- More than 600 acres of land in Carbon County was added to state game lands
- It included Drakes Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River
- Advocates said the move protects the land for future generations, as well as helps protect the health of the Lehigh River
LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — More than 600 acres of forest in Carbon County have been handed over to state game officials, in an effort to ward off development and keep the Lehigh River healthy.
“The permanent protection of the Drakes Creek property will benefit communities throughout the Lehigh River watershed forever,” said Christopher Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy. “It’s a strong example of the power of legacy partnerships and a shared vision for connected green spaces, protected natural habitat, clean water, and generations living in connection with nature.
“Wildlands is grateful for the community of support that makes lasting land protection like this possible.”
Nonprofit Wildlands Conservancy bought 633 acres, including about 1.25 miles of Drakes Creek, in Penn Forest Township, according to a Thursday news release. Through a partnership with the State Game Commission, the land was added to State Game Lands 141. Environmental advocates said the acquisition is key to protecting the Lehigh River.
“Protecting this property from development will add to the biological, recreational, and scenic values associated with the network of lands comprising this game land,” said David J. Gustafson, director of the game commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management. “By placing this land into public ownership, Wildlands Conservancy has helped the game commission expand habitat management opportunities for wildlife as well as opportunities for both hunters and non-hunters to enjoy wildlife-based outdoor recreational pursuits.
“Wildlands Conservancy continues to be an invaluable partner and we thank them for facilitating this acquisition.”
The Lehigh River, a 109-mile-long tributary of the Delaware River that flows through most of the Lehigh Valley, this year was for the first time included in a national list of endangered rivers. Environmentalists pointed to “poorly planned development,” including warehouses and distribution centers as the cause of putting “the river’s health at risk.”
“The permanent protection of these forests is key for sustaining clean, healthy water for drinking, fishing, and recreation in [the] surrounding reaches of the Lehigh River,” officials said.
Drakes Creek is a high-quality cold-water fishery, and an important tributary to the Lehigh River, according to the release. The property contains seasonal wetlands that support breeding habitat for amphibians and invertebrates, and it’s part of an Important Bird Area and critical habitat for species of concern.
With the property now designated as state game lands, “the acquisition will expand locally accessible public lands and host a wide array of recreation opportunities that can be enjoyed in perpetuity by outdoor enthusiasts,” officials said.
“This acquisition will expand the acreage of existing protected lands and connect areas with diverse ecology. It will also provide additional land that can be accessed by the public as well as assist in the protection of the headwaters of the Lehigh River."Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
“This acquisition will expand the acreage of existing protected lands and connect areas with diverse ecology,” said Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “It will also provide additional land that can be accessed by the public as well as assist in the protection of the headwaters of the Lehigh River.
“DCNR is always happy to partner with great organizations such as Wildlands Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. These partnerships are key in assisting our agency’s mission of protecting natural spaces for future generations.”
