On August 4, Natural Lands announced the addition of a 53-acre property to its Bear Creek Preserve in Buck Township, Luzerne County.

The forested land, located immediately adjacent to the now 3,986-acre nature preserve, will be managed for ecological health, species diversity, and public recreation.

Bear Creek Preserve is open to the public, free of charge, from dawn to dusk every day except Mondays.

“For generations, this property has been maintained as woodlands,” said John Brislin, representing the Corgan family. “Selling the property to Natural Lands to become part of Bear Creek Preserve was an easy decision as a way to help preserve the Lehigh Valley watershed and to make this land available to people to enjoy for generations to come.”

Bear Creek Preserve, one of more than 40 nature preserves in Natural Lands’ care, is part of a vast mosaic of protected lands including state game lands, Bureau of Forestry property, and private conservation easements.

As part of Bear Creek Preserve, this once-vulnerable property will never be developed.

“Bear Creek Preserve is part of a larger landscape of protected open space, including state parks and game lands, that spans more than 150,000 acres,” said Jack Stefferud, Natural Lands’ senior advisor for land protection. “Seventy percent of Pennsylvania’s forests are privately owned, which means they are vulnerable to development. We are grateful to the Corgan family for choosing to preserve their land by selling it to Natural Lands.”

More than half of the newly acquired property falls within the “Dry Land Hill Pools,” a special designation determined by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.

The large vernal pools—which appear in spring but dry up as the weather warms—are set within an oak-dominated forest, an area usually quite dry.

The area is home to two “species of concern”: the few-seeded sedge (Carex oligosperma) and the Bog Copper butterfly (Lycaena epixante), the latter of which uses cranberry as its larval host plant.

Wetlands, including ephemeral pools, serve as nature’s living water filters. Water moving downstream slows as it passes through wetlands, allowing time for it to be reabsorbed into the ground.

Plants growing in the wetlands break down contaminants, filter out sediment, and store excess nutrients like carbon dioxide.

Insects, plants, and animals—including people—benefit from the water cleaning services that wetlands provide, free of charge. 

These boggy habitats are home to more plants, bugs, birds, frogs, fish, and invertebrates than any other habitat on Earth.

More than half the plants and animals in Pennsylvania rely on wetlands for food and reproduction. Yet, in the past 200 years, more than half of all the wetlands in Pennsylvania have been lost to development.

The Allerton Foundation provided support for this project.

Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. 

Natural Lands—which is member supported—has preserved more than 136,600 acres, including 40+ nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,600 acres.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR: Ohiopyle State Park Tops List Of ‘Great Value Stays’ For US State Parks, 8 Other PA State Parks In Top 100

-- August 6 DCNR Resource Newsletter Now Available [Crews Return From Fighting Wildfires Out West]  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants News: Sharing History Of Segregated CCC Camp; ATV/Snowmobile Grants; Musser Gap Trail Segment Opens

-- DCNR Names Cody Miller Manager Of Beltzville State Park In Carbon County

-- PA Recreation & Park Society Upcoming Training And Educational Opportunities

-- August 8 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

-- PA Environmental Council: Apply Now For Cycling Activation Mini-Grants Of Up To $15,000  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Partners With Corgan Family To Expand Bear Creek Preserve By 53 Acres In Luzerne County  [PaEN]

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Hosts Free Virtual Bugs, Balance, and Biodiversity Forest Health Program, Sept. 9  [PaEN]

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation To Hold Women In The Big Woods Program At French Creek State Park Sept. 5-7  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In July Now Available  [PaEN]

-- PA Recreation & Park Society Upcoming Training And Educational Opportunities 

-- Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Offer Native Trees And Shrubs In Annual Fundraiser; Deadline For Orders Aug. 27

-- PA iMapInvasives Hosts Sept. 17 Webinar On Boat Cleaning To Prevent The Spread Of Invasive Species  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- DCNR: Ohiopyle State Park Tops List Of ‘Great Value Stays’ For US State Parks, 8 Other PA State Parks In Top 100

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming Commissioners Approve Match For Susquehanna RiverWalk Trail Extension

-- PennLive: 5 Great Rail Trails In PA That Are Perfect For Cycling

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Results Of An Online Survey Asking People What Their Favorite PA Trail Is To Visit For Quiet Contemplation

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Flood Museum Planning To Reopen Soon After Weather Damage

-- Chestnut Hill Local: A Swim In The Schuylkill River, Advocates Dream Of Philadelphia As A Water Recreation Wonderland

-- Reading Eagle: Riverzilla Cleanup, Fund Along Schuylkill River In Reading

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Group Seeking Help After Trash Dumped On Honan Avenue Trail 

-- Republican Herald: Hiking With Hemlock Hannah At Locust Lake State Park In Schuylkill County

-- MCall - Anthony Salamone: Money For Easton’s Two Rivers Trail Part Of Multistate Lawsuit Against President, Federal Govt.

-- WPXI: Protesters In Fayette County Support National Park Service, Against Selling Public Park Land

-- Inquirer: Yes, Bears Can Invade Your PA Campsite, Ask Me How I Know

-- Spotlight PA: Tax Relief For Campgrounds In PA Could Come At The Expense Of Revenue Tool For Local Governments

-- Reading Eagle: Christman Lake Dam In Berks County May Need To Be Drained To Comply With Dam Safety Standards

-- American Rivers To Begin Removing 2 Dams On The Raystown Branch Of The Juniata River Water Trail Near The Fort Bedford Museum In Bedford 

-- The Nature Conservancy PA News: Tag Along With Monarchs; The Story Of Protecting 1,158 Acre; What’s Your Birth Month PA Native Species?

-- Discover NE PA: Bioblitz At Kirby Park Uncovered Nearly 1,000 Species In Luzerne County

-- Post-Gazette: Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Spread As Allegheny County Plans More Spraying

-- DEP To Conduct Mosquito Control Spraying In Lycoming County Aug. 6

-- Post-Gazette: Tips For Protecting Yourself This Mosquito And Tick Season

-- WNEP: East Stroudsburg University Professor Highlights Sap Sucking Insect Known As The Treehopper

[Posted: August 4, 2025]

8/11/2025