The Heritage Conservancy of Doylestown and ClearWater Conservancy announced they have signed a conservation easement with Barbara and John Fisher of Patton Township, Centre County, permanently protecting 197 acres of scenic and environmentally important property.

The Fisher property was given the third highest priority for conservation out of 94 Patton Township properties when Patton Township established the Patton Township Open Space Plan in 2004.

Factors that made the property rank highly by Patton Township, and recognized by Heritage Conservancy and ClearWater Conservancy, are its exceptional value wetlands, a portion of Buffalo Run, a High Quality Cold-water Fishery stream, its wooded areas, meadows, and scenic quality.

The cooperative effort between Heritage Conservancy and ClearWater Conservancy to conserve the Fisher property with a conservation easement is an example of how two land trusts can combine expertise to work toward a common goal, and this is the first time that ClearWater has worked with another land trust to co-hold an easement.

Heritage Conservancy took the lead role in completing the easement. ClearWater Conservancy worked with Heritage Conservancy reviewing documents and providing assistance to the Fishers. ClearWater is responsible for monitoring the property, and together the two land trusts will ensure protection of the conservation values of the property.

Heritage Conservancy and ClearWater Conservancy thank Barbara and John Fisher for providing a generous contribution to an endowment fund that will ensure the capacity of the land trusts to protect the property in perpetuity.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a private landowner and a qualified organization, such as a land trust, that protects natural, cultural, and/or historic resources in perpetuity.

A conservation easement allows a landowner to retain ownership and use of his or her property while limiting certain uses that may be harmful to the resources being protected.

For more information on land conservation and conservation easements, visit the PA Land Trust Association website.

1/4/2008