The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has partnered with the Natural Lands Trust to permanently protect Birdsboro Reservoir - a 1,800-acre, forested track in Berks County - from development.

The Trust will receive a $750,000 Growing Greener II grant.

The funds will be used to purchase conservation easements to preserve the land from development, although the Birdsboro Water Authority will retain ownership of the property.

The purchase of the easements is also supported by a $500,000 grant from the federal Forest Legacy program and the William Penn Foundation.

Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust, said preserving the Birdsboro Waters property has been a top priority for her organization and The Berks County Conservancy, a partner organization.

Birdsboro Waters is also a major part of the largest unprotected woodland in southeastern Pennsylvania. Totaling more than 73,000 acres, the Hopewell Big Woods landscape covers large portions of northern Chester and southern Berks counties, and includes the French Creek State Park and other protected open spaces.

DCNR has partnered with dozens of conservation organizations, local and county officials, and state and federal forestry agencies to encourage preservation of thousands more acres in the Hopewell Big Woods landscape.

The east end of the Birdsboro Waters property links with French Creek

State Park. A planned Hay Creek Trail along the former Route 82 would join

this area to the French Creek and Thun trails in the park.

For more information on land preservation grant opportunities, visit the DCNR Recreation and Conservation webpage.

NewsClip: Birdsboro Reservoir Land to be Protected

4/28/2006