The North Branch Land Trust, working in partnership with the property owner Earth Conservancy and DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and Bureau of Forestry, recently closed on the purchase of the 3,053-acre Mocanaqua Highlands.

The property is situated east of the town of Mocanaqua and borders the Susquehanna River to the north and Lily Lake to the south.

Due to the properties abundance of unique plant and animal species, scenic view-sheds and existing greenway and trail network, it is listed as a high priority area for conservation in the Land Trusts Strategic Conservation Plan, the Lackawanna & Luzerne Counties Open Space, Greenways & Outdoor Recreation Master Plan, and the Luzerne County Natural Areas Inventory.

After purchasing the property NBLT deeded it over to DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and the property is now part of the Lackawanna State Forest system. The property will be available for public recreation activities such as hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, hunting and other activities as designated by the bureau.

For more information on its programs and activities, visit the North Branch Land Trust website.

(Reprinted from the July 15 Resource newsletter by DCNR.  Click Here for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

7/20/2015