Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Friday joined Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti, local legislators and officials from the North Branch Land Trust and Earth Conservancy at the trailhead to the Mocanaqua Loop Trail to announce a $4 million grant that will expand the Lackawanna State Forest to include Mocanaqua Mountain.

The state invested $4 million in Keystone Land Trust and Oil and Gas Lease funding through DCNR's Community Conservation Partnerships Program to purchase the land. The North Branch Land Trust facilitated the purchase from Earth Conservancy, which agreed to sell the 3,000 acre Mocanaqua land tract in Conyngham and Newport Townships at half its worth.

"The Mocanaqua Mountain land that this grant will preserve is some of the most pristine land in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I am thrilled to see the state investing to protect and conserve these treasured forest lands of Conyngham and Newport Townships," Sen. Yudichak said. "The partnership forged by DCNR, the North Branch Land Trust and the Earth Conservancy is a shining example of how, through conservation, government can live up to the words of former Gov. Gifford Pinchot and do 'the greatest good to the greatest number of people for the longest time.'"

“This addition will protect critical habitat for a unique variety of animal and plant species and establish a link to other conserved lands in the area,” DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti said.  “DCNR staff work tirelessly each day to protect our public lands and ensure our visitors have a meaningful and enjoyable experience. We thank Gov. Corbett for giving us the tools to be better stewards of the parks and forested entrusted to us.”

“Above and beyond the protection of habitat for important plant and animal species, protecting the Mocanaqua tract will make available to the public more than 3,000 acres for a host of passive recreation activities,” said North Branch Land Trust Executive Director Paul Lumia.  “The North Branch Land Trust hopes to build on this acquisition in an effort to launch future conservation projects along Penobscot ridge and the Susquehanna River with the ultimate goal being to build an uninterrupted greenway along the southern edge of the Wyoming Valley.”

Sen. Yudichak noted that the North Branch Land Trust now has over 15,000 acres under its stewardship and has become the region's premier land trust.

The property contains mostly forested acres.  Along its northern boundary is the Susquehanna River, and the southern boundary is adjacent to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Lily Lake recreation area. A portion of the property includes the Penobscot Mountain ridgetop.

This acquisition is part of a vision to create a green corridor of 230,000 acres along the ridgeline from Wayne County to Carbon County. Large forested blocks support plants and animals that are dependant on interior forest conditions including bird species, fishers, bobcats, northern goshawks and barred owls.

The new property will be available to the public for educational and recreational opportunities including hiking, cross country skiing and nature observation.  There currently is a 15-mile loop trail on the property.

The DCNR grant is part of the state's Enhance Penn's Woods initiative that will fund an estimated 200 projects with a $200 million investment in repairing and improving Pennsylvania's state forests.

Rep. Gerard Mullery (D-Luzerne) also participated in the news conference. Sen. Yudichak also thanked Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) for her great work on environmental and conservation issues.

4/7/2014