at that inspired the first European settler to the headwaters of the Letort Spring Run—a Carlisle, James Letort, to call this place his spring-fed, limestone trout stream south home in 1720. The poignant combination of Carlisle. Acquisition will be followed by of history and ecology found here must wetland restoration and development of be shared with the entire community and historical and recreational assets, including future generations. Your donation will public access. Additional funds have been be matched 1:1 from a challenge grant secured or pending that will allow the awarded by The Foundation for Enhancing organization to complete the purchase of Communities (TFEC). Thank you for your July 11-16, 2016 CPC’s Goddard the 30-acre property by October 2017. commitment to community conservation! Leadership Legacy Institute’s native plant restoration project CPC’s overall goal is to establish a preserve at the headwaters of Letort Acquisition Funding Plan the Letort Spring Run and the Funding Gap-Public and trailhead of the Letort Nature Private Support Pending Trail. It will feature a restored $85,000 and functional wetland meadow and stream system, while $30,000 CPC Fundraising to Date offering recreational access and $37,000 education about conservation September 16, 2016 CPC Tour and regional history. Among the for Local Elected Officials many benefits include stormwater Cumberland County Land and Community Leaders management through flood $151,500 Partnerships Grant Award storage and infiltration, cleaner surface and groundwater, a Dept. of Conservation and healthy trout fishery, heightened Natural Resources (DCNR) outdoor tourism appeal for the Acquisition Total=$303,500 existing RESTORATION EDUCATION RECREATION Stream Network RESTORATION, EDUCATION 1 proposed December 17, 2016 CPC Fundraiser S. SPRING GARDEN STREET at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company Restored Wetlands UNION QUARRIES INC. 2 RESTORATION, EDUCATION with Letort Regional Authority PARKING Historic Structures 3 EDUCATION MEADOW RESTORATION WATERCRESS AG. REMNANTS EX. STREAM CHANNEL site trail Trail System nature trail 4 RECREATION forest restoration meadow restoration LETORT SPRING RUN NATURE TRAIL VIEWS FROM TRAIL INTO SITE SPRINGHOUSE GREENWAY CONNECTION NEW STREAM CHANNEL riparian PARKING Riparian Vegetation + Vegetative Restoration zone 5 RESTORATION, EDUCATION edge restoration ESTABLISH WOODLAND SAVANNA