Press release by Lancaster Conservancy posted 5 November 2026
Lancaster Conservancy, working with a landowner in Lancaster County, has protected a new conservation easement along the Conestoga River. The almost 24-acre property located south of Lancaster City includes forestland and tributaries to the Conestoga as well as approximately one-third of a mile of shoreline “The owners of this property have worked with and supported the Conservancy for years in an effort to protect their forested lands along the Conestoga. We are incredibly grateful to have partners like these and others who see the value in conserving lands through conservation easements,” said Kate Gonick, Lancaster Conservancy senior vice president of land protection and general counsel.
The Conestoga River, which was named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year, provides recreational opportunities including kayaking and fishing, is a source of drinking water, and offers habitat for wildlife. This easement will help maintain the scenic forested viewshed for paddlers on the Conestoga River Water Trail. Natural lands along the Conestoga River also help to protect and improve the quality of this important waterway – as well as the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay downstream. These protected natural areas provide additional habitat for species such as waterfowl and other nesting birds, including eagles, which have occupied this land for decades.
This easement lies within a designated Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Area of Lancaster County, located along the Conestoga River where it makes a series of tight bends south of Lancaster City. This stretch of the Conestoga River contains two species of concern, which are dependent on the abundant food sources in the river and its tributaries along with breeding areas in the adjacent upland forest. To maintain these species of concern, it is critical to preserve and improve the water quality of the Conestoga River and to protect and expand the natural vegetation buffer along the river and its tributaries.
“The Lancaster Conservancy recognizes the important role private landowners play in protecting our streams and rivers. The owners of this property are setting an example for good stewardship as our community works to restore the Conestoga watershed,” said Lancaster Conservancy President & CEO Fritz Schroeder. “As stewards of God’s creation we are pleased to keep this valuable piece of woodland in its natural state,” said the property owners.
The Conservancy protects our natural landscape through two main methods – purchasing or receiving donations of properties which typically become nature preserves and helping landowners protect their own lands through conservation easements. A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement tied to the property deed that ensures the land will never be developed and protects the natural, cultural, and scenic resources of the property.
The Conservancy’s nature preserves are owned and managed by the Conservancy and often open for public recreation. Property owners wishing to preserve their land without
providing public access and retain ownership may protect their land through a conservation easement.
About Lancaster Conservancy
Lancaster Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that has protected over 11,000 acres of natural lands in Lancaster and York counties. Managing over 50 nature preserves and
more than 60 miles of trails open free of charge from dawn to dusk, the Conservancy strives to protect and restore our region’s natural landscape and provide opportunities
for everyone to experience the outdoors. Learn more at lancasterconservancy.org.
If you are interested in protecting your property through an easement, contact the Conservancy’s Land Protection department by calling (717) 392-7891.
