Lancaster County Conservancy

THE MISSION OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVANCY IS "PROVIDING WILD AND FORESTED LANDS AND CLEAN WATERWAYS FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOREVER." THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVANCY INCLUDE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL LANDS, ECOSYSTEMS, LANDSCAPES, AND WATERWAYS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. CONSERVANCY PRESERVES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR, SUN UP TO SUN DOWN. OUR WORK RESULTS IN PROTECTION OF CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, RECREATION LANDS, WATER RESOURCES, AND PRESERVES MATURE FORESTS THAT CLEAN OUR AIR AND WATER. WE WORK WITH NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO PROTECT THE SPECIAL PLACES WITHIN LANCASTER COUNTY AND ALONG ITS STREAMS AND RIVERS. THIS EFFORT ALSO TAKES US INTO YORK, CHESTER AND DAUPHIN COUNTIES WITH A FOCUS ON LAND, WATER AND COMMUNITY.

PROGRAM 1 - LAND PROTECTION AND ACQUISITIONPROTECTING NATURAL LANDSFORESTS, MEADOWS, AND STREAMS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. IN 2023, LANCASTER CONSERVANCY CONTINUED TO PROTECT OUR WOODS AND WATER, ENSURING PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO NATURAL SPACES AND WILDLIFE HAS PLACES TO THRIVE. THE CONSERVANCY PROTECTED 101 NEW ACRES LAST YEAR AND ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ACQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL 470+ ACRES IN 2024.NATURAL LANDS PROTECTED IN 2023DE PERROT WOODS NATURE PRESERVE ADDITIONTHE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED 77 ACRES ADJACENT TO DE PERROT WOODS NATURE PRESERVE WITHIN THE HIGHLANDS REGION OF LANCASTER COUNTY. THESE NEWLY PROTECTED LANDS INCLUDE A SECTION OF THE CONESTOGA TRAIL AND A TRIBUTARY TO SPEEDWELL FORGE LAKE. WITH THIS ACQUISITION, DE PERROT WOODS NATURE PRESERVE, LOCATED NORTH OF LITITZ, NOW ENCOMPASSES OVER 100 ACRES. THIS ACQUISITION PROTECTS CRITICAL WATER RESOURCES AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE CONESTOGA TRAIL AND THE ORIGINAL DE PERROT DONATED LANDS. FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, LANCASTER COUNTY, RESSLER MILL FOUNDATION, PRIVATE DONORS, THE WIKER FAMILY, PA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSIONHISTORIC IRONMASTER PROPERTYTHE CONSERVANCY PARTNERED WITH DCNR TO PROTECT A 21-ACRE PROPERTY IN YORK COUNTY'S HELLAM HILLS THAT INCLUDES THE 18TH CENTURY IRONMASTER HOUSE AND HISTORIC REMAINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CODORUS FURNACE. THE PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CONSERVANCY AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO DCNR FOR MANAGEMENT AS AN ADDITION TO THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDS STATE PARK.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: STATE PARKS, SRCL, PRIVATE FUNDING FOR INITIAL ACQUISITION REIMBURSED THROUGH SALE TO PA STATE PARKSCONSERVATION IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDSA VICTORY FOR NATUREIN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ACQUIRE ALMOST 500 ACRES OF NATURAL LANDS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN YORK COUNTY. BY PROTECTING THIS AREA, KNOWN AS ROUNDTOP, THE CONSERVANCY IS CONSERVING OLD GROWTH FORESTS, RIPARIAN BUFFERS THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, OUTLOOKS WITH STUNNING VIEWS, AND A BEAUTIFUL FORESTED VIEWSHED FROM CHICKIES ROCK, MARIETTA, AND THE ROUTE 30 BRIDGE.ROUNDTOP IS LOCATED IN THE HELLAM HILLS CONSERVATION AREA, WHICH SPANS FROM JUST NORTH OF WRIGHTSVILLE TO CODORUS CREEK AND IS THE LARGEST CONTIGUOUS FOREST BETWEEN THE CITIES OF YORK, LANCASTER, AND HARRISBURG. THIS CONSERVATION AREA CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE CONSERVANCY'S HELLAM HILLS AND WIZARD RANCH NATURE PRESERVES A TOTAL OF OVER 1,000 ACRES OF CONTIGUOUS FORESTS. THE HELLAM HILLS CONSERVATION AREA WILL EXPAND TO ALMOST 1,500 ACRES WITH THE ADDITION OF ROUNDTOP IN 2024. THESE PRESERVES ARE ALSO ADJACENT TO THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDS STATE PARK, WHICH THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO DCNR FOR MANAGEMENT IN 2022.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, YORK COUNTY, PRIVATE DONORS, SRCLTHE FIGHT FOR NATURE CONTINUESIN FEBRUARY 2023, YORK ENERGY STORAGE APPLIED FOR A PRELIMINARY PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A PUMPED STORAGE FACILITY IN THE AREA WHERE CUFFS RUN MEETS THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. LANCASTER CONSERVANCY CAME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND NEIGHBORS TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD HAVE A FOOTPRINT OF OVER 1,000 ACRES AND IMPACT FOREST, A SECTION OF THE REGIONAL MASON-DIXON TRAIL, PRESERVED FARMLAND, AND AROUND 50 PROPERTIES IN CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY ALONG THE RIVER.IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY AND PARTNERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT TO PROTECT CUFFS RUN AND ENCOURAGE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION TO PREVENT THE PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD.

PROGRAM 2 LAND STEWARDSHIPACCESS & RESTORATIONTHE CONSERVANCY'S STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS WORK YEAR-ROUND TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO NATURAL SPACES TO ENJOY THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF BEING OUTDOORS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY UNDERTAKE RESTORATION PROJECTS TO CARE FOR OUR PRESERVES AND SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS. MILL CREEK FALLS NATURE PRESERVE OPENEDTHE CONSERVANCY OPENED 1.2 MILES OF TRAILS AT MILL CREEK FALLS NATURE PRESERVE IN AIRVILLE, YORK COUNTY, IN 2023. ONE OF THESE TWO NEW TRAILS IS A UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE TRAIL, OFFERING VISITORS WITH WHEELCHAIRS, STROLLERS, WALKERS, OR OTHER MOBILITY CONSIDERATIONS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAD OUT INTO A MIXED-HARDWOOD FOREST ON A CRUSHED STONE PATH. THE OTHER TRAIL TRAVELS ALONG A CREEK WITH SMALL STAIR-STEP WATERFALLS, CONNECTS WITH THE REGIONAL MASON-DIXON TRAIL, AND LEADS TO THE 10-FOOT-TALL MILL CREEK FALLS.PARTNERS: CBJ SERVICES, SITE DESIGN CONCEPTS, LOWER CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIPWIZARD RANCH NATURE PRESERVE TRAILS & RESTORATIONWIZARD RANCH NATURE PRESERVE, LOCATED IN YORK COUNTY'S HELLAM HILLS CONSERVATION AREA, IS A MODEL INTERSECTION OF THE CONSERVANCY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SPACES WHILE ALSO CARING FOR NATURE.ACCESSTHE CONSERVANCY OPENED THE FIRST TRAILS AND A PARKING AREA AT WIZARD RANCH NATURE PRESERVE IN MAY OF 2023. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 1.8 MILES OF LOOPING TRAILS AT THE PRESERVE, WHICH TRAVERSE MEADOWS AND FOREST, AND WE PLAN TO ADD ADDITIONAL TRAILS TO THE PRESERVE IN THE FUTURE.RESTORATIONWHEN THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED WIZARD RANCH, THE UNHEALTHY FORESTS WERE SUFFERING CANOPY COLLAPSE DUE TO UNCHECKED INVASIVE PLANT AND INSECT SPECIES. RESTORATION OF THIS NATURE PRESERVE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE CONSERVANCY. VOLUNTEERS AND OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM MEMBERS TRIMMED AND REMOVED INVASIVE PLANTS LIKE MULTIFLORA ROSE, BITTERSWEET, AND BUSH HONEYSUCKLE AND USED FORESTRY MOWERS TO REDUCE THE IMPAIRED FOREST TO A SAVANNA-LIKE HABITAT.IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTED OUR FIRST-EVER PRESCRIBED BURN AT WIZARD RANCH TO MANAGE INVASIVE PLANTS GROWING THERE. THE 18-ACRE PRESCRIBED BURN PREPARED THE SOIL FOR PLANTING NATIVE UNDERSTORY AND CANOPY TREES WHILE KILLING OFF THE INVASIVE SPECIES SEED BANK.ALTHOUGH INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT WILL BE ONGOING AT WIZARD RANCH, THE CONSERVANCY HAS ALSO BEGUN REFORESTATION AND WETLAND RESTORATION EFFORTS AT THE PRESERVE. IN THE FALL, WE PLANTED 2,750 TREES AND SHRUBS ON ABOUT 10 ACRES OF THE PRESERVE, WITH ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS PLANNED TO IMPROVE FORESTS, GRASSLAND MEADOWS, AND POLLINATOR HABITAT.PARTNERS: FARM SERVICE AGENCY, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DCNR, PENNVEST, PHEASANTS FOREVER, CHESPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, OCTORARO NATIVE PLANTS, AQUATIC RESOURCES RESTORATION COMPANY, SILVIX FORESTRY & PRESCRIBED FIRECARING FOR TRAILS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDSTHE CONSERVANCY'S STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO NATURAL SPACES BY MAINTAINING THE NETWORK OF TRAILS ON OUR PRESERVES WHETHER THAT MEANS TRIMMING AWAY FALLEN TREES, RESTORING TRAILS DEGRADED BY EROSION OR OVERUSE, OR PLANNING FUTURE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AND ROUTES.IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY'S SUMMER STEWARDSHIP CREW WORKED ON CONSTRUCTING, RESTORING, AND IMPROVING MILES OF TRAILS IN NATURE PRESERVES INCLUDING HELLAM HILLS, MILL CREEK FALLS, AND TUCQUAN GLEN AND PYFER. THE CREW WAS MADE UP OF EIGHT PEOPLE, MOSTLY YOUNG ADULTS IN OR JUST OUT OF COLLEGE, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT A CAREER IN CONSERVATION. CREW MEMBERS BUILT DRAINAGE STEPS OUT OF LOGS AND ROCKS AND CLEARED AND WIDENED EXISTING TRAILS IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING HABITAT RESTORATION WORK.RESTORING NATIVE HABITATRESTORATION WORK ON LANCASTER CONSERVANCY NATURE PRESERVES INVOLVES MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES AND SUPPORTING NATIVE ONES TO CREATE BIODIVERSE, THRIVING HABITATS. IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY BEGAN OR CONTINUED RESTORATION WORK AT NATURE PRESERVES INCLUDING SHENKS FERRY, WIZARD RANCH, CLARK, DONEGAL HIGHLANDS, SAFE HARBOR, HOMEWOOD, WINDOLPH LANDING, AND KELLYS RUN.CREATING POLLINATOR PARADISE AT KELLYS RUNAT KELLYS RUN, THE CONSERVANCY STARTED PLANTINGS TO TURN 9 ACRES OF THE PRESERVE INTO A POLLINATOR PARADISE. THE GOAL AT KELLYS RUN IS TO CREATE DISTINCT POLLINATOR MEADOWS RINGED BY A TRAIL SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE NEWLY RESTORED SITES AND NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE. THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED MEADOWS WILL CREATE CONTINUOUS HABITAT FOR POLLINATOR ANIMALS LIKE MONARCHS AND REGAL FRITILLARIES, AND IT WILL CONTAIN DIVERSE PLANT SPECIES SUCH AS BUTTERFLY MILKWEED, FROST ASTER, AND LITTLE BLUESTEM GRASS.KELLYS RUN RESTORATION PARTNERS: NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, PHEASANTS FOREVER, CEDAR MEADOW FARM, CHESPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, OCTORARO NATIVE PLANTS, AQUATIC RESOURCES RESTORATION COMPANYIN 2023, VOLUNTEERS:- PLANTED 250 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS AND 600 POLLINATOR PLANTS.- PULLED 1,600 GALLONS OF INVASIVE HERBACEOUS PLANTS LIKE GARLIC MUSTARD.- REMOVED 790 CUBIC YARDS OF INVASIVE SHRUBS LIKE MULTIFLORA ROSE.- DONATED 2333 HOURS TO CARING FOR OUR NATURE PRESERVES AND CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TABLING.

PROGRAM 3 COMMUNITY IMPACTCONNECTING COMMUNITY & NATUREBY PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS US, WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S CONNECTION TO NATURE AND INTEREST IN BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR WILD LANDS. IN 2023, THE CONSERVANCY HELD 240 EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER EVENTS, HELPING 9,431 COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT AND CONNECT WITH NATURE. OUR ENGAGEMENT TEAM LAUNCHED A NEW HAPPY HIKER SERIES, WHICH OFFERS INFORMATION ON SAFE AND SMART HIKING BASICS. WE ALSO STARTED TRAININGS FOR A VOLUNTEER PHENOLOGY COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECT, CREATING THE FIRST MONITORING SITES FOR THE USGS-NATIONAL PHENOLOGY NETWORK IN LANCASTER COUNTY.LANCASTER WATER WEEKDURING THE 7TH ANNUAL LANCASTER WATER WEEK, MORE THAN A DOZEN PARTNERS HOSTED OVER 40 EVENTS INCLUDING CONESTOGA RIVER PADDLES, LANCASTER SCIENCE FACTORY WORKSHOPS, RAIN GARDEN AND WETLAND TOURS, MUSIC AND POETRY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE. WE GAVE AWAY OVER 1,700 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS THAT CAN HELP CLEAN OUR WATERWAYS, AND VOLUNTEERS REMOVED LITERAL TONS OF TRASH DURING THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP. TWO WATER WEEK BEERS CREATED BY POUR MAN'S BREWING COMPANY AND OUR TOWN BREWERY ADDED AN EXTRA WAY TO CELEBRATE OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS, AND A PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM THE BEERS AS WELL AS FUNDS FROM WATER WEEK SPONSORSHIPS WENT TOWARDS THE LANCASTER CLEAN WATER PARTNER'S CLEAN WATER FUND AT THE LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.HABITAT ADVOCATE CERTIFICATION SERIESTHE CONSERVANCY WORKS ON A LANDSCAPE SCALE TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, BUT THERE ARE STEPS EVERYONE CAN TAKE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR BACKYARD, OR EVEN A FLOWERPOT TO CARE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE HABITAT ADVOCATE CERTIFICATION SERIES OF CLASSES TEACHES COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW TO CREATE AND CARE FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT. THE CONSERVANCY LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM IN 2023 AND HELD ONE SERIES OF CLASSES AT CLIMBERS RUN IN THE SPRING AND A SECOND AT WEST ART IN THE FALL. TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE COMPLETED ALL 10 CLASSES TO EARN THEIR CERTIFICATION, AND MANY MORE ARE ON THEIR WAY TO EARNING THE ACHIEVEMENT.THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY LANCASTER CLEAN WATER PARTNERS AND LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE LANCASTER CLEAN WATER FUND. THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS WAXWING ECOWORKS CO. AND THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION.LEAVE NO TRACETIME IN NATURE IS VITAL FOR OUR GOOD PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. WHEN WE'RE SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE RESPECT OUR OUTDOORS AND HELP CARE FOR THE NATURAL PLACES WE LOVE. LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLORING THE OUTDOORS SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY. IN 2023, CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS TABLING AT PRESERVES OFFERED 2,575 VISITORS EDUCATION ABOUT LEAVE NO TRACE ETHICS.LANCASTER CONSERVANCY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LEAVE NO TRACE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY ARE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LANCASTER COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY.PARTNERSHIPSTHE CONSERVANCY IS HONORED TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGING EVENTS ABOUT NATURE. IN 2023, SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS INCLUDED:- LANCASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY THE CONSERVANCY PARTNERED WITH THE LIBRARY FOR CONSERVANCY PRESENTATIONS WHICH WE THINK WILL MAKE OUR WORK MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO A WIDER SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS PARTNERSHIP ALSO INVOLVES WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY TO ESTABLISH A STORYBOOK TRAIL AT CLIMBERS RUN WHICH WILL ENGAGE YOUNG FAMILIES.- THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION THIS PARTNERSHIP INVOLVES MAKING CLIMBERS RUN AVAILABLE FOR WEEKLONG RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING LED BY CBF STAFF WITH CONSERVANCY STAFF DOING INSTRUCTION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WILL LOOK LIKE AT SUNNYSIDE BETWEEN CBF AND THE CONSERVANCY HAVE BEGUN.- THE SCIENCE FACTORY THIS PARTNERSHIP INVOLVED THE CONSERVANCY RUNNING THE SCIENCE CAF PROGRAM TWICE A MONTH THROUGH THE SUMMER AT THE SCIENCE FACTORY. THIS ENGAGED A NEW SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY YOUNG FAMILIES, AND LED TO A PARTNERSHIP ON A GRANT TO FUND THE PARTICIPATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER STUDENTS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE VISITS TO THE SCIENCE FACTORY AND CLIMBERS RUN NATURE CENTER. - MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY WE HOSTED MANY UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM THE MILLERSVILLE BIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENTS AT CLIMBERS RUN AS PART OF THEIR COURSE CURRICULUM IN BIOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCES, AND PSYCHOLOGY. THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE AND EXPAND INTO 2024.- THE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP THIS PROGRAM INVOLVED HOSTING YOUNG AT-RISK FAMILIES ON CONSERVANCY PRESERVES TO INTRODUCE THEM TO OUR PROTECTED LAND AS PLACES WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR FAMILIES AND TO DO SOME BASIC NATURAL HISTORY EDUCATION GEARED TOWARD PRESCHOOL- AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. - LANCASTER LGBTQ+ COALITION WE CREATED A SERIES OF HIKES OPEN ONLY TO THE LGBTQ+ COALITION AND USED OUR NEWLY DECORATED MINIBUS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE HIKES.