Wildlands Conservancy presents Friend of the Lehigh River Awards - 2004
My final Sojourn trip for the season took me to the Lehigh where we had a great time (I took my wife Sue along for this one). We stayed in Mauch Chunk Lake Park, which is county operated and is great for camping as it is wooded and next to a great lake (hence the name). One day of canoeing and one day of rafting (class II and III rapids) provided variety, and the excitment of the Lehigh kept everyone on thier toes through riffles, past rocks, and into speedy chutes.

As a part of the closing ceremonies, Wildlands Conservancy presented thier annual Friends of the Lehigh Awards. Check out the following press release for more info:

(article from Sharla Kistler of Wildlands Conservancy)
"Wildlands Conservancy presented three Friend of the Lehigh River Awards during the eighth annual Lehigh River Sojourn on Monday evening, June 28th immediately following dinner in Walnutport (near the Walnutport Canal Association’s Locktender’s House). The Friend of the Lehigh River Award is presented to individuals, groups, businesses, institutions, governmental
bodies, and others who are recognized for advancing knowledge, deepening understanding, cultivating appreciation, and demonstrating responsible stewardship and use of the Lehigh River and its watershed.

Please join us as we recognize this year’s recipients:

Todd Wood, Mining Engineer II, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, provided significant technical assistance toward the completion of the Lausanne Tunnel Mine Restoration Project. His contribution of technical assistance made possible the construction of a 1.5-acre wetland to treat mine drainage. With
completion of this project, significant water-quality improvements are expected to improve the quality of the Lehigh River, which has been negatively impacted by abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is to provide fishing and boating opportunities through the protection and management of aquatic resources. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s dedication to its mission is evident in the recent completion of the 72-mile Lehigh River Water Trail which identifies 20 access points from the Borough of White
Haven, Carbon County to the city of Easton, Northampton County. The Lehigh River Water Trail is the newest addition to the state’s system of 16 water trails certified by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Water trails are recreational corridors between specific locations, accessible at specific points for use by canoes, kayaks, and small non-motorized watercraft.

Pocono Lake Preserve, a private residential community in northwestern Monroe County, has permanently protected four separate properties totaling 1,273 acres of headwater lands of Deep Run, a tributary of the Tobyhanna Creek, which flows to the Lehigh River. This effort was completed between November, 1997 and August, 2002.

The preserved lands are adjacent to the residential community of Pocono Lake Preserve, an environmentally sensitive, private seasonal and year-round development. The residents of this community have contributed generously to the purchase of these properties as they became available, with the intention of protecting them from development using Wildlands Conservancy
conservation easements.

The property consists of shrub and forest communities forming significant riparian buffers for the stream and its associated springs and seeps, which support abundant wetlands. These lands are home to a varied wildlife community as well, including, beaver, eastern black bear, raccoon, deer, many birds, and a few endangered plant species. In addition to protecting
the lands with Wildlands Conservancy conservation easements, Pocono Lake Preserve is managing and improving the lands through forest stewardship and ecologically sound best management practices."


- posted by frank cetera @ 1:10 PM