Bear Creek Camp
Bear Creek Township • 1880 Acres
Bear Creek Camp- a childrens summer camp owned by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and well known for its community outreach programs and retreat facilities, has conserved a major portion of their property. Approximately 1,880 acres of ecologically significant habitat will be protected forever. Bear Creek Camp is located along the western edge of the Pocono Plateau in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County. The property has been conserved with the North Branch Land Trust and supported with grant funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Growing Greener II and Keystone 93 Program.
Within the conservation area are miles of streams including Bear Creek and Little Bear Creek along with wetland communities such as spring seeps, vernal pools, acidic shrub swamps, rare red spruce swamps, and an extremely rare glacial kettle bog. Wildlife inventories confirmed this and discovered over forty plant and animal species of Special Concern in Pennsylvania that includes uncommon animals like bobcats, fishers, smooth green snakes, and the beautiful blue-spotted sunfish; globally rare moths such as the fly-poison borer moth and buck moth; bog copper and Arctic skipper butterflies; the only know occurrence in Luzerne County of a rare dragonfly called the beaver pond clubtail; and one of the few known populations of the elfin skimmer dragonfly.
The Camp property is open to the public for passive recreation activities from sunrise to sun set when camp is not in session, which is generally from mid-August to mid-June. Please check with the Camp staff in Bear Creek for actual dates.
Baer Road
Union Township • 185 Acres
In the early 1800’s the Baer family settled on this land. The house they built was two stories tall with an attic and had a one story kitchen wing in the back. There was a tall chimney in the main part of the house which still standing today.
The Baer’s built stonewalls and used fieldstones for foundations, chimneys and wells. The Baer’s relied on the farm and the land for many of their needs. They planted vegetables and fruit trees and grew fodder for their animals. Deer, rabbits and other game were abundant and an important addition to their diet.
The Jarrards purchased the farm from the Baer Family in 1945. Mr. Jarrard was a returning WW II soldier from Berwick and wanted to have a Christmas tree farm. The land sloped, which made it easier to drag trees downhill, and was mostly open fields that had been cleared for farming by the Baer family.
The fruit trees still stood behind the old farm house and had varieties of pear, apple and peaches. There were horse chestnuts and black walnuts near the house as well. The tree farm had plots of Scotch pines, Austrian pine, Colorado blue spruce, White spruce and Norway spruce. These still exists although they are dying from old age.
The owners of the property, Kathleen Osberg Leclerc and her mother, Lois Jarrard, desired to preserve the natural habitat and historic characteristics of the property. Primarily forested now with several small streams and wetlands, the easement will protect old agricultural lands and provide
Bierly Estate
Ross Township • 106 Acres
On July 6, 2015, George W. Bierly passed away at the age of 93. He and his wife Betty were always full of adventure and found their “heaven on earth” on their 106-acre farm in Sweet Valley, PA. George’s sense of humor brightened many lives.
George was a successful businessman and leader in his community. He graduated from Bucknell Junior College, Wilkes-Barre, in 1940 and went on to earn a graduate degree in engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1943. From 1943 to 1945 he was honored to serve his country in Italy during World War II.
George wanted to ensure that his beloved Sweet Valley farm would be protected in perpetuity from any development. He consulted his attorney and directed in his will that the farm be donated to an organization capable of ensuring the preservation of its natural character. After George’s death, the executor of his estate was referred to North Branch Land Trust and together we concluded that donating the property, with permission to sell it subject to a conservation easement, would be the best approach to protect the farm forever.
On August 21, 2018, NBLT permanently protected 100 acres of the Bierly Farm with the recording of a conservation easement at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Establishing a conservation easement fulfilled Mr. Bierly’s wishes while supporting the conservation mission of the Land Trust. His estate was entitled to a tax deduction for the donation and NBLT was able to protect another beautiful farm including its old growth timber and stunning stone walls
Cremer
Union Township • 34 Acres
This well managed 34-acre property located in Union Township, Luzerne County, is currently owned by John and Patricia Cremer. The property is a mixture of deciduous forest, orchard, conifer plantation, scenic stone walls, stream, wetlands, and spring seeps. Wildlife is abundant on this property as evidenced by 573-plus species of plants and animals reported during the inventories, including the beautiful and uncommon white trillium wildflower.
ESDB
Fairview Township • 298 Acres
This environmentally important 298-acre property located in Fairview Township, Luzerne County, is currently owned by ESDB, LLP. This protected property occurs within the highly developed Mountain Top area of Luzerne County and acts as a valuable wildlife refuge and corridor. The property exhibits mature deciduous forests, hemlock forests, scrub oak barrens, a large leatherleaf/sedge wetland, and houses a portion of Bow Creek that is teaming with native brook trout.
Hosler
Salem Township • 42 Acres
This conserved site is adjacent to PA State Game Lands 260 in Salem Township, Luzerne County. These 42 acres of protected land will extend a large wildlife habitat. Within a mixed hardwood forest, one-third of the property is wetland, home to beavers, waterfowl and other wildlife. Located at the headwaters of an unnamed tributary of the Susquehanna River, the landowner grew up on the property and watched as the large farm was divided and developed. With the help of the Land Trust, the Hosler family created an easement on this land to protect it from further development.
Houck
Nescopeck Township • 80 Acres
Located in Nescopeck Township, Luzerne County, these 80 protected acres include farmland, forest, wetland, and varied habitats. This project was completed in conjunction with the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society, which functions as the land manager for the property. On its rolling hills and fields, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created ponds and marshes for waterfowl. One home and barn exist on the property along with more nests and tree cavities than the best birder can ever count. The land will remain a sanctuary for wildlife and a place for environmental study.
New Pocono Trust
Bear Creek Township • 3,015 Acres
New Pocono Trust’s conservation easement on nearly five square miles (3,015 acres) is the largest conservation project to date for North Branch Land Trust. The property, located in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, is one of pristine wilderness, streams, and open space. Home to rare plants and animals – some of which are globally recognized as being endangered or threatened – the property is now forever protected from haphazard development. Some specifics about the land:
- Adjacent to state game lands, at the edge of the Pocono Plateau
- Over 500 acres of wetlands
- 7 miles of streams
- 12 miles to walk around the boundary
- 10 natural communities of special concern
- 12 plant/animal species of special concern
- 1 species that is globally rare and imperiled
Though it remains private property, the New Pocono Trust land helps not only preserve the wonderful vista that is our Bear Creek region, but supports the smart economic growth of our community by protecting the wild open spaces that make Pennsylvania so attractive to tourists worldwide.
Plymouth Mountain
Plymouth Township • 142 Acres
This spectacular 142-acre property located in Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, is currently owned by Wychock Realty, LLC. The property exhibits steeply forested slopes of mixed hardwoods and it is adjacent to thousands of acres of Pennsylvania State Forest lands. Scenic viewsheds are offered to the public as they travel along Route 11.
The Warrior’s Path
Union Township • 104 Acres
This historically significant 104-acre property located in Union Township and Shickshinny Borough, Luzerne County, is currently owned by Richard Kuchta. The property contains lush hemlock forests, steeply sloped deciduous forests, Heron Creek and over one mile of Shickshinny Creek. The property is adjacent to a 197-acre property conserved by North Branch Land Trust and several thousand acres of PA State Game Lands. This conservation agreement not only protects wildlife but significant archeological areas that contain Native American Indian artifacts and the Warriors Path, a PHMC Historical Marker, which commemorates a travel passageway used by Indians and early settlers.
American Legion Post 781
Wright Township • 254.5 Acres
The Conservation Area is comprised of mostly forested lands consisting of deciduous hardwoods. There are isolated stands of conifers, mature hardwoods, early succession forests, meadows, recreational fields, open grass lawn areas, and roadside vegetation. Significant wet areas occur within the Conservation Area such as the Wapwallopen Creek, small streams, intermittent streams, vernal pools, marsh, swamps, and isolated wet areas. The Conservation Area hosts natural habitat for fish, wildlife, plants and supporting ecosystems.
The Conservation Area also includes woodlands and riparian forests within the watershed of the Wapwallopen Creek, classified as a Cold Water Fishery (CWF) and the Susquehanna River, classified as a Warm Water Fishery (WWF) by the Department of Environmental Protection, which serve as a source of potable water for downstream communities.
Funding for the project came from a Community Partnerships Program Grant award to NBLT from the Pennsylvania department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Funding for these grants comes from Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key93), the Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Growing Greener Bond Fund and federal funding sources.
The Legion property under conservation easement with North Branch Land Trust is open to the public year round for passive recreation activities.
Grape Rock Farm
Dorrance Township • 56.1 Acres
The Silvetti Property provides vegetative natural communities and several wetland ecosystems necessary to support various species of wildlife, not to mention a diverse amount of plant species.
Areas of highest conservation value on the property include the emergent shrub/sedge wetland, vernal pools and the man-made pond, especially the vegetative buffers surrounding these wetland ecosystems. Several rare dragonfly species that are Pennsylvania Species of Special Concern, such as the slaty skimmer and Halloween pennant breed in these wetlands.
The open agricultural areas contain grassy fields that are periodically mowed support declining grassland bird species such as bobolink, field sparrow, eastern meadowlark and American kestrel.
The thick hedge rows and forested woodlots provide dense habitat that provides food, cover and wildlife corridors for mammals such as eastern coyote and whitetail deer and nesting habitats for forest interior bird species that includes scarlet tanager, ovenbird and red-eyed vireo. The roadside lanes and hedge row edges offers mixed vegetative layers that provide food and cover for various species of animals.
The Sedor Property
Newport Township • 46 Acres
Conservation easement donor Marcella Sedor Kelly says that her father, Peter Sedor, instilled in his children an appreciation for the beauty and value of the family’s land. “My sister, Judy Sedor Becker, and I wanted to preserve our land for future generations to enjoy. We hope it will be used for educational purposes in the future.”
Within the Sedor property are mature trees exceeding 100 feet in height that include eastern white pines, eastern hemlocks and tulip trees. Vivid wildflowers such as red trilliums, gay-wings and hepatica are abundant. A welcome discovery was the beautiful and uncommon woodland lily. Edge habitat of shrubs and small trees provide habitat for migratory bird species such as ruby-crowned kinglets, hermit thrushes and blackpoll warblers. The small streams host dace minnows, crayfish and salamanders such as the northern two-lined, and black-nose.
Marcella Sedor Kelly is a land developer by profession who takes a lucid approach to her work. “It’s appropriate to redevelop land that has already been ravaged by the coal industry, but I couldn’t subdivide and develop land that has been untouched by human hands. We all need to take responsibility for preserving what has been given to us by a greater spirit – it gives us a sense of peace.”
Keohane (East)
Black Creek Twp. • 81.8 Acres
The forested slopes of the Keohane East property lie along the south side of Nescopeck Mountain in southern Luzerne County near the tiny community of Tank. Named we think because of the steam locomotive watering tank station located there. the land includes steep forested slopes and rocky outcrops as well as spring seeps and a spring-fed pool surrounded by a forested buffer that protects its clear water and the creatures that live in and depend on it: amphibian species such as spotted salamanders, wood frogs, green frogs, pickerel frogs and spring peepers breed in this wetland.
The property’s unbroken forest provides habitat and wildlife corridors for eastern coyotes, black bear, whitetail deer and many other mammals, and nesting habitat for birds such as ovenbirds, pileated woodpeckers and red-eyed vireos. The property is also home to the uncommon eastern box turtle, a Species of Special Concern in Pennsylvania. This forest ecosystem also hosts five species of orchids, including the beautiful and increasingly rare pink lady’s slipper. The woodlands also protect the watersheds of Black Creek and Nescopeck Creek before they flow into the Susquehanna River, helping ensure clean drinking water for downstream communities.
Keohane (West)
Black Creek Twp. • 69.6 Acres
This property too lies on the south side of Nescopeck Mountain, not far from Keohane East, and has spring seeps, an intermittent stream, steep forested slopes and rocky outcrops. The spring seep and intermittent stream contain the most concentrated flora and fauna diversity, and a natural plant community determined to be of significant conservation value is found along the intermittent stream: soft rush, wool grass, skunk cabbage, water horehound, swamp beggar’s tick, and several species of sedges occur here. Amphibian species such as mountain dusky salamander, northern two-lined salamander, red-backed salamander and pickerel frog were found in the wetland areas.
The surrounding mixed deciduous forest hosts at least 17 species of trees, and wildflowers and plants found throughout this forested mountain setting include New York fern, ebony spleenwort, sessile-leaf bellwort, false Solomon’s seal, round-leaf gooseberry and star flower.
Short-tailed shrews and porcupines share the woods with Blackburnian, pine, and black-throated green warblers, yellow-billed cuckoos and veery, and the eastern box turtle: a reptile Species of Special Concern.
Liberty Baricin Preserve
Fairview Twp. • 25.4 Acres
The Liberty Baricin Preserve is an entirely forested parcel of land on the southern/eastern edge of Penobscot Mountain in Fairview Township, Luzerne County. Located very close to Game Land #207, the property provides a scenic view to anyone driving on Liberty Street in Mountain Top.
Its 25-acres include a hemlock palustrine forest, forested wetlands and streams. The streams harbor fish such as black-nose dace, creek chub and native brook trout as well as amphibians like mountain dusky and northern two-lined salamanders, which live only in cold, unpolluted streams. Mink and raccoon also live here, as do birds such as the barred owl and the nationally declining Louisiana waterthrush. The streams feed into Big Wapwallopen Creek (another Cold Water Fishery), helping to provide clean drinking water for downstream communities.
The riparian forest and hemlock palustrine forest host spectacular densities of native wildflowers such as mayapple, gaywings, dwarf ginseng, wood lily, and common blue violet, as well as Luzerne County’s largest known population of the uncommon large purple-fringed orchid.
Alexander
Ross Twp. • 25.2 Acres
The 25-acre Alexander property in Lake Township, Luzerne County consists of a mixed northern hardwood forest, an Appalachian oak forest and a conifer forest. The conifer forest provides habitat for seed-eating mammal species such as southern flying squirrel, red squirrel, gray squirrel, eastern chipmunk and white-footed mice, along with bird species such as golden-crowned kinglet, black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, blue jay and white-breasted nuthatch.
The Northern Hardwood Forest Community, the most dominant habitat type, adjoins unbroken forested parcels that are in close proximity to the immense Pennsylvania State Game Lands. Wildlife observations indicate that mammals frequently use this forest community as a travel corridor, feeding area and refuge; mammal trails and tracks were quite evident during snow-covered winter visits. Tree species found in this habitat type include sugar maple, American beech, red maple, red oak, chestnut oak, tulip tree, white pine, eastern hemlock and basswood.
Shrubs include witch-hazel, late low blueberry, mountain laurel and barberry, and ferns are plentiful—hay-scented fern, New York fern, Christmas fern, evergreen woodland fern and sensitive fern. Breeding bird species include broad-winged hawk, red-shouldered hawk, hooded warbler, American redstart, and ovenbird. Springtime bird migration offers phenomenal stopovers; as many as 71-species of birds were reported within a two-hour period.
Faber
Bear Creek Village Borough • 230.3 Acres
The Faber property in Bear Creek is a spectacular example of the southern limit of a boreal northern forest and the northern limit of a southern oak forest. The property has unique natural communities hosting northern trees species such as yellow birch, red spruce, eastern hemlock and balsam fir and southern tree species such as sassafras, pitch pine, white oak, tulip poplar, and chestnut oak. Other natural communities include emergent shrub/sedge wetlands, spring seeps, high-gradient streams with plunge pools and waterfalls, northern conifer forests, hemlock palustrine forests and dry acidic heath woodlands. The Faber Property is adjacent to Pennsylvania State Game Lands # 91 and the Trusts Bear Creek Lake View Preserve.
Faber 2 (Schellenberg)
Bear Creek Village Borough • 78.9 Acres
The 79 acre Faber 2 easement is a moderately sloping property inclusive of river bottom, and upland habitat types. The forest on the property is primarily Northern Hardwood/Appalachian Oak Forest but contains a rich Eastern Hemlock forest patch buffering the river bottom along Ten Mile Run. Dominated by oaks, including white oak, northern red oak, and chestnut oak. Other common trees are black birch, black-gum, red maple, hickories, tulip trees, and white pine, a forest type that cloaks much of the Appalachian Mountain from Pennsylvania southward. The property is located in the Appalachian Plateau Physiographic Province lending to its characteristic topography and vegetation.
Daly
Lake Twp • 243.25 Acres
The Property is located in Lake Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. A headwater stream of Huntington Creek begins on the property. Huntington Creek is designated as a High Quality Cold Water Fishery (HQ-CWF) according to the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Quality Standards.
Kipps Fen
Ross Twp • 45.4 Acres
This naturally diverse 45 acre property located in Ross Township, Luzerne County has an interesting agricultural past. The Kipp Property contains a mixture of forested woodlands, herbaceous wetlands, spring seeps, streams, vernal pools, riparian forest and a field. Roaring Brook Creek enters the conservation easement area from the north and exits in a southeast direction traveling approximately 1,600 feet. Roaring Brook Creek which originates at Harris Pond is designated as a Cold Water Fishery (CWF). The agricultural field provides nesting and foraging habitat for edge dependant bird species, lush cover for small seed-eating mammals, host plants for butterflies and hunting locations for birds of prey and carnivorous mammals.
Huntington Mountain North
Union Twp. • 223.9 Acres
Huntington Mountain North provides an important connectivity parcel to already protected lands. The property borders the 3,016 acre State Game Land #260 and the conserved 104 acre Warrior’s Path. The property provide habitat for forest interior species like black bear, scarlet tanager, cerulean warbler, hood warbler, and wood thrush.
Weintraub
Dallas Township • 34.41 Acres
The Weintraub Conservation Area exhibits an Appalachian Oak Forest, a Mixed Hemlock-Deciduous Forest, and early successional forests. Collectively, the various natural communities found within the Conservation Area support wildlife diversity of “high quality” flora and fauna species.
Grajewski
Huntington Mills • 210 Acres
The Grajewski farm is a generational family farm dating back to 1917. The farm encompasses active agricultural fields, mixed deciduous forests, ponds, wetlands, and streams which feed a nationally registered wetland. The property hosts a high number of native hickory trees and contains known bat habitat.
Tripp Road
Fairmount • 50 Acres
The Tripp road and Moss road conservation easements are located in Fairmount Township, Luzerne County PA. They are 50 and 55 acres +/ respectfully. The Tripp road property and easement area is heavily wooded with no improvements. The Moss road property and conservation easement area is a mix of fields and woodlands with Moss road bisecting the property. The Tripp road property is adjacent to Rickets Glenn State park and both properties drain to Kitchen Creek a high value native brook trout fishery. Both properties have a mix of upland oak and maple forests and severely declining hemlock and ash forests. Interesting species spotted on the properties are the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and fisher (Pekania pennant).
Moss Road
Fairmount • 55 Acres
Trailing Pine
Huntington Twp. • 14 Acres
A 14+/- acre rectangular shaped property, the Osberg Leclerc/Jarrard property is moderately to steeply sloping property inclusive of river bottom, and upland habitat types. The forest on the property ranges from the Eastern Hemlocks dominating the river bottom and southern slope and then transitioning into a mixed oak forest, while to the north of Trailing Pine Road, the canopy is primarily a mixed oak forest. The steep slopes south of Reyburn Creek include numerous rock outcroppings and seeps.
Camp Kresge
Dennison • 600 Acres
The property is located west of the Pocono Plateau region which has natural resource protection focusing on water quality, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation on a multi-state (regional) level. The property is also within a section of the Nescopeck Creek Valley Natural Heritage Area. The presence of wetlands and the proximity to Nescopeck Creek along with the steep slopes of Yeager Mountain in the southern portions of the property have created a dynamic landscape, which supports a variety of species. Yeager Mountain is part of the larger Green Mountain Highlands, which is adjacent to PGC Gamelands 187 and Nescopeck State Park. This adjacency has caused Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties to identify the Green Mountain Highlands as conservation priority in their Open Space, Greenways & Outdoor Recreation Master Plan. Other significant benefits are supported in the following public documents:
o Natural Heritage Inventory of Luzern and Lackawanna Counties (2006)
o Municipal Comprehensive Plan – Dennison Township (2015)
o Lackawanna-Luzerne Regional Plan (2012)
o Luzern & Lackawanna County Open Space, Greenways & Outdoor Recreation Master Plan (2004)
o Nescopeck Creek Watershed Stewardship Report (2002)
o Dennison Township NRI -2000
o DCNR State Forest Resource Management Plan (2015)
Alden Mountain
Newport Township • 300 Acres
As part of a mitigation project with Pennsy Supply Corporation, North Branch Land Trust permanently protected this 300-acre site located in Newport Twp. The site protects known habitat for the endangered Indiana Bat.
Pennsy Supply
Dorrance Township • 100 Acres
As part of a mitigation project with Pennsy Supply Corporation, North Branch Land Trust permanently protected a 100-acre site located in Dorrance Twp. and a 300-acre site located in Newport Twp. The 100-acre site protects the Exceptional Value Brook Trout stream, Balliet Run. The Brook Trout is the Pennsylvania state fish and has seen its range shrink within the state due to habitat loss caused by acid rain deposits, poorly planned development and climate change.
