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Thank you to our many friends living in Montgomery County
who voted last November in
favor of the Green Fields/
Green Towns Open Space
Referendum. The new ten-year
program dedicates $150 million
to preserve open space, heritage
resources, and farmland;
to re-green towns and
boroughs; and to protect
natural and water resource
areas.
Rallying friends, family
members, and other supporters
who voted in favor of this
important referendum made a
significant difference. An
astounding 78% of Montgomery
County voters said “yes” to
dedicated open space funding.
The previous ten-year
program preserved 9,600 acres
of natural areas, parkland, and
farmland, while also creating 23
miles of trails. The County’s
$61 million in grants used for
these programs enabled groups
to leverage over $42 million in
funding from sources other than
county funds.
As we focus our efforts in the
face of increasingly intense
development pressure, we want
to assure that our actions are
strategic and timely. Approximately
55,000 new homes are
expected by 2025, and traffic
on our busiest roads is projected
to increase between 50-
70% in the next 25 years. |
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| Jason Rasch and Natalie visit MCLT’s outreach table in Narberth |
Those of us who care about
land preservation and smart
growth have a clear mandate
to work harder than ever to
preserve the land and protect
the watersheds so essential to
the wildlife and people who
make their homes in our
region. One way to make a big
difference is to step up our
involvement at the local level.
Because a large percentage
of Green Fields/Green Towns
funding will be directed to
Montgomery County townships
and boroughs, many
important decisions will take
place at the local level. One
very concrete way to continue
the forward momentum on
open space protection is to
find out whether your
municipality has an open space
committee you can join or
holds meetings dedicated to
Green Fields/Green Towns
that you could attend. You |
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could also identify a
worthwhile project and ask to
be added to a general meeting
agenda to advocate for the
wise use of open space funds in
your municipality.
In our busy lives we tend to
be cautious about our commitments.
We want to make the
best use of the time that we
donate to our favorite causes.
A great way to make a difference
is to get involved at the
local level. The number of
people who attend and participate
in local government is
often surprisingly low. Those
who do participate, therefore,
can have a significant impact.
What we do today will have
lasting effects for later
generations. Contact your
township or borough today
and learn how you can help
fulfill the promise of the
Green Fields/Green Towns
vision in your community. |
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| PAGE 2 |
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Board
Members
Honorable Kate Harper, Chair
Hugh G. Moulton, Vice Chair
J. Ross Pilling II, Secretary
Arthur F. Loeben, Treasurer
Honorable Ellen M. Bard
Sheila M. Bello
Suzanne L. Bush
John W. Clemens
John E. F. Corson
Walter E. Daller, Jr.
Phoebe A. Driscoll
Roger S. Hillas
Drew Lewis
Paul W. Meyer
William B. Packer, Jr.
Theodore F. Poatsy, Jr.
P. Gregory Shelly
Elkins Wetherill
Marc D. Jonas, Solicitor
Staff
Dulcie F. Flaharty
Executive Director
John W. Lea
Director of Land Preservation
Sue Sammaritano
Office Manager
Lisa V. Hancock
Communmications and
Development Coordinator
Paul Corder
Land Preservation Associate |
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A GREAT TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
By Dulcie F. Flaharty
Excitement
surrounding the new Green Fields/Green
Towns Program remains palpable
throughout Montgomery County.
Our Lederach office continues
to respond to inquiries from
both elected officials and interested
citizens regarding program guidelines
and projects of local interest.
It is clear that many communities
have already begun to work on
open space plans and to formulate
strategies for land preservation
and greening projects.
What an exciting time to join a “Dream Green Team.” They
come in all sizes and flavors. Many opportunities exist to add your energy and
input as both municipalities and non-profit organizations decide how best to
participate in Green Fields/ Green Towns.
Open space committees are being established to update
or reformulate open space plans for all communities who wish to apply for county
grants. Each of |
these
committees must have one or more
citizen members. There are Environmental
Advisory Committees (EACs) in
many municipalities and they
are often looking for interested
and committed volunteers. Your
comments and interest are helpful
ingredients in determining how
best your own community should
expand, connect, or enhance its
unique, green spaces.
Friends groups can be a great help in advocating and supporting
local and county parks, historic sites or even trails and
pathways. Often our most valued community resources need
assistance in promoting and maintaining their properties
and missions. Joining groups like these is a terrific way
to personally make a difference, to meet great people, and
to improve the quality of place for yourself and for your
neighbors.
The mandate provided by 78% of the voters in last fall’s
successful open space referendum |
assures
that the vital collaborations
between Montgomery County and
its municipal and non-profit
partners will continue to save
open space, protect water resources,
make our towns green, and preserve
our quality of life.
A myriad of opportunities exist for involvement in a project
that piques your imagination or captures your heart. Although
every taxpaying household in Montgomery County already actively
invests resources in both completed and future projects,
now is the chance for you to put your personal touch on saving
a special place, protecting a treasured or historic landscape,
or revitalizing or regreening a local park.
Take a look around. Find a project or an organization that
will benefit from your support and involvement. It is a great
time to make a difference.
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DULCIE FLAHARTY
RECEIVES CONSERVATION AWARD
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Dulcie
Flaharty, Executive Director
of Montgomery County Lands Trust,
was recently honored by the Valley
Forge Audubon Society who presented
her with its 2003 Conservation
Award. Valley Forge Audubon,
a local chapter of the National
Audubon Society, presents its
conservation award every year
to an individual who demonstrates
dedicated service in preserving
the environment. |
It
recognizes Dulcie for her leadership
in preserving sensitive natural
habitat, saving farmland, and
helping to expand the parks and
trails of Montgomery County.
Congratulations, Dulcie! |
From l. to r.:
Edie Parnum, Lisa Sullivan,
Dulcie Flaharty, Tom Reeves,
and Ralf Graves.
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BASELINE
DOCUMENTATION: WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
By Claudia Steckel
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article is the second in a series of articles
published by Montgomery County Lands Trust
that explains the steps and clarifies the
terms used in land conservation. |
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A
light cover of red maple, box-elder,
red elm, and winterberry supported by
a muck layer with water issuing from
occasional seeps tells me I am standing
within a distinct plant community --
a red maple palustrine (wetland) woodland.
Identifying a property’s plant
communities, or vegetative types, is
one of many tasks necessary in compiling
the baseline documentation for a property
being placed under conservation easement.
Baseline documentation is best defined as an inventory
of the existing or current conditions of a property’s |
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corridors
are documented along with improvements
including buildings, fences, roads, or
bridges.
Prior to visiting a property, the process of gathering
baseline data begins with a search of aerial, geologic, soils, topographic, and
wetland maps to provide an overview of the site’s natural features. If
the site is believed to have sensitive plant or animal species or also archeological
or historic significance, inquiries are made to the appropriate state offices
to obtain existing records. The subsequent site visit confirms, or ‘ground
truths’ these |
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Baseline
data provides
an accurate
and essential record of the
conditions and conservation values
of the property. |
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| conservation easement area. The baseline
data provides an accurate and essential
record of the conditions and conservation
values of the property and is normally
completed before a conservation easement
is granted. For donated easements, the
IRS requires that the baseline documentation
be completed beforehand. In addition
to the vegetative types inhabiting the
site, information about other natural
features of the property, including its
geology, soils, topography, water resources,
and wildlife is typically included in
this report. Special scenic features
such as rock outcrops, distinctive views,
and scenic roadway |
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preliminary findings. Representative
photographs of the property, taken during
the site visit, provide a visual baseline
record of the site. The completed baseline
will include location and aerial maps.
The degree of detail provided in baseline documentation
depends on the holding organization’s individual standards, the relative
sensitivity of the protected habitat, or whether the easement is donated or purchased.
Donated easements, for which the property owner takes an IRS income tax deduction,
often require more in-depth documentation of the protected resource to |
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Claudia Steckel of
Botanical Inventory
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substantiate the deduction.
Baseline documentation is
important for several reasons.
Through its specific
descriptions of the property’s
natural resources, the baseline
document validates the
individual conservation values
of the property as stated in
the conservation easement. If
reserved development rights
are part of the easement, the
baseline documentation can
help determine the most |
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suitable location for
development
(i.e. away from sensitive
resources). The baseline
documentation is the
permanent record of what has
been preserved. It allows for
meaningful comparisons
during future annual
monitoring and provides
proof of the original
conditions of the protected
area in case of a violation of
the easement. |
Through
its specific descriptions of
the property’s natural
resources, the baseline
document validates the individual conservation values of the
property as stated in the conservation easement. |
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Claudia
Steckel, owner of Botanical Inventory,
conducts baseline
documentations for Montgomery County Lands Trust and other
organizations. She may reached at botinventory@aol.com. |
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4 |
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MCLT works behind the scenes too. Some of our projects
are flashy and some are quiet, but they all contribute to Montgomery County’s
open space fabric.
Not every project that comes to MCLT results in a conservation
easement held by our own organization. When we see a better avenue for land owners
such as the opportunity we saw for Irwin and Mary Ziegler, we may act as a resource,
guiding the land owner through the process. In February, 2001 the Zieglers stopped
by our office hoping to find a way to preserve their farm in Lower Salford Township.
Jake Lea, MCLT’s Director of Land Preservation, recognized that the Ziegler
farm might be eligible for the state’s farmland preservation program. He
arranged a meeting with Elizabeth Emlen, administrator for the state’s
agricultural preservation program in Montgomery County. Then, with Elizabeth,
Jake shepherded the Zieglers through the application process. The Ziegler farm
received a high ranking by the program, and last winter the Zieglers completed
the preservation of 55 acres of their treasured farmed. Now their son farms this
land that adds yet another valuable piece to Montgomery County’s open space
quilt.
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When Margaret King decided to donate 2.66 acres of land
in Perkiomen Township, both she and her attorney felt Montgomery County Lands
Trust was an organization they could trust. “King’s Point,” as
the parcel was called by her family who had owned the land for years, lies near
the junction of Routes 73 and 29. Upon review of the deed and maps sent by the
attorney, Jake Lea, MCLT’s Director of Land Preservation, saw that the
King parcel also lies near the Perkiomen Trail. He discussed the possibilities
for preservation with county planners Beth Pilling and John Wood who were excited
about the location of the property. If preserved, the parcel could become part
of the trail’s permanent view shed. In February 2003, through Montgomery
County’s Open Space program, Margaret was able to see her land permanently
preserved. Now generations of trail hikers and riders will be able to enjoy the
natural surroundings of this section of trail thanks to the generosity of Margaret
and others like her who saw the benefit of sharing the beauty of their land.
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| PAGE
5 |
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Feodor Pitcairn
| “Mr.
Pitcairn’s deep
commitment to the natural
world and open space
preservation is clear
from his years of selfless
public works, the subjects
he chooses for his photography,
and his many personal
land donations to the
Pennypack Trust.” David
C. Robertson, Executive
Director, PERT |
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Feodor
Pitcairn is an open space visionary
who saw a brighter future and abundant
possibilities for the Pennypack Creek,
its surrounding lands, and all of Montgomery
County. The story of Mr. Pitcairn’s
accomplishments begins in the environs
of Huntingdon Valley where the scenic
Pennypack Creek flows.
If you were to travel 40 years back in time, “scenic” would
not have been the word used to describe the Pennypack Creek. Lack of land use
planning was causing serious problems. Flooding stemming from rapid runoff of
impervious surfaces became commonplace, and increased demand for sewage treatment
taxed the existing facilities, leading to further declines in stream water quality.
By the early 1970’s, the creek had become so degraded that it lacked even
the necessary dissolved oxygen for fish to survive. Stream cleanups led by small,
citizens’ groups attempted to remedy the situation, but the threats facing
the watershed were too large in scope.
Motivated to tackle the problems, Feo Pitcairn saw possible
solutions in watershed-based planning such as that begun by the Delaware River
Basin Commission. Mr. Pitcairn helped to form the Pennypack Watershed Association, |
becoming
its first president in 1970. Working
jointly with various government entities,
the organization made large strides
in just five years to improve the quality
of the Pennypack Creek. Implementing
better planning and sewage treatment,
the surrounding communities became
strongly committed to protecting the
watershed. This freed the association,
now known as Pennypack Ecological Restoration
Trust, to focus its efforts on land
conservation. Leading these efforts,
Mr. Pitcairn served actively on the
board for 20 years.
Feo Pitcairn’s contributions to open space and
watershed protection extended far beyond his commitment to Pennypack Trust. He
also served as chairman of the Bryn Athyn Borough Planning Commission and as
chair of the Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC). During his tenure
with MCPC and the county’s Open Space Preservation Task Force, he worked
hard to promote the implementation of the county’s first $100 million open
space program. He was also a founding member of MCLT.
After having worked for decades for the investment company
founded by his father and two uncles, Mr. Pitcairn retired as chairman in 1991.
He began a new career as an under |
water filmmaker.
The first episodes of his “Ocean
Wilds” series were broadcast
internationally in 1996. In 2001 his
additional two high definition shows
along with the earlier episodes were
broadcast both nationally and internationally
on PBS.
When not filming underwater, Mr. Pitcairn savors his
walks along the Pennypack. Last year he published Dreaming Wild in the Heart
of the Pennypack, a book of his stunning photographs that capture the changing
moods of the Pennypack. The book’s text was written by Mary C. Robertson
and her husband, David, the executive director of Pennypack Ecological Restoration
Trust. Proceeds for sales of Dreaming Wild support the Pennypack Trust’s
efforts to control non-native plants, reforest portions of the watershed, and
manage the white-tailed deer herd in the 720-acre Pennypack Preserve.
For devoting many years of his life to preserving and
restoring the land of our region, we proudly name Mr. Pitcairn our Open Space
Hero. Through the lens of his camera, Mr. Pitcairn continues to convey the delight
and wonder he sees in nature. He inspires others to dream of greater things for
all our landscapes, just as he has so generously done for both the Pennypack
Preserve and Montgomery County. |
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| PAGE
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Claneil
Foundation*
Harleysville National Bank
& Trust Co* |
Marilyn & Drew
Lewis
Arthur Loeben
Montgomery County* |
Ethel & Elkins Wetherill
William Penn Foundation* |
Mary
M. Wood |
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Joyce & Robert
Asher
Honorable Ellen M. Bard
Bursich Associates, Inc.*
Ruth & Walter Daller
Phoebe & Lee Driscoll |
Carole
Haas Gravagno
Dee & Roger Hillas
Ellen Lea & Dale Schilling
Gretchen & John Lea
Elizabeth Lippincott |
Katie & Hugh
G. Moulton
William B. Packer, Jr.
Pennypack Ecological
Restoration Trust* |
Elizabeth & John
A.H. Shober
Joly & James Stewart
Univest National Bank & Trust Co.*
Wissahickon Valley Watershed Assn.* |
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Robin
Barone & Sydney Lea
John E. F. Corson
Dulcie & David Flaharty |
Elizabeth
H. Gemmill
Honorable Kate Harper &
Paul Kelly III |
Dr.
Henry Jordan
J. P. Mascaro & Sons*
Skippack Township* |
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Susan & Donald
Barrick
Sheila & Patrick Bello
Barbara & Wallace Bieler
Borough of Pottstown*
Simone Jaffe Collins, Inc.* |
Joanne
Denworth
Chara & John Haas
Hatfield Borough*
Marc D. Jonas
Karen Kilimnik |
Jane
J. Lea & Jennifer Shannon
Lower Merion Township*
Louis J. Mascaro
Debra Rodgers & Paul Meyer
Montgomery Township* |
Plymouth
Township*
Drs. Judy & Anthony Rapoza
Greg Shelly
Upper Hanover Township* |
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Mark
Jeffrey Aller
The Barndt Agency, Inc.*
Dorothea M. Bertholf
Edward K. Bieler
Boyertown Area High School
S.A.V.E.
Brode & Brooks Realty*
Karen & Gary Brown
Suzanne & Guy Bush
Pamela Brubaker-Reich
Gail & Gary E. Cantor
Cynthia & Morris Cheston
Harriet L. Cramer |
Chris
D’Ascenzo
Donna & Benjamin Dove
Louisa C. Dubin
Joan & Rick Fidler
Nancy Fineberg
P. Randolph Gray
Lower Gwynedd Township*
Melanie & John Harris
R. Erich Hess
Virginia Hudnut
Alice & Bruce Jackson
Beth & Hyland Johns
Sydell Zove & Stephen Kaufman |
Kathleen & Monty
Lunn
Nina & Brian Marczyk
Raymond McConnell
Janet & William McGovern
Susan & Cristopher McKeone
Susan & Brian McNeill
Norma & Roy Miller
Brad Murphy
Eileen & Eric Ordway
Perkiomen Animal Hospital*
J. Ross Pilling II
Ted Robb
Gerald Roberts |
Peter
Schlotterer
Silver Scissors Salon*
Alice & Edward Stanley
Diane & Wayne Stevens
Carol & Steven Teutsch
E. Van Reiker & Company*
Honorable Melissa Murphy Weber
Betty & Henry Webster
Ellen Weiser & David Weissman
Gib and Kelly Williams
Steven Wisner
Ruth & Charles Yeiser
V. Scott Zelov |
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Kenneth
Amey
Laurie S. Auth
Loretta & Robert Beahm
George C. Benz
Kelly & Steve Brown
Honorable Mary Ann Dailey
Honorable Ruth Damsker
Chris & Kim David
Maryann & Kenneth Davis
John DiCicco
Michael Dickey |
Louisa
C. Dubin
Farm Park Preservation Assn*
Cheryle & Patrick Frederick
Grace & Harvey Freed
Phyllis and Joseph Gadeleta
Crystal & Drew Gilchrist
GlaxoSmithKline Foundation*
Linda & Antonio M. Goncalves
Betsy and Dr. Theodore
Hershberg
A. Scott Holmes |
Mike & Lina
Johnson
Barbara & Edward Klavon
Janet & Arlin Lapp
Greta G. Longenecker
Anne R. Meibohm
Anita Meehan & Richard Mulstay
Ilene & John Nelson
Nina & Donald Orner
Jeffrey Parkhouse
Maryanne & Ted Poatsy
Nina and Bill Raab |
Luann & Michael
Rothman
Gail Gosser & Philip A. Smith
Hansell Stedman
Andrew Stone
Lisa & Daniel Sullivan
Neal G. Thorpe
Val Udell
Dennis L. Wausnock
D. Sandra Whipple & Robert
Garfield
Wis Acres Dairy Farm* |
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