Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined Central Pennsylvania Conservancy officials Saturday in the dedication of the state-supported Letort Spring Garden Preserve in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County.

Facilitated by an almost $208,000 investment from DCNR, the conservancy’s acquisition of the 34-acre Letort Spring Garden Preserve on east branch headwaters of Letort Spring Run will help protect one of Pennsylvania’s premier limestone trout streams.

“The Wolf Administration is proud of its investment in the purchase of this historic property, which goes a long way toward protecting a watershed that is revered by so many,” said Dunn. “The Letort is iconic, not just to anglers, but to naturalists across the state for its wild and clean-flowing qualities. All those gathered here today share in this notable accomplishment.”

The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy hosted the public dedication to celebrate its latest acquisition, a historic watercress farm at the headwaters of Letort Spring Run.

The event was dedicated to donors, both public and private, who helped raise $420,000 since 2015 to complete the purchase for the public benefit.

“The Letort is one of Pennsylvania’s most storied, limestone streams, one that not only carries a wily population of wild brown trout and the resources to support it, but also a host of tales, trials, transformations, and treasured moments through history,” said Central Pennsylvania Conservancy Executive Director Anna N. Yelk. “Central Pennsylvania Conservancy is honored to steward its east-branch headwaters, now protected in perpetuity, and to restore its banks and share its natural and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy."

The Conservancy intends to lead efforts to rehabilitate the landscape from a former watercress farm to an improved environment for wildlife and storm-water management.

The acquisition gives anglers access to 1,000 yards of protected stream front along a Class A trout stream.

Open to all, the property will offer families and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to view the wildlife and biological diversity limestone spring meadows provide. The Letort Nature Trail, a 19th century railroad corridor, runs through the tract, providing public access to natural wetlands.

The purchase was funded in part by a DCNR Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant, in a program that has been positively impacting Pennsylvania communities for 25 years. 

Each dollar of Keystone Fund investment typically leverages $3.13 in direct local investments in parks, trails, community green spaces, and libraries.

Since 1993, the Keystone Fund has invested $1.02 billion in over 4,500 projects. Through DCNR, the fund has helped protect more than 161,000 acres of green space for county and municipal parks, greenways, wildlife habitat, and other open space uses.

Grant Workshops

The PA Recreation and Park Society and DCNR are again partnering on a series of 6 workshops designed to help applicants develop project ideas in preparation of submitting a grant application to the Community Conservation Grant Program in 2019.  Click Here for more.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

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Central PA Conservancy Acquires Watercress Farm At Letort Spring Run Headwaters In Cumberland County

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[Posted: Sept. 17, 2018]

9/24/2018