The Brodhead Watershed Association will host another in its series of Get Outdoors Poconos hikes on August 19 at the Cherry Valley Wildlife Refuge near Stroudsburg, Monroe County starting at 10:00..

What was once manicured greens and mowed fairways are returning to nature, beckoning hikers to explore.

Carol Hillestad will host a guided hike through the former golf course on Saturday, August 19, highlighting the positive changes in the 193 acres now preserved and open to the public.

The golf cart paths remain, making for good footing and easy – though hilly – walking. Two loops — the Front Nine and the Back Nine — offer varied terrain, lots of views, several miles of hiking options and a gazebo at the highest point.

Cherry Creek flows through the property, but has suffered from being mowed right to the edge. Without the natural filtration and cooling shade of creekside natives such as rhododendrons and hemlocks, fish and other aquatic creatures can’t thrive.

But the Earth seems determined to restore its natural balance here.

The air is soft and full of birdsong — yellowthroats, towhees, catbirds and song sparrows. With plenty of cover and food sources, this place is a heaven for birds! Pokeweed, wild grapes and many kinds of berries abound.

The abandoned tees are shaded by Norway spruce, tall oaks, big aspen and shagbark hickory. Zillions of tulip tree seedlings have sprung up. Staghorn sumac, skunk cabbage, ferns and willows inhabit the low wet places, and native cattails and frogs have colonized a former water hazard.

The hike is free, but reservations are encouraged.  Call 570-839-1120 or 570-629-2727; or send email to: info@brodheadwatershed.org. 

For information about this and other hikes, visit the Get Outdoors Poconos webpage. The hike series is administered by Brodhead Watershed Association and supported by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.

$50,000 Matching Donation

An anonymous donor has pledged to match gifts up to $50,000 toward construction of the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center at ForEvergreen Nature Preserve, 1539 Cherry Lane Road, Stroud Township, Monroe County.

A joint project of local non-profits Brodhead Watershed Association and Pocono Heritage Land Trust, construction on the center is expected to begin in late summer.

The center will provide space at the preserve for offices, environmental education, public events, nature displays and a fly fishing exhibit. The work will be done by Stroudsburg builder Robert K. Ace Construction.

The 40-acre ForEvergreen Preserve is on the site of a former golf course, and is owned by Stroud Township.

The preserve is being restored to its natural state, with native plantings and a demonstration rain garden. It is open to the public dawn to dusk and includes walking and running paths and access to the historic Brodhead Creek for catch-and-release fly fishing.

This stretch of the creek is well-known among trout enthusiasts as the birthplace of fly fishing in America.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelming generosity of the donor, who has ties to our area that go back generations,” said Bob Heil, executive director of BWA. “Through this match, anyone who donates $100 will in effect be making a $200 gift through this program.”

“The preserve protects the water of the Brodhead Creek,” said Cindy Miano, executive director of PHLT. “And the creek provides drinking water for thousands of people throughout our area. The center will be a focus for water science and land use at the heart of the county.”

The match ends Dec. 31, 2017. For information or to donate, visit the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center website or call BWA at 570-839-1120 or PHLT at 570-424-1514.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Brodhead Watershed Association website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Association.  Click Here to become a member.

(Photo: Cherry Creek)

[Posted: July 28, 2017]

7/31/2017