Season's Greetings!
from  Central Pennsylvania Conservancy
In This Issue
Letort Headwaters Acquisition Update
January 20, 2018 Support the Letort With Us
CPC Secures Grant for Kittatinny Tract Acquisition
2017 Conservation Easements Recorded
Ironmaster's Mansion Bridal Suite Nearing Completion
hostel

Planning a holiday or new year event? Check out Special Events at the  Ironmaster's Mansion .  Email Innkeeper  for information, or call 717-486-4108.

We are OPEN all winter for group rentals for retreats, receptions, or private parties.

The hiker's hostel is closed for the season and will reopen 
April 1st. 
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December 2017 CPC E-News
News about CPC's projects and events

Cumberland County Land Partnerships Grant Approved for Letort Headwaters Acquisition

On the mission to acquire the 34-acre cress farm property at the Letort headwaters, CPC was approved for a major grant by Cumberland County's Land Partnerships Grant Program in the amount of $116,500. The Land Partnerships Grant Program seeks to allocate monetary awards to organizations with innovative land conservation initiatives. The grant approval marks a big step forward in the process of acquisition, an effort that has been ongoing since 2015. Thank you, Cumberland County!

Other major grant funding to support the  acquisition includes a lead grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources totaling $200,000 and a $28,000 commitment from South Middleton Township. Thanks to these public grant programs and generous private contributions, CPC is now in the process of settlement, which will take place over the next several months. The Letort headwaters property will become CPC's core nature preserve, offering a wealth of opportunities to advance its land protection and stewardship mission in the community. With a purchase price of $400,000, CPC has raised over 90% of required funds.

CPC's goal is to protect, restore, and maintain the limestone spring tributary to the Conodoguinet Creek and its surrounding wetlands and uplands. The wetland and stream is at risk of pollution from construction and agriculture, including soil erosion, and fertilizer, pesticide, and road runoff. CPC will set out to create restored high-quality wetlands, improve trout habitat and spawning, remove invasive plant species. Additionally, we plan to secure public access to this prominent hiking and angling destination, and preserve the historical significance of the site as the first settlement and trading post of James LeTort. The Conservancy's acquisition will allow for possible future extension of the LeTort Spring Run Nature Trail. 

We extend a huge thank you to our partners who have been critical to making this project a reality:  PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Cumberland County, South Middleton Township, Cumberland Valley Trout Unlimited (CVTU), Letort Regional Authority, Cumberland Valley Visitor's Bureau, Safari Club Blue Mountain Chapter, Pennsylvania Audubon, ALLARM, The Nature Conservancy, Cumberland County Historical Society, and PA Fish and Boat Commission. We look forward to continue working in partnership to advance our overlapping goals for the Letort Spring Run watershed

 
Join Us on January 20, 2018

Please join Central PA Conservancy and Letort Regional Authority/Friends of the Letort to celebrate the progress that CPC has made in its acquisition of the Letort Headwaters at Molly Pitcher Brewery on January 20th, 2018 from noon to 4 p.m. With over 90% of the funds raised for this acquisition, every purchase made at the event will move CPC closer to settling this notable property. Click  here  to view the event's promotional poster. We look forward to sharing a special brew commemorating the project. 


CPC Receives DCNR Grant to Acquire 78-acres on the Kittatinny Ridge in Cumberland County
Earlier this month, the Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants were awarded by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). CPC was the recipient of a $95,000 award for the purchase of a strategic property for conservation in Cumberland County. 

The property is sandwiched between two state game lands tracts (SGL#230), and its protection and transfer to PA Game Commission will connect the formerly divided tracts and offer the only way for sportsmen to access the 210-acre northern tract of game lands. The northern property boundary is adjacent to the Tuscarora Trail, which will be re-aligned to the ridge after the acquisition. 

This parcel is a top priority parcel for protection in the Kittatinny Coalitions' prioritization initiative for the Kittatinny landscape. The assessment estimated that more and 200,000 acres of the 185-mile Kittatinny Ridge corridor in PA is still unprotected, presenting risks of fragmentation, development, and mismanagement of this globally-important corridor for migratory bird species, and other wildlife. We congratulate landowner Jeff Davis for committing to the sale of this unique property for conservation purposes. CPC aims to continue its outreach work to additional landowners within this landscape connecting them with good stewardship programs and providing options for protection, even while continuing to enjoy private ownership.

CPC Protects Two Key Properties in Juniata and Cumberland Counties Via Conservation Easement 

CPC is proud to announce that we recorded two new conservation easements this fall. One of the properties encompasses 176 acres of land situated in Juniata County. The other property is located west of Carlisle covering 54 acres of land directly next to 56 acres that CPC protected in October of 2013.

The property in Juniata County, located near the Susquehanna River and state game lands, is a conservation easement donation from landowner Helen Michaels. This generous 176 acre donation includes a contribution to CPC's stewardship endowment fund. The property easement was donated in memory of Michaels' late husband who formed a deep connection to the land. During their residency on the property, Lou Michaels spent much of his time hunting the land and appreciating the beauty of the Juniata landscape. Because the conservation easement prevents this land from being subdivided or the surrounding forests from being depleted, it ensures that the beauty and connection that Lou Michaels had with the land may be appreciated by future generations and that the unique conservation values are supported in perpetuity.

Ironmaster's Mansion's New Bridal Suite Nearing Completion!

CPC is pleased to announce that a lovely, new bridal suite or B&B room will soon be available for rent at the Ironmaster's Mansion, opening this spring 2018. It will be available as part of wedding packages, as well as available for rent as an individual room. The suite includes a completely renovated and modern bathroom, bedroom with period furnishings, queen bed, table and chairs, television, microwave, coffee machine, and breakfast. We will showcase the new room at an open house event in March 2018. Stay tuned for more details and photos! 

The bridal suite renovation project was made possible by a generous grant awarded by the Cumberland Valley Visitor's Bureau's Tourism Grant program, The Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and DCNR/Pine Grove Furnace State Park. 

For details about renting the Ironmaster's Mansion for a special event, weekend retreat, family reunion, or wedding, please contact our group booking assistant, Tina McGee, at ironmasterspinegrove@gmail.com or tmcgee@centralpaconservancy.org. 
Central Pennsylvania Conservancy is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax exempt organization as provided by IRS regulations. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free (within PA) 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.