LANCASTER COUNTY CONSERVANCY

PROGRAM 1 - LAND PROTECTION AND ACQUISITIONPROTECTING NATURAL LANDSIN 2024, LANCASTER CONSERVANCY PROTECTED OR PUT UNDER AGREEMENT OVER 900 ACRES OF NATURAL LANDS. THESE PROPERTIES EXPAND EXISTING NATURE PRESERVES AND IMPROVE HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCY, INCLUDE FORESTS THAT PROTECT CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER, PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR REGION'S GROWING OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY, AND BENEFIT THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.KELLYS RUN NATURE PRESERVE ADDITIONA 44-ACRE ADDITION TO KELLYS RUN NATURE PRESERVE IN HOLTWOOD, LANCASTER COUNTY, IS EXPANDING THE PRESERVE TO A TOTAL OF OVER 500 ACRES. THE PROPERTY INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILE OF THE KELLYS RUN STREAM AS WELL AS IMPORTANT FORESTED LANDS THAT PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR THE WATERWAY AND CRUCIAL HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE. THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD TO THE CONSERVANCY BY OWNERS ROBERT L. PFANNEBECKER AND HIS WIFE NANCY E. FORNOFF. PFANNEBECKER IS A NATIONALLY RENOWNED COLLECTOR OF AMERICAN CRAFTS WHO CONSTRUCTED THREE ARTIST GALLERIES AT THE SITE. MANY ARTISTS, CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND ART COLLECTORS HAVE VISITED THE WOODLAND PROPERTY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. PFANNEBECKER IS SELLING THE CONSERVANCY THIS PROPERTY SO THAT IT WILL REMAIN FORESTED AND BELOVED FOREVER.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, PRIVATE DONORSSTEINMAN RUN NATURE PRESERVE ADDITIONA NEW 9.9-ACRE ADDITION TO STEINMAN RUN NATURE PRESERVE IN MARTIC TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY, INCLUDES FORESTLAND THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST UNTOUCHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. CONSERVING THIS PROPERTY ENSURES ITS CONTINUED ROLE AS A FORESTED BUFFER PROTECTING THE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY FOR THE SURROUNDING FARMING LANDSCAPE. LOCATED NEAR OTHER CONSERVANCY PRESERVES INCLUDING TROUT RUN, RAYS WOODS, AND CLIMBERS RUN NATURE CENTER, THIS NEW TRACT EXPANDS THE REGION'S PROTECTED WILDLANDS.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, PRIVATE DONORSPEQUEA NATURE PRESERVE ADDITIONA 0.2-ACRE ADDITION TO PEQUEA NATURE PRESERVE IN LANCASTER COUNTY IS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY THE EXISTING NATURE PRESERVE AND IS WITHIN THE PEQUEA CREEK WOODS, A NATURAL AREA THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL HABITAT FOR ANIMALS AND PLANTS EXCLUDED FROM MOST OTHER PARTS OF LANCASTER COUNTY. THIS PROPERTY WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER TO THE EXISTING PRESERVE, PROTECT FOREST HABITAT FOR SPECIES OF CONCERN LIKE THE CRANEFLY ORCHID, AND COMPLETE THE PRESERVE'S HOLDING ALONG PEQUEA BOULEVARD. THE OWNER IS DONATING THE LAND TO THE CONSERVANCY IN MEMORY OF HIS FATHER, CHARLES H. ANN, AND FRIEND, ROBERT LENHART JR. SHAW FAMILY NATURE PRESERVE ADDITIONTHE CONSERVANCY'S SHAW FAMILY NATURE PRESERVE IN MOUNT JOY TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY, IS GROWING BY NEARLY 19 ACRES. THE WOODED OTTO AND BERTA FLORSCHUTZ TRACT BEING ADDED TO THE PRESERVE PROVIDES A BUFFER TO THE SUPPORTING LANDSCAPE FOR THE CONEWAGO CREEK THAT HAS CRITICAL HABITAT FOR FISH, REPTILES, AND AMPHIBIANS. THIS PROPERTY IS PRIMARILY FORESTED WITH A SMALL MEADOW AREA, BUFFERED BY WATER RESOURCES FLOWING IN THE SHAW FAMILY NATURE PRESERVE. ITS ACREAGE ADDS SIGNIFICANT WOODLAND TO THE SHAW FAMILY NATURE PRESERVE, WHICH IS LARGELY AGRICULTURAL LAND.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: SHAW FAMILYPARTNERING TO PROTECT A YORK COUNTY PARKIN ADDITION TO CONSERVING PROPERTY THAT THE CONSERVANCY MANAGES IN PERPETUITY, WE ALSO WORK WITH MUNICIPAL PARTNERS TO PROTECT NATURAL LAND. BETWEEN 2023 AND 2024, THE CONSERVANCY HELPED PROTECT OVER 160 ACRES IN FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY, WHICH WILL BE THE FOUNDATION OF A NEW YORK COUNTY PARK.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, COUNTY OF YORK, HIGHLANDS CONSERVATION FUNDROUNDTOP NATURE PRESERVETHE CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCED IN 2023 THAT WE HAD PLACED PROPERTY UNDER AGREEMENT TO CREATE THE NEW ROUNDTOP NATURE PRESERVE IN THE HELLAM HILLS CONSERVATION AREA IN YORK COUNTY. IN 2024, WE COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF ROUNDTOP NATURE PRESERVE, WHICH NOW TOTALS OVER 450 ACRES. THIS PRESERVE PROTECTS OLD GROWTH FORESTS, IMPORTANT PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, AND ROCKY OUTLOOKS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MANAGEMENT PLANNING TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THIS PRESERVE BEFORE IT CAN BE OPENED TO PUBLIC VISITATION.FUNDERS & PARTNERS: DCNR, COUNTY OF YORK, PRIVATE DONORSCONTINUING THE FIGHT TO PROTECT CUFFS RUNIN NOVEMBER 2024, THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC) GRANTED YORK ENERGY STORAGE A PRELIMINARY PERMIT TO STUDY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUMPED STORAGE FACILITY AT CUFFS RUN ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY. THE PROPOSED FACILITY WOULD DISPLACE OVER 40 RESIDENTS AND DESTROY PRESERVED FARMS AND FORESTED LANDS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDS CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE AND WATERWAYS.LANCASTER CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING FILING A LEGAL PROTEST EXPLAINING SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS WHY FERC SHOULD HAVE DENIED YORK ENERGY STORAGE'S APPLICATION FOR A PRELIMINARY PERMIT, FOLLOWED BY A PETITION FOR REHEARING CITING 11 ERRORS FERC MADE IN ITS DECISION TO GRANT THE PRELIMINARY PERMIT.YORK ENERGY STORAGE NOW HAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS TO RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED TO FUND AND COMPLETE MULTIPLE STUDIES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED PUMPED STORAGE FACILITY. THE CONSERVANCY AND OUR PARTNERS ARE COMMITTED TO OPPOSING THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON OUR LANDSCAPE AND COMMUNITY AND HAVE HIRED A LEGAL TEAM TO APPEAL FERC'S DECISION TO THE U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS. THE PARTNERS WILL BE ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING TO COVER THE LEGAL COSTS OF FIGHTING TO PROTECT CUFFS RUN.PARTNERS: CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, FARM & NATURAL LANDS TRUST OF YORK COUNTY, LOWER SUSQUEHANNA RIVERKEEPER ASSOCIATION, SUSQUEHANNA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

PROGRAM 2 LAND STEWARDSHIPACCESS & RESTORATIONFROM OPENING NEW TRAILS INCLUDING OUR THIRD UNIVERSAL ACCESS TRAIL TO OUR FIRST INSTALLATION OF STANDARDIZED WAYFINDING SIGNAGE, LANCASTER CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ACCESS NATURE SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY. AS WE STRIVE TO FACILITATE THAT ACCESS, WE ALSO WORK TO CARE FOR OUR WOODS AND WETLANDS, MEADOWS AND STREAMS THROUGH ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS.IMPROVED ACCESS AT CLARK NATURE PRESERVETHE CONSERVANCY COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE LLOYD CLARK TRAIL AT CLARK NATURE PRESERVE. THIS TRAIL WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH MOBILITY CONCERNS AND THOSE USING WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, STROLLERS, OR OTHER MOBILITY DEVICES TO EXPLORE THE MEADOW AND WOODS. THE LLOYD CLARK TRAIL IS NAMED IN MEMORY OF THE CLARK ASSOCIATES' FOUNDER, LLOYD CLARK, AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE CLARK ASSOCIATES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION'S HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN THE CONSERVANCY'S LAND PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP WORK THROUGH THE PROTECT & RESTORE CAMPAIGN.ADDITIONALLY, THE CONESTOGA TRAIL THROUGH THE PRESERVE WAS REROUTED FROM THE PRESERVE'S STEEPEST SLOPES CHALLENGED BY EROSION TO EXPLORE FURTHER INTO THE REED RUN WATERSHED, PASSING THROUGH A 15-YEAR-OLD REFORESTATION AREA. THE CONSERVANCY INSTALLED STANDARDIZED WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AROUND THE PRESERVE TO HELP VISITORS SAFELY NAVIGATE THIS SCENIC DESTINATION.PARTNERS & FUNDERS: PA RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, PENNSYLVANIA DCNR BUREAU OF RECREATION AND CONSERVATION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, CLARK ASSOCIATES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, MJHELLER LLC, C.S. DAVIDSON, INC., KINSLEY CONSTRUCTION, PENN TRAILS, KEYSTONE TRAILS ASSOCIATION, LANCASTER HIKING CLUB NEW TRAILS IN YORK COUNTYTHE CONSERVANCY OPENED NEARLY 14 MILES OF ADDITIONAL TRAILS AT WIZARD RANCH AND ROBERT A. KINSLEY NATURE PRESERVES IN YORK COUNTY. THE NEW TRAILS AT WIZARD RANCH TRAVERSE FOREST, MEADOW, AND RIPARIAN HABITATS, INCLUDING THE SITE OF THE CONSERVANCY'S FIRST-EVER PRESCRIBED BURN WHERE BLACK LOCUST AND PAWPAW ARE NOW REEMERGING. THE TRAIL SYSTEM AT ROBERT A. KINSLEY NATURE PRESERVE IS BUILT AROUND THE MASON-DIXON TRAIL AS IT CLIMBS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE FROM THE BANKS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, UP THE DUGAN RUN GORGE, WRAPPING THROUGH A CONIFEROUS FOREST ON ITS WAY TO THE IMPROVED BUZZARDS ROOST OVERLOOK BEFORE DESCENDING DOWN TO THE WILDCAT BLUFF OVERLOOK, AND FOLLOWING WILDCAT RUN OUT OF THE PRESERVE AND INTO SUSQUEHANNA RIVERLANDS STATE PARK. HUNDREDS OF ACRES OPENED TO HUNTINGIN TOTAL, THE CONSERVANCY ALLOWS PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS IN PURSUIT OF REGULATED GAME SPECIES ON MORE THAN 6,000 ACRES AT 34 NATURE PRESERVES, ALL SUPPORTED BY ENROLLMENT IN THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION'S PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS COOPERATOR PROGRAM. IN 2024, WE ENROLLED THREE ADDITIONAL YORK COUNTY PRESERVES AND FOUR ADDITIONAL LANCASTER COUNTY PRESERVES INTO THIS PROGRAM NEARLY 700 ACRES OPENED TO PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS.HUNTING PLAYS A ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, WHICH CAN OTHERWISE GROW TO UNHEALTHY LEVELS DUE TO THE MODERN ABSENCE OF IMPORTANT PREDATOR SPECIES AND AN ABUNDANCE OF AGRICULTURAL FOOD SOURCES, AMONG OTHER FACTORS. LARGE POPULATIONS OF BROWSING ANIMALS SUCH AS WHITE-TAILED DEER CAN BE DEVASTATING TO THE REGENERATION OF NATIVE HARDWOOD SPECIES WITHIN A FOREST.ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN ACTIONCLARK NATURE PRESERVE: VOLUNTEERS ARE REMOVING INVASIVE SHRUBS, MOSTLY BUSH HONEYSUCKLE, FROM THE FOREST SURROUNDING THE MEADOW AT CLARK NATURE PRESERVE. THESE AREAS BETWEEN ECOSYSTEMS ARE CALLED ECOTONES AND SHOULD BE RICH IN BIODIVERSITY. THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS FOSTERS THAT BIODIVERSITY.CLIMBERS RUN NATURE CENTER: THE SHRUB LAYER AT CLIMBERS RUN NATURE CENTER IS DOMINATED BY MULTIFLORA ROSE, WHICH IS LIMITING NATIVE SHRUB AND WILDFLOWER GROWTH. VOLUNTEERS ARE REMOVING INVASIVE SHRUBS FROM A 10-ACRE PARCEL OF THE PRESERVE, THE FIRST STEP IN A COMPREHENSIVE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROCESS.CONOY WETLANDS NATURE PRESERVE: IN THE SPRING OF 2024, ALL LANCASTER CONSERVANCY STAFF GATHERED FOR A TREE PLANTING EVENT AT FALMOUTH FOREST GARDEN AT CONOY WETLANDS NATURE PRESERVE. WORK BEGAN ON THE FOREST GARDEN IN 2018, AND WITH THE APRIL 2024 PLANTINGS, THE FINAL PHASE OF THE PLANTING PLAN WAS EXECUTED. SPECIES SUCH AS BLACK CHOKEBERRY AND ALLEGHENY SERVICEBERRY, ONCE COMMON IN THE FLOODPLAIN FORESTS OF LANCASTER COUNTY BUT NOW RARELY FOUND IN WILD POPULATIONS, WERE INTENTIONALLY PLANTED TO RETURN THESE SPECIES TO CONOY WETLANDS NATURE PRESERVE.DONEGAL HIGHLANDS NATURE PRESERVE: IN 2024, THE CONSERVANCY IMPLEMENTED A PRESCRIBED THINNING AT DONEGAL HIGHLANDS, WHICH ASSISTS THE ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION PROCESS HOW THE SPECIES IN AN ECOSYSTEM CHANGE OVER TIME AND PROMOTES THE GROWTH OF HICKORY AND OAK SEEDLINGS. THE AIM OF THIS RESTORATION PRACTICE IS TO INCREASE SPECIES DIVERSITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY IN THE FUTURE WOODLANDS AT THIS SITE.KELLYS RUN NATURE PRESERVE: IN 2024, LANCASTER CONSERVANCY USED A NO-TILL DRILL SEEDER TO ESTABLISH THREE DISTINCT POLLINATOR MEADOWS ENCOMPASSING OVER 10 ACRES AT KELLYS RUN. THE SEEDING IS THE CULMINATION OF PLANNING AND RESTORATION WORK THAT BEGAN IN 2020. THE SEED MIXES PLANTED AT THIS PRESERVE WILL PROVIDE HABITAT FOR A WIDE RANGE OF NATIVE POLLINATORS INCLUDING AMERICAN BUMBLEBEES, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, COLUMBINE DUSKYWINGS, AND REGAL FRITILLARIES. THIS PROJECT WAS DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE AND PHEASANTS FOREVER.WIZARD RANCH NATURE PRESERVE: THE CONSERVANCY BEGAN PLANTING AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AT THE SITE OF THE FIRST PRESCRIBED BURN IN THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED AT WIZARD RANCH IN 2023. WE BEGAN SITE PREPARATION WORK FOR A WARM SEASON GRASS MEADOW THAT WILL BE SEEDED IN APRIL 2025. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO MANAGE THE RIPARIAN BUFFER THAT WAS INSTALLED IN 2023 WITH FUNDING FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA DCNR. THE HABITAT WORK WE ARE DOING AT WIZARD RANCH IS THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECT TO DATE. 2024 VOLUNTEER IMPACT- 75 VOLUNTEER EVENTS- 800+ VOLUNTEERS DONATED 1,500+ HOURS- 6,000 GALLONS OF INVASIVE GARLIC MUSTARD PULLED- 1,100 CUBIC YARDS OF INVASIVE SHRUBS REMOVED