Sunday, April 6:  Caring for Communities kicks off with a WKOK Roundtable broadcast hosted by Mark Lawrence and coordinated by Bob Deffner, manager of R. B. Winter State Park.  The broadcast brings together local environmental experts who will focus their discussion on agriculture.

            That afternoon, the fourth annual Linn Conservancy Native Plant Sale and talk will be held at the Dale/Engle/Walker House.  John Tonzetich, who chairs this event, indicated that the talk will focus on trees that are native to the area.

            Saturday, April 12:  A tour of Bucky Ziegler’s organic farm, Paradise Valley Farm, is planned.

            Sunday, April 13:  A Montandon Marsh walk will be led by Allen Schweinsberg, Bucknell University mathematics professor and butterfly expert.

            Saturday, April 19:  15- and 30-mile loop bicycle rides will be led by Tom Gibson on the back roads of Union County.  The morning rides will leave from the DEW House.  That afternoon, Matt McTammany, biology professor at Bucknell, will head a water sampling on Buffalo Creek at the Dale/Engle/Walker property.  This event is held in conjunction with the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance, which is testing many sections of the creek as part of a long-range program.  Matt will report on the status of the BCWA testing program and plans for revamping it.

            Sunday, April 20:  Celebration Day at DEW House.  During the afternoon, Bucknell biology professor Beth Capaldi will give a presentation on bees.  Robyn Graboski, Founder and Director of Centre Wildlife Care, will make two presentations—one on bats and another on general animal rehabilitation.  Bucknell Environmental Studies professor Ben Marsh will talk about environmental aspects of agriculture and our feed supply.  Mary Ann Bierly will give a continuous hands-on worktable for youngsters; Greg Bonsall will return with a hands-on building project for youngsters and David Blackbear Ramsey will give a Native American view of our natural world.

            Friday, April 25 (Arbor Day):  Lewisburg tree walk and a Milton tree walk.  Conservancy member Dotti Zimmerman is the Milton program, and arborist Richard Eyster will lead the walks.

            Saturday, April 26:  A wildflower walk will be led by Bob Deffner.  The site of the walk will be announced later.

            Sunday, April 27:  A canoe and kayak trip on Buffalo Creek will be directed by Betsy Quant of Canoe Susquehanna.  Ms. Quant proposes paddling a stretch of the creek upstream from the DEW House with a side trip for a tour through Groves Mills.  This event is held in conjunction with the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance.

These plans are intended to guide decision-makers in managing future growth, promoting sustainable economic development, and preserving the rural landscape.  Why is a comprehensive plan important for Union County residents and Linn Conservancy members? It is important because local governments use this process to look at community issues, needs, and challenges in a holistic manner. Good planning is about managing change effectively and building lasting value in our historic towns, villages, and across our rural countryside, according to Shawn McLaughlin, Planning Director of the Union County Planning Commission.        

These plans are a statement of goals and objectives that establish a vision for the future and will look at land use, transportation, housing, parks and open space, public utilities, schools, health and safety, historic preservation, and economic development. Recommendations will be made about where future growth and development will occur, what it should look like, and what areas should remain as viable agricultural lands, forests, and as protected habitat. The comprehensive plan is also the basis for regulatory tools like zoning that control how land can be used and it guides investment by state, county and local agencies and the private sector. It is also important because this type of planning only occurs about once every ten years on average.

To date the county planning staff and the consultant team, which includes the national planning and design firm of Wallace Roberts and Todd and the non-profit American Farmland Trust, have been busy collecting and analyzing existing data and reports. Thus far early indications show that Union County will continue to experience moderate population growth through 2030, perhaps as much as 20%. This equates to approximately 8,000 new residents. For the period from 2001 through 2007 we have also seen over 1,100 new housing units constructed in the county in a somewhat scattered pattern. With the expected population gains there will be more development activity and greater demands put on local resources and services. Through the comprehensive plan we must reach a consensus as a community in terms of how we will balance this anticipated growth with protecting what is most valuable to us.  In addition, raising awareness about the planning process and obtaining public input is well underway. The success of the project depends on meaningful participation since this will increase the effectiveness of the plan and the probability of its success. A county and three multi-municipal advisory teams have been formed to provide input and guide development of the plans.

This fall a survey was randomly distributed to 3,000 households. Key person interviews and focus groups have been held and are ongoing with people representing various interests such as conservation and the environment, developers, police, emergency response, historic downtowns, housing, recreation and parks, business and industry, agriculture, and many others. In addition three public forums were held during November where participants were engaged in facilitated discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the county and ideas for the future. The results of these forums are still being summarized and compiled.  Those who did not receive a survey or were not able to attend a public meeting, can host their own meetings with friends, coworkers, or family members by using a kit developed by the county planning office called “Meeting in a Box” and submit the results to the county. For more information visit the project website at www.cultivatingcommunity.net to submit comments and concerns or mail them to the Union County Planning Commission at 155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

In January an existing conditions report should be released and over the winter alternative land use and growth management scenarios will be developed for presentation and feedback at the next round of public meetings in March 2008. These public meetings will be on March 12th and 13th, so stay tuned to the website and local media outlets for updates on times and locations. The Linn Conservancy is well represented on the planning bodies. Wayne McDiffett has been serving on the technical advisory team and Ben Hoskins has been serving on the Advisory Team to the County planners who are putting the plan together.

“The Photographers have all donated their time and expertise to the project and the Lewisburg Studio is donating the printing, mounting, and matting.” says John Gardner, owner of the Lewisburg Studio and a strong supporter of the Conservancy.  Framing is also available, with a percentage of those proceeds also going to the Conservancy.  The photographs are priced at $39 for an 8-inch by 10-inch image, $59 for an 11-inch by 14-inch image, and $99 for a 16-inch by 20-inch image.

            “We hope to make this exhibit just the beginning of a beautiful collection of nature images captured on the Linn Conservancy trails,” Mr. Gardner says. “We are willing to accept images from other photographers if they are willing to donate their time and talents to this ongoing project.”

One parcel, donated by William and Ann Roll of Northumberland, comprises approximately 27 acres and is located on the south face of Montour Ridge near Comfort Road.  The land is woodland consisting primarily of mixed deciduous trees and will be allowed to become old-growth forest. The parcel lies in close proximity to sites listed as ecologically significant by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.

The second parcel, donated by Deborah Myers and William Henry Smith, is located off White Top Road north of Freeburg, Snyder County.  The property consists of three tracts of land totaling approximately 127 acres and contains a working farm. It is characterized by rolling topography consisting of pastures, cropland and forests. In general, the property is aesthetically pleasing and has considerable conservation value.            

A conservation easement is one way for landowners to permanently protect their land by limiting the land’s use and protecting its conservation value.  An easement is an agreement that is tailored to meet the goals of both a donor and a land trust.  It permits the landowner to continue to own and use land and to sell or pass it on to heirs.

The Merrill W. Linn & Waterways Conservancy is dedicated to working with landowners who are interested in protecting or enhancing important aspects of our natural environment for present and future generations.  For more information about protecting land through conservation easements contact the Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy at P.O. Box 501, Lewisburg, PA, phone:  (570) 524-8666; E-mail:  conserve@ptd.net

This report was reviewed and approved by three separate scientific teams and by delegates from 130 nations, including the US and China, the world’s worst polluters.   The panel and its members agreed that reductions in greenhouse gasses had to start immediately to avert a global climate disaster, which could leave island nations submerged, reduce African crop yields by 50 %, and cause a 5% decrease in global gross national product.             

Specifically, the panel of scientists said that the world would have to reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 to prevent serious climate disruptions. That’s only 7 years away. “If there’s no action before 2012, that’s too late,” said Rajendra Pachauri, a scientist and economist who heads the IPCC. “What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.” Action must take place at all levels. On a state level, the Legislature in Harrisburg must make major strides in the next month in approving legislation to reduce carbon pollution and to support renewable energy sources such as wind, water, biofuel and other systems.

We as individual polluters in Union and contiguous counties must act now to reduce our carbon footprint by conserving energy used in our homes. With electricity costs rising by 30 to 70 percent, SEDA-COG is offering a new service to help homeowners identify energy-saving measures.  With a Home Energy Assessment from SEDA-COG, homeowners will learn what to do, how to do it, and how long it will take energy-saving measures to pay for themselves. 

The end result of the audit is a prioritized list of action steps a homeowner should take to reduce energy consumption and save money.  While their home weatherization services are free to the low income, SEDA-COG energy assessments are now available to the general public on a fee basis of $350.  With conservation measures installed, that amount of money can be saved in a year.

In early October, the DOE announced its decision to finalize the Mid-Atlantic National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC), a vast area encompassing 50 of 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Union, Northumberland, Snyder and Montour Counties. Within this corridor the DOE, in concert with regional energy transmission company—PJM Interconnection —and various power companies, proposes construction of an energy super highway of massive transmission towers which would originate at Ohio Valley electric plants then cut through farms, national forests, protected conservation lands, historical sites, and other lands.           

To help fight DOE’s eminent domain authority, the Pennsylvania House of Representative passed House Resolution 297 which urges the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to support legislation to repeal that section of the Federal Energy Policy Act which allowed eminent domain authority.  The Linn Conservancy supported HR 297 in letters to House District 85 Representative Russell Fairchild and State Senator District 23 Roger Madigan stating, “The Linn Conservancy has taken this stand because we feel that the potential use of the power of eminent domain by Federal authorities for the creation of power lines through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania would be a direct threat to our stated purpose, which is to preserve and protect land with an ecological, recreational, historical or other value through the granting of land easements that continue that protection in perpetuity.”

The Conservancy Development Committee, now chaired by Sue Auman, former Conservancy coordinator, is looking toward new projects to raise money for the organization’s many activities. According to Ms. Auman, “We have also recently solicited support from individual donors for our legal enforcement fund which is tapped when the need to enforce the terms of our easements arises. “Our principal support comes from our annual membership donations.  We are not just maintaining our strong membership base, but are growing in numbers.  Additionally, our members are very generous in providing donations in excess of the basic membership cost,” she says.  

She indicated that the Development Committee has targeted the following activities:

• Sizable monetary donations for the Linn Native Plant Sale, the Conservancy’s most successful fund-raiser to date.
  
• Purchase of our natural fiber T-shirts.
  
• Monetary donations to our general unrestricted funds.
  
• Memorial contributions in memory of a loved one who has passed away.

 All contributions can be made to the Linn Conservancy and sent to P.O. Box 501, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

The students are conducting tests on two streams—Stony Run, a forested stream on the eastern edge of the watershed, and Connelly Run, a tributary of Rapid Run, which runs through a dairy farm. The students are testing agricultural effects on the creek, paying particular attention to physical and chemical properties of the stream, algae content, wildlife populations, ecosystem processes, photosynthesis rates, and nutrient retention. The students are gathering information to present their findings at a research symposium for the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance.

So far, students have found that farming activity is doing damage to the stream that runs through the farm. Fertilizers that farmers use on their land can cause cultural eutrophication in streams, a process that is destroying the ecosystems in these streams as well as polluting water. During cultural eutrophication, fertilizer and nutrients run off the farm and are deposited in a stream. Because the nutrient content of the stream is greatly increased, algae form at a greater rate than normal. Animals in the stream do not eat this algae because there is simply too much to consume. As the algae dies, decomposition produces oxygen in the water to be depleted, causing the death of many different organisms that live in the stream. This algae buildup also blocks sunlight from penetrating the stream, causing any plants growing on the floor of the stream to die. Essentially, the entire balance of the ecosystem is thrown off by the unnatural levels of nutrients to the water.  

“Changes have to happen at a local level” says Dr. McTammany when asked what the best course of action would be to save these bodies of water. If citizens take care of the water in their backyard, they will also be taking care of the water in their neighboring towns. The Bucknell students conducting this research will share their findings with the Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance and hope to convince the organization to launch a special cleanup program, talking to the farmers about ways to prevent cultural eutrophication in the bodies of water that border or run through their farms.