Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Acquires Land in French Creek Watershed, Crawford County to Expand State Game Lands – Technologist

Press release shared by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, July 22, 2024. Photo courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the permanent protection of 122 acres in the French Creek watershed in Cambridge Springs Township, Crawford County.

The Conservancy immediately transferred the property to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to become part of State Game Lands #277, known locally as the “Land-O-Lakes” and borders the property along Route 6.

This newly protected property features a large wetland area, forestland and small feeder streams to French Creek. Located within the French Creek watershed, the property is now available for hunting, fishing and other recreational opportunities on SGL #277

The conservation value of this land is high due to its proximity to SGL #277 and the forest, bird and wetland habitats that exist on the property. For example, a large percentage of the property consists of wetlands. These areas of land, which are either seasonally or permanently covered by water or saturated with water, are effective at capturing and storing atmospheric carbon.

Also, this property is near the Erie National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area, where more than 236 species have been recorded, including bald eagle, sedge wren, marsh wren, northern harrier, pied-billed grebe, American coot, common snipe, northern saw-whet owl and American woodcock.

As a privately owned property for decades, it was fondly known as “The Swamp,” where the landowners’ family patriarch would spend time hunting and fishing. He taught his children and grandchildren those skills and values, while telling family stories and sharing the legacy of caring for and enjoying the natural environment. The family no longer lives in the area, so it was important for them to protect the land they grew up cherishing for the benefit of future generations.

Ann Sand, the Conservancy’s land protection manager for the French Creek watershed, says the family wanted the property to be protected by the Conservancy and added to the game lands with the hope that it be used and enjoyed by the public.

“It was important to them that their family’s land heritage would be protected in perpetuity and located in an area where ongoing restoration efforts are underway by Ducks Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to maximize the habitat value and wetland diversity of the landscape,” Ann adds.

The Conservancy has protected more than 6,000 acres in the French Creek watershed. French Creek and its tributaries are documented as having the highest aquatic biodiversity of any stream of its size in Pennsylvania and all states to the northeast of Pennsylvania. The watershed has been an important area of conservation focus for the Conservancy since 1969.

Funding to protect this land was made possible thanks to donations from private donors and PGC, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant through Ducks Unlimited.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped establish 11 state parks, conserved more than 285,000 acres of natural lands, protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, and assessed thousands of wildlife species and their habitats. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 130 community gardens and other green spaces and thousands of trees that are planted with the help of more than 7,000 volunteers. The work of the Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 10,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.

Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Senior Director of Communications
412-586-2358, work or [email protected]