Blog Elements – Page 12 – North Branch Land Trust

Posted on: June 29, 2018

North Branch Land Trust recently completed the acquisition and conservation of 1,131 acres of Little Wilkes-Barre Mountain in Newport Twp., Luzerne County. The Trust was successful in acquiring a DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Program grant for 50 percent of the appraised value of the land plus a donation from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry to purchase the property from Earth Conservancy. Earth Conservancy donated the remaining 50 percent of the land value.

The property is part of the Penobscot Mountain Highlands, and the Trust is working to protect the entire length of these ecologically rich highlands from Mocanaqua to Arbutus Peak in Mountain Top. The Little Wilkes-Barre Mountain parcel hosts a native brook trout stream with falls and a number of rare plant species according to the most recent Natural Areas Inventory taken by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on behalf of Luzerne County.

Upon closing on the project, North Branch deeded the property to the PA Bureau of Forestry where it will become part of the Pinchot State Forest system and be forever protected. North Branch thanks all the project partners for helping to conserve this and other important natural lands in our Northeastern Pennsylvania communities.

Posted on: October 9, 2017

Earth Conservancy is a nonprofit which formed to address the impacts of past coal mining operations in Luzerne County. Their work centers on the former holdings of the Blue Coal Corporation. Over the years NBLT has worked closely with the Earth Conservancy to permanently protect many thousands of acres in our communities. NBLT in conjunction with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is working to complete the 164-mile D&L Trail into the Wyoming Valley.

Pictured L to R are Rylan Coker NBLT Land Protection Specialist, Paul Lumia NBLT Executive Director, Mike Dziak Executive Director Earth Conservancy, Brian Stahl HKQ Law

Once complete, the hiking and biking trail will run from Bristol, PA to Wilkes-Barre. Earth Conservancy donated approximately three miles of the old Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad rail bed from the Seven Tubs Nature Area to Northampton Street. This donation will enable NBLT to complete the D&L Trail into Wilkes-Barre. NBLT hopes to start construction on this section of trail next spring and when completed it will be deeded over to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry which will manage the trail from Northampton Street to White Haven. A big thank you goes out to the Staff and Board of Directors of the Earth Conservancy for their donation and to NBLT members and supporters who have helped make this project possible.

Click on this link to see the Trail Project Area
D&L Trail Project Map.pdf

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North Branch Land Trust’s Little Wilkes-Barre Mountain Conservation Project Completed

Earth Conservancy Donates Rail Bed to NBLT

North Branch Land Trust’s Little Wilkes-Barre Mountain Conservation Project Completed

Earth Conservancy Donates Rail Bed to NBLT

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North Branch Land Trust’s Little Wilkes-Barre Mountain Conservation Project Completed

Earth Conservancy Donates Rail Bed to NBLT

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