Press release by Delaware Highlands Conservancy posted 26 February 2026
Shelter Valley, 165.5 acres of forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitat in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, is now permanently protected with a conservation easement held by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy.
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce the permanent protection of 165.54 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands in Sterling Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, through a conservation easement generously donated by landowners Susan, Robert, and Edward Price.
The largely forested property includes former fields naturally reverting to woodlands, a mature hemlock grove, a pond with a historic stone dam, remnant stone walls, multiple springs and seeps, and a small tributary to the West Branch of Wallenpaupack Creek. That tributary is designated “High Quality – Cold Water Fishes” by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, reflecting its exceptional water quality and importance for aquatic life. Wallenpaupack Creek flows into the Lackawaxen River and ultimately the Delaware River, meaning the conservation of this land contributes to the health of the entire watershed.
The conservation easement ensures that this land will continue to provide healthy habitat for wildlife, safeguard clean water, and support the unique rural character of the region while protecting the property from development and subdivision.
“We are deeply grateful to the Price family for their commitment to protecting this special place,” said Diane Rosencrance, Executive Director of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. “From its forests and wetlands to the cold-water stream that feeds into the Delaware River watershed, this property plays an important role in sustaining clean water and connected habitat. Conservation projects like this reflect the powerful impact private landowners can have in protecting the natural resources that define our region.”
The property remains privately owned and is not open to the public. A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently protects a property’s natural values while allowing the landowner to continue owning and managing the land in accordance with the terms of the easement.
Funding support was also provided through Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, through the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and the WeConservePA Conservation Easement Assistance Program.
Read the Story of Shelter Valley
Conservancy Senior Land Protection Coordinator Trey Talley (Left) with landowners Robert, Edward, and Susan Price
About Delaware Highlands Conservancy
The Conservancy works with willing landowners who want to assure that their lands are protected now and for the future, regardless of who owns the property. Once a property is protected with an easement, the Conservancy visits that property yearly to ensure the terms of the easement are met. The Conservancy is responsible for ensuring the easement terms are met, forever.
