North Branch Land Trust

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2010 to Jun 30, 2011

Signed

Feb 8, 2012

Return Version

2010v3.7

Gross Receipts

$2,429,351

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

North branch land trust owns and manages several properties in our service area. Ownership of the 40.26-acre hanover crossings marsh sanctuary began on november 8, 2010 as a transfer of ownership from the luzerne conservation district in shavertown, pennsylvania. The 459.56-acre property named the george and lillian picton wildlife sanctuary was acquired on may 6, 2011 as a result of a bequest from an estate. The 40-acre hanover crossings marsh sanctuary located in hanover township was once part of the hanover industrial park complex but was transferred to the luzerne (county) conservation district many years ago as part of a wetlands mitigation project. The conservation district deeded the property to the land trust in 2010. The sanctuary is a truly beautiful urban property that offers both a variety of habitat for many plant and animal species as well as passive recreation opportunities to the public. The focal point of the property is the spectacular fifteen-acre marsh complex with a wide variety of flora and fauna found there. The remainder of the property boasts a mix of hardwoods, conifers and even some wildflower fields created back when the industrial park was under construction. Property boundaries are marked with signs as is the main property access point. However, the marsh is in need of some tender loving care. Being situated at the end of the industrial park and with housing developments to the west of the property, illegal dumping of garbage is a problem. The land trust is working with local stakeholders to develop a cleanup plan. George and lillian picton had great appreciation for the peace and tranquility offered by their special parcel of land and a passion for the wildlife who call it home. Unsure of what might happen when they no longer owned their wonderful nearly 460 acres located in foster township, luzerne county, they created a wildlife sanctuary. Subsequent to their deaths and to insure that their wishes be carried on forever, george daru, on behalf of the estate of george and lillian picton, placed a conservation easement on the property. Finally, when the estate was settled, the entire property was given to the land trust and is known as the george and lillian picton wildlife sanctuary. Picton south is the larger of two parcels of land that make up the preserve. The majority of the sanctuary is forested with mature oak, sassafras, maple, ash, and birch. Two very scenic ponds occur on the property that host fish, salamanders, turtles, frogs, freshwater mussels, rare damselflies and dragonflies, and an endangered freshwater sponge. Waterfowl use these ponds as resting and feeding wetlands and neo-tropical birds such as ruby-crowed kinglets can be found by the dozens throughout the forest during their migration. Each spring, vernal pools found on the sanctuary are teaming with egg masses of spotted salamanders and wood frogs. Picton north hosts hemlock palustrine forests, a mixed oak forest, marsh, ponds, streams, and spring seeps. The ponds contain fish like bluegills, red-fin pickerels and golden shiners while the stream hosts creek chubs and black-nose. Salamanders like red-spotted newts, northern two-lined and the vivid northern red can be discovered beneath rocks in the clear flowing waters. The spring seeps cast vivid displays of spring wildflowers such as jack-in-the-pulpit and red trillium but also easily overlooked species including the rare early coral-root orchid. The marsh is heavily vegetated with sedges, rushes and pockets of nodding lady-tresses orchids. Wading birds like great blue herons can be found hunting for frogs along the marsh edges. The intact conifer and hardwood forests protect these valuable wetlands yet support wild turkey, ruffed grouse, red-shouldered hawk, black bear, raccoon, and whitetail deer. Property signage for the picton sites was not installed before july 1, 2011. The property's management plan and public use opportunities were also not completed by this date. Ot

Activity 3

(outreach and education) north branch land trust (nblt) sets out to ensure that its community understands and values conservation of private and public land and historic resources by broadly educating the community about the importance of land conservation. This fiscal year the land trust offered various learning or experiential opportunities to the public and/or land trust members the first of which was hosting the 10th annual susquehanna river trip on july 31, 2010 from the howland preserve to white's ferry. What follows is a list of the events and offerings held either solely by the land trust or in partnership with other groups: 8/15/2010 nblt members' annual picnic at bear creek camp (outdoor program) 9/19/2010 francis e. Walter dam paddle with paul lumia for nblt members and guests (outdoor program) 10/13/2010 "a crack in the pavement" film and discussion with paul lumia at wilkes university 10/16/2010 tree seedling planting at the howland preserve (outdoor program) 10/19/2010 sustainable landscape conference at marywood university 10/22/2010 nblt members' moonlight walk (outdoor program) 11/17/2010 reptiles and amphibians of northeastern pa with rick koval 12/8/2010 14th annual members' holiday gathering 12/15/2010 "natural gas extraction and land conservation: can they go hand-in-hand?" with paul lumia 1/17/2011 animal tracking in northeastern pa with rick koval (outdoor program) 2/9/2011 animals of tanzania with paul lumia 3/13/2011 cross-country walk with paul lumia in bear creek for nblt members and guests (outdoor program) 4/16/2011 membership outreach gathering (at a private home in kingston) 5/20/2011 9th annual pennsylvania land conservation conference: conserving land and water in a changing landscape (paul lumia, seminar panelist) 6/4/2011 tree planting in susquehanna county (outdoor program) as a community-based nonprofit land conservation organization, nblt must ensure that it is sustainable as an organization and therefore able to steward its conserved lands in perpetuity. During this fiscal year, nblt launched its sustainability project and a leadership team to work with its hundreds of members, supporters, and allied organizations locally and nationally. The land trust undertook the project as a three-part phased effort to increase its endowment. This is the first time that nblt reached out to the community for capital support. To that end, three "conservation conversations" were held during this fiscal year - two in luzerne county (3/18/2011 and 6/10/2011) and one in susquehanna county (2/17/2011). The nblt website is a significant tool for education. Visitors are able to get a sense of the work that nblt does as well as where it happens and how. Nblt members who so choose receive e-blasts that contain short informational articles or links about upcoming events or newsworthy information. "the horizon," nblt's newsletter, is sent at least twice a year to nearly 2200 recipients.

Filer

EIN

23-7755642