The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded a $4 million grant to help protect approximately 2,500 acres of forested land in a part of western Adams County that has lost a significant amount of open space in recent years.

The money will help The Conservation Fund, a national non-profit land and water conservation organization, recover funding used for its March purchase of what is known as Glatfelter Tree Farm #1. The land will eventually be added to the Michaux State Forest.

Funding for the grant comes from Growing Greener II, a voter-approved, $625 million bond issue.

The Conservation Fund provided financing for the $12.5 million purchase, and has agreed to hold the property until other public and private funding can be raised to transfer the land to the Commonwealth.

The fund is building a coalition that includes federal partners; DCNR; Adams County; townships and boroughs throughout the region; nonprofits, such as the Land Conservancy of Adams County and The Nature Conservancy; and local citizens to raise the purchase amount and project costs by the end of 2008.

Current zoning for the property would allow 500 homes on the site if it where to be developed.

"This is a watershed that extends to the Chesapeake Bay, a buffer to the Appalachian Trail corridor, and a part of the 400,000-acre South Mountain landscape. It's a fragile environment that deserves protection," DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. "There are many partners on this project and we are happy to be able to help them meet the vision they have for their community."

DCNR Bureau of Forestry will manage and patrol the site during the interim ownership. The property will remain closed to the public until it is transferred to the commonwealth.

"Folks expressed interest in purchasing this property for conservation – we felt compelled to act," said Todd McNew, Pennsylvania representative for The Conservation Fund. "This grant represents a milestone. It is the first piece of funding needed to ensure that we are able to permanently protect this land. We are deeply graceful to DCNR and Gov. Rendell for this investment."

The 85,000-acre Michaux State Forest is located in Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties. From the mid-18th century to the early 20th century, the land that is now the Michaux State Forest was owned by large iron companies. The iron companies needed large land holdings so they could cut wood, convert the wood to charcoal and use it to fuel their iron furnaces.

Potable water may be the Michaux's most valuable resource. Numerous local communities depend on its pure water for their municipal water supplies.

5/2/2008