Forest landowners within the Upper Delaware River Basin will benefit from a new million-dollar grant program that supports watershed forestry practices. The Common Waters Fund is accessible to private landowners in PA, NJ and NY. “Ensuring healthy forests in the Upper Delaware Watershed is critical to maintaining quality drinking water for 15 million water users,” [...]
The 95th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show offers visitors a first-hand experience of the state’s agricultural heritage, and its future. The event—which includes exhibitors, vendors, competitions, and local foods—is ongoing through January 15th in Harrisburg. Farming is PA’s top industry; and, according to the PA Department of Agriculture, it provides land protection benefits well [...]
This group of cheerful children had something to say about land protection as they performed to the Woody Guthrie tune, “This Land is Your Land” by singing, “This land is our land. It’s not a gasland. Think of our future. It’s all in our hands. From the Delaware River, to the Catskill forests, we need [...]
I recently visited Bradford County, PA, with the editorial staff of The River Reporter newspaper for a first-hand look at Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration occurring there. Our guides for the day included: Michael Lovegreen, Bradford County Conservation District Manager John Sullivan, Bradford County Commissioner, Conservation District Board Member, farmer and gas leaseholder Terry Lutz, [...]
John Quigley, then Acting Secretary of PA’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), called development of the Marcellus Shale play “the overarching challenge of conservation and community revitalization in the state” during his April 10 address at the PA Land Trust Association (PALTA) conference. Quigley, who was confirmed as DCNR’s Secretary a few days [...]
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced strict actions against Cabot Oil & Gas for the company’s negligent operations related to drilling the Marcellus Shale play in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, which have resulted in residential water well contamination. DEP’s sanctions include: Ordering Cabot to plug its three existing wells in Dimock Barring [...]
The financial benefits of conservation easements are one reason that compels people to protect their land for future generations. Ultimately, however, the choice is about loving your land. Poet and writer Mary Olmsted Greene explores the deep relationship between people and land in her new book Women Outside: Conversations about Nature, Art & Spirit. The [...]
Conservation easements are one method of land protection; another is to provide landowners with economic opportunities that help to maintain working landscapes. Grant Genzlinger, Chef-Owner of The Settlers Inn and a longtime Board Member of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, recently convened a group of regional farmers and chefs to spearhead a farm-to-table distribution system that [...]
It’s stating the obvious to say that strong opinions exist on the topic of hydrofracturing in PA’s Marcellus Shale formation. Hydrofracturing—commonly called “fracking”—is a method of natural gas extraction that involves millions of gallons of water per well, mixed with chemicals and sand, which are injected deep into the earth to break up shale and [...]
Monica Hunken of NYH2O delivered public comment (à la Gloria Gaynor) to the Delaware River Basin Commission. The February 24 hearing in Matamoras, PA, drew a crowd of about 300 citizens. Of approximately 80 commenters, the majority called for the Commission to deny 2 Stone Energy permits related to natural gas exploration in the Marcellus [...]
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