Pennsylvania’s Delaware State Forest is growing by 555 acres thanks to The Conservation Fund and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry. The forest’s expansion will provide public access opportunities while maintaining the area’s rural character.

Expansion of the state forest in Bushkill results from the purchase and transfer of a former hunting camp, provides connectivity and expands public access to existing state forest land. The Conservation Fund acquired the private property at auction in July 2021.

Now owned and managed by the DCNR as part of the Delaware State Forest, the newly protected property will offer future access for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birding and more.

“DCNR is grateful for the opportunity to take over as stewards of this beautiful forested area and we are excited about the what’s in store for Delaware State Forest with this new addition,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “We look forward to expanding access for recreational opportunities, while also sticking to our core mission of preserving natural spaces for future generations. Special thanks to The Conservation Fund for making this acquisition possible, and the U.S. Forest Service for funding support of this transfer.”

The property was stewarded by a private hunting club for generations. It is known to support high-quality mixed oak and northern hardwoods forests and pockets of grassland meadow habitat for white tailed deer, black bear, turkey, porcupines, bobcats, native wildflowers, ground nesting birds and turtles.

At the same time, the land was an enticing site for development, creating an urgency when the land went to auction.

“Permanently conserving these 555 acres and adding them to the Delaware State Forest affords the highest level of protection of the land while ensuring the greatest possible public access,” said Kyle Shenk, the Fund’s Northeast Regional Director. “It’s the best of both worlds — and a sensational outcome for the people of Pennsylvania.”

Funding from the DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and from a federal grant awarded to the DCNR Bureau of Forestry through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, made the permanent protection of this forested landscape possible.

Pennsylvania’s federal congressional delegation representing Pike County — U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator John Fetterman and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright — supported the use of federal funding for this project.

“Preserving the health and longevity of this land is vital to the well-being of the families in Pike County who enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping on its lands,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. “By adding these lands to Delaware State Forest, we can maintain its rural character, better ensure its viability for generations to come, and provide greater access to the public to explore and enjoy.”

“Pennsylvania has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world and I’m proud to bring home federal funding that preserves our pristine outdoor spaces,” said U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright. “Expanding Pennsylvania’s Delaware State Forest invests in the health and wellness of our communities while boosting our regional economy through enhanced recreational opportunities.”

This new part of the Delaware State Forest includes more than 50 acres of wetlands along with Red Rock Run, a stream that supports native trout.

Additionally, it boasts a diversity of natural features that create critical wildlife habitat for local plant and animal species. The added acres also contain several seeps and springs.

With the addition of these 555 acres, the Delaware State Forest totals 85,114 acres.

For more information on its land conservation initiatives, visit The Conservation Fund website.

NewsClips This Week:

-- Delaware Currents: Sojourning On The Schuylkill River - Celebrating The River And How Much Outdoor Recreation Contributes To PA’s Economy

-- NextPittsburgh: Rail Trail Expansion Builds Dreams That Freeport And Kittanning Could Rival Great Allegheny Passage Trail Destinations

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: 555-Acre Former Hunting Camp Preserved In The Poconos By The Conservation Fund, Added To Delaware State Forest

-- Centre Daily Times: Views Of Broad Mountain On Guided Hike In PA’s Rothrock State Forest

-- Warren Times: Allegheny 100 Challenge Draws Hikers From Across The Country

-- Williamsport Sun: Endless Mountains 5-Day Adventure Hike/Bike Race Gets Underway

-- TribLive: Get Your Tail On The Trails Of Washington County This Summer

-- Penn State Extension Woods & Wildlife News: Eastern Hemlock Health Update; Restoring PA’s Game Birds; Fire In The Woods; More!

-- Reading Eagle: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisory Issued At Blue Marsh Recreation Area

-- WESA: Climate Change In PA Is Increasing Risk Of Lyme Disease, Other Tick-Borne Illnesses

-- Courier Times: Tick-Borne Illnesses, Including Lyme Disease, On Rise In PA

-- Williamsport Sun: Region Faces Third Spongy [Gypsy] Moth Outbreak

-- The Allegheny Front: Preparing For The Arrival Of The Invasive Spongy [Gypsy] Moth

Related Articles This Week:

-- The Conservation Fund: PA's Delaware State Forest Grows By 555 Acres In Pike County  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Finalizes Crebilly Farm Conservation Easements Protecting 102 Acres In Chester County  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Adding Acres To Sadsbury Woods Preserve In Chester County [PaEN]

-- Willistown Conservation Trust & Natural Lands Receive $25,000 Grant From Cornell Lab Of Ornithology To Reverse The Decline Of Grassland Birds In Chester County  [PaEN]

-- June 30 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- June 23 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- July PA Township News Packed With Articles On Parks, Trails, Recreation, Grid-Scale Solar Facilities, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, More  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: Meadow Repository - Resources For Planning, Planting Meadows  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Sept. 26 Webinar: How Community Forests Provide Critical Environmental & Societal Services, Buffer Local Heat And Moisture Swings  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Health Accepting Applications For WalkWorks Grants Thru July 28

[Posted: June 26, 2023]

7/3/2023