LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — More than 2,500 acres of Carbon County forest now is permanently protected from development — a move that will help protect Lehigh Valley drinking water, Wildlands Conservancy officials announced.
The largest conservation easement in the nonprofit land trust’s history, the tract, spread across Penn Forest and Kidder townships, was purchased through a $1 million grant from the Open Space Institute, the conservancy said Thursday.
By permanently protecting the land, which is surrounded by state Game Lands and parks, officials said they not only are safeguarding the Lehigh River’s water quality, but also connecting conservation areas, strengthening wildlife habitats.
The acquisition includes Mud Run, a high-quality coldwater fishery and key tributary of the Lehigh River.
“If we can keep our forests whole, our connected natural areas intact and precious wildlife habitats contiguous to already protected spaces, we can do a world of good for everyone who calls the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River watershed home.”Chris Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy
“The Lehigh River supports drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people, and safeguarding these 2,500+ acres in the Upper Lehigh is critical to upholding water quality for communities across and throughout the region, as well as beyond,” Wildlands Conservancy President Chris Kocher said in a news release.
“If we can keep our forests whole, our connected natural areas intact and precious wildlife habitats contiguous to already protected spaces, we can do a world of good for everyone who calls the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River watershed home.”
“We are ever grateful for the legacy partnerships and like-minded citizens who make landmark efforts like this conservation easement possible.”
‘A regional treasure’
Originally a 3,800-acre property managed as a private fishing club for almost a century, the tract in 2021 was purchased by Preservation Graystones LLC.
Through the conservation easement, a legal agreement between a land trust and a landowner, Wildlands bought 2,511 acres, permanently protecting it from development.
“The Open Space Institute proudly acknowledges the Wildlands Conservancy for successfully completing a 2,500-acre project that safeguards the steep, forested slopes along the lower three miles of Mud Run Creek, just above its confluence with the Upper Lehigh River," Bill Rawlyk, OSI’s mid-Atlantic senior program manager, said in the release.
"This picturesque and ecologically significant stream, bordered by hemlock, hardwoods and dense rhododendron, is a regional treasure. Striking a balance between development and conservation is always challenging.
“However, Wildlands has successfully established an easement that allows for limited development on the upper part of the north side of the tract, while preserving thousands of acres of intact forested land along the stream.
"This ensures that the stream's current highwater quality will be maintained, free from logging and future disturbances.”
Funding came from OSI’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, which has so far protected nearly 29,000 acres of forest to safeguard water quality in the Delaware River Watershed.
The Lehigh River is a 109-mile-long tributary of the Delaware River that flows through most of the Valley.
‘Conservation priority’
While Wildlands has bought a large swath of the land — the appraised value of the easement was $3.5 million — more than 1,000 acres is being retained by Preservation Graystones for a housing development.
The company “is transforming from a private fishing club into an enclave for a few discerning families who will enjoy ownership of 4,000-acres as well as their own expansive homesites,” according to the company’s website.
This tract has been “a longstanding, state-level conservation priority,” officials said, because of its location.
The land, about twice the size of Trexler Nature Preserve in North Whitehall Township, is surrounded by more than 38,000 acres of existing protected lands, including Hickory Run State Park, Lehigh Gorge State Park and state Game Lands 141.
In 2023, Wildlands officials announced they transferred more than 600 acres, including about 1.25 miles of Drakes Creek, another Lehigh River tributary, to state Game Land 141 through a partnership with the State Game Commission.
Wildlands now holds more than 75 conservation easements, annually monitoring more than 10,000 acres.
