On November 21, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the agency has added the 2,500-acre Miller Mountain property (link goes to an educational video about the project) in Wyoming County, with the property now added to Pinchot State Forest.
Miller Mountain’s inclusion into Pinchot State Forest marks the first state forestland in Wyoming County. The 2022 addition of 669-acre Vosburg Neck State Park was the first state parkland in the county.
“We are excited to finally be able to add state forestland to the region, and once again announce a first for Wyoming County as we did with Vosburg Neck last year,” Dunn said. “I cannot wait to view the area from the top of Miller Mountain and take in the beautiful sights provided from its vistas. Thank you to The Conservation Fund for the tireless work on this project and for conservation efforts across the nation.”
Miller Mountain provides critical habitat for migratory birds, black bears, white-tailed deer and bobcats. The mountain is open to the public, however DCNR is establishing the state forest boundary lines and assessing the property for public access and recreational opportunities. The mountain supports headwater streams of the Susquehanna River watershed. The 2,216-foot peak is believed to be the last remaining undeveloped peak of its size in Pennsylvania that had been privately owned. Its topographical imprint on the landscape is regionally unique and visible for a remarkable distance.
”We are proud to open up this land to the public,” said Kyle Shenk, Northeast Regional Director for The Conservation Fund. “Thanks to the dedication and hard work of all those involved, Miller Mountain will remain a stunning backdrop for the town of Tunkhannock and become a destination for outdoor recreation.”
“This is another significant milestone for Wyoming County,” Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) said. “Inside of two years, we have witnessed the establishment of our first state park and now the designation of our first tract of state forestland. Crucial parts of the landscape are protected against development, as is true for vital habitat of wildlife in the area. Along with the recreational opportunities that will open up, these projects reinforce for residents and visitors what a livable and attractive area Wyoming County is.”
Funding from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry via the Keystone Fund, along with funding from Williams Companies, made the permanent protection of this forested landscape possible.
This post adapted from a release by PA Environment Digest.
