On July 9th, The Lebanon Valley Conservancy together with the Jegla Family protected 16 acres in Millcreek Township, Lebanon County. With a Grant of Conservation Easement, the land has been protected in perpetuity. This valuable property includes a beautiful stretch of young forest, a wetland area along the Furnace Creek, and acres of sustainably farmed agriculture and grazing land. This stretch of land contains plants and animals of special interest and endangered species habitat.
The Conservancy made the process incredibly easy.” Says Wendy Jegla, “We love this place, and it feels great to know we’re taking good care of it.”
The preservation of this property was made possible through the cooperation of TLVC’s Land and Resources Committee, chaired by Chuck Wertz. With the assistance of Conservancy members Bob Arnold, Jim Logan and George Gress, we were able to identify rare species of plants including native wildflowers and a heritage oak tree on the property. Macroinvertebrates and aquatic species were identified in the stream and a Forest Stewardship Plan was written to assist in future stewardship of the forest.
“When the Jegla’s approached the Conservancy about preservation, they already knew the importance of protecting the land, it was a great partnership and we are honored to steward their land.” said Jon Schach, current Conservancy President. The Lebanon Valley Conservancy is a 501c3 non-profit land trust that uses Conservation Easements to protect the historical, cultural and environmental values of the lands in Lebanon County. The Conservancy has preserved almost 1000 acres in the Lebanon Valley for the benefit of future generations. To read more about their important work, visit www.TLVC.org.
