The Hay Creek Watershed Association announced this week that the Robeson Township Supervisors in Berks County took action to protect the rural community character of the area and the environmental integrity of the Hay Creek Watershed by passing a resolution to keep a portion of State Highway Route 82 closed to traffic.

The road was closed due to flood damage that occurred nearly 18 years ago and will remain closed to automobile traffic.

“This resolution goes above and beyond the hopes of the Hay Creek Watershed Association, and it represents a major step in protecting the quality of life for our residents” stated Todd R. Stell, Board Member of the association and Outreach Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Highlands Coalition.

A similar resolution requesting the permanent closure of Route 82 was passed by the Birdsboro Council members in April, 2003.

The unique natural resource the Township wants to protect is known as the Hopewell Big Woods. The Hopewell Big Woods consists of nearly 73,000 acres, the largest relatively intact forest in the Highlands Region. It is also designated as a Critical Treasure of the Highlands Region, indicating it is one of the most important natural resource areas within the region. The Highlands Region includes more than three million acres that cut across Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Congress passed the Highlands Conservation Act which was signed into law by President Bush in November 2004, in a national effort to recognize and protect the natural resources in the Highlands Region. This Act approved $100 million in federal funding for conservation activities in the Highlands over the next 10 years.

Conservation groups, government agencies and citizens have formed the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership at the local level to help focus technical and financial resources to the area. Dr. James Thorne, Director of Science and Education for Natural Lands Trust located in Media, Pennsylvania, is the Coordinator of the Partnership. “We are happy to learn that Robeson Township has made the decision to join the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership, and we welcome the participation of Robeson Township in our efforts.” Support for the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the William Penn Foundation.

The Hay Creek Watershed Association is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and restoring Hay Creek and its watershed through advocacy, education, and community involvement.

5/13/2005