The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on September 25 to hear presentations on DCNR's sustainability and green infrastructure initiatives and on the economic benefits of restoration work.

-- Nicole Faraguna, DCNR Policy Director will provide an overview of sustainability policies.

-- Jarod West, DCNR Architectural Consultant, will give a presentation on DCNR's sustainability and green infrastructure design and construction projects.

-- Kelly Gutshall, President of LandStudies, Inc. will provide a presentation on ecological and environmental benefits of environmental restoration projects.

Public Comment Period

If you would like to share a comment during the Council's public comment period, send an email to cnrac-admin@growconservation.com  by close of business September 24.

Attending the Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 10:00 a.m.

Click Here to register to attend the meeting online or by telephone.

July CNRAC Field Trip Summary

CNRAC held a two-day meeting in July that included field visits to the new Miller Mountain Tract of Pinchot State Forest and the new Vosburg Neck State Park.

Eleven council members, along with staff from DCNR and special guests, gathered from across the state in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County for this event.

The field visit day began with a tour of the Miller Mountain Tract. This 2,500-acre feature was added to the state forest system in 2023, representing the first state forest land in Wyoming County.

Miller Mountain is a distinct topographic feature on the landscape; its 2,216-foot peak visible from a remarkable distance in the area.

Pinchot State Forest, District Forester, Nick Lylo, provided an overview of the Bureau of Forestry’s activities within Pinchot District and discussed how the Miller Mountain project came to be.

He was joined in the discussion by Kyle Shenk, Northeast Regional Director at The Conservation Fund, which helped make the acquisition a reality.

Nick and Kyle discussed the importance of collaboration between DCNR and the conservancy/land trust community to accomplish land conservation that adds to the state forest system.

Following the discussion, the group traveled to a vista at the summit of Miller Mountain to observe breath-taking views.

The next stop on the field day was the 669-acre Vosburg Neck State Park, which similarly was the first DCNR park land in Wyoming County, being dedicated in 2022.

Vosburg Neck State Park was formerly a preserve of North Branch Land Trust.

The park includes vast frontage on the Susquehanna River, a series of hiking trails, and a historic barn structure, utilized as an event space.

The CNRAC party split up for the park visit, with some participants taking a kayak float along the Susquehanna and others opting for a hike along its banks.

The diverse bird life of the park was apparent, as the kayakers saw several bald eagles, and the hikers sighted a couple of indigo buntings!

The first day was wrapped up with a reception at the Vosburg Neck barn. The group was joined by special guests, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) as well as several Wyoming County Commissioners.

In their remarks before dinner, these government leaders reflected on the critical collaboration and planning that went into achieving the acquisition and designation of Miller Mountain and Vosburg Neck, and they also related how valued and important these public lands have already become for the local community.

The second day of the meeting involved the formal CNRAC public meeting, which took place in the historic Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock.

The main guest speakers were:

-- Jason Zimmerman (Assistant State Park Director), who spoke about the three new state parks added to the system in 2022;

-- Nick Sulzer (Vosburg Neck State Park Manager), who provided additional insight into the recreational amenities and values of the new park; and

-- Jill Robinson (Deputy Director of Endless Mountains Visitor’s Bureau), who discussed the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation to the vitality of the region.

The July CNRAC meeting provided council members with in-person experiences at these new public land gems of Wyoming County and yielded important insights into the ecological, economic, and social value that such lands provide to their community and the state.

Visit the DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council webpage to learn more about the Council and its work.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, 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.

(Reprinted from CNRAC Announcements & News. To join the email list send an email to: cnrac-admin@growconservation.com.)

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NewsClips:

-- Times Of Chester County Guest Essay: Trails Are No Longer A Luxury, But A Must-Have In Many Communities - By Patrick Starr, PA Environmental Council 

-- Warren Times Editorial: Plan For More Jakes Rocks Trails Success

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-- The Guardian: US Cave System’s Bats, Insects Face Existential Threat: Discarded Cheetos

[Posted: September 12, 2024]

9/16/2024