North Branch Land Trust

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2011 to Jun 30, 2012

Signed

Feb 5, 2013

Return Version

2011v1.5

Gross Receipts

$2,041,900

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

North branch land trust owns and manages several properties in our service area and acquired three additional properties in fiscal year 2011-2012. In january 2012, north branch land trust acquired the 59-acre valmont bog sanctuary located in west hazleton borough and hazle township. Over the past two years nblt worked closely with the owner, can do, inc., along with the pennsylvania department of conservation and natural resources (dcnr), ppl corporation and other stakeholders to make the project a reality. Dcnr is the primary source of state support for pennsylvania recreation, parks and conservation initiatives. Nblt worked collaboratively with dcnr on many earlier conservation projects and thanks them for their ongoing and critical financial support. North branch land trust also thanks can do president, kevin o'donnell, and his staff for their time and effort in making this project a reality. Located in the heart of the valmont industrial park, this unique property boasts a variety of exceptional flora and fauna, interesting topographical features, and even remnants of our industrial past in the form of old railroad beds. Two cold water streams, cranberry creek and black creek, converge on the property. Representatives of the international native orchid conference, inc. Have visited the valmont bog property many times and have affirmed that it is without equal in this part of the country; only the new jersey pinelands reserve can compare in terms of its significance with regard to orchid flora according to the conference. Funding for the project came from a community conservation partnerships program grant award to nblt from the pennsylvania department of conservation and natural resources. Funding for these grants comes from keystone recreation, park and conservation fund (key93), the environmental stewardship fund, the growing greener bond fund and federal funding sources. Another important piece of northeastern pennsylvania's natural heritage has been conserved the staff at nblt will be working with all stakeholders to establish a master plan for the sanctuary that will protect this unique resource. In december 2011 north branch land trust completed the acquisition of 118 acres in hazle township, luzerne county. The property is known as the butler preserve and hosts globally rare scrub oak barrens and its obligate flora and fauna, in addition to wetlands and a riparian forest along the dreck creek reservoir. The established greater hazleton rails-to-trails system intersects the property for nearly 1/2 mile and is embraced and used by over 30,000 outdoor enthusiasts on a yearly basis. North branch land trust (nblt) worked collaboratively over the past two years with the former property owner butler enterprises, inc., the pennsylvania department of conservation and natural resources (dcnr), and the greater hazleton area civic partnership to make the project a reality. This acquisition project by nblt advances pennsylvania's department of conservation and natural resources (dcnr's) action plan goals and keystone principles by: fulfilling a goal of the open space, greenways & outdoor recreation master plan for lackawanna and luzerne counties; providing greater hazleton rails-to-trails the opportunity to develop additional spur and loop trails on the property; helping hazle township manage growth and reduce the loss of open space; educating the public about the protection and management of important ecological lands and wildlife habitat; acquiring land that protects watersheds, conserves biologically important areas, and creates connections with other recreational outdoor opportunities; and increasing citizens' and visitors' ability to experience the outdoors by allowing for public access. Nblt will be working to establish a master stewardship plan for the preserve that will ensure the protection of the rare natural communities while allowing for passive public recreation activities. Nblt thanks butler enterprises and all pro

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 11th annual susquehanna river trip on july 30, 2011 from laceyville to the howland preserve on the vosburg neck. What follows is a list of the events and offerings held either solely by the land trust or in partnership with other groups: 7/30/2011 - nblt annual canoe and kayak trip down the north branch of the susquehanna river (outdoor programing) 8/21/2011 - nblt annual picnic and outreach event at the trusts howland preserve on the vosburg neck, washington township pa (outdoor programing) 10/8/2011 - nblt howland preserve cleanup on the vosburg neck, washington township pa 10/13/2011 to 10/16/2011 nblt staff members attend national land trust alliance rally in milwaukee wisconsin (training) 12/7/2011 - nblt holiday gathering and outreach event with year in review presentation by staff (outreach) 3/8/2012 - pennsylvania department of conservation and natural resources grant workshop (staff training) 4/14/2012 - ashley planes historic cog railroad walk and tour with volunteer dave estep (outdoor programing) 4/20/2012 - hanover crossings marsh property cleanup day with hanover area school district, corporate and municipal support (outdoor programing) 5/4/2012 - nblt staff participation in the pennsylvania land trust alliance conference and seminars (outreach and training) 6/24/2012 - nblt members and guests valmont bog sanctuary native orchid walk with orchid expert bob sprague (outdoor programing) 6/29/2012 and 6/30/2012 - operation north branch - susquehanna river cleanup with various non-profits and corporate support (outdoor programing) 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 staff, board and volunteers carried forward its sustainability project. The land trust undertook the project in an effort to educate its hundreds of members, supporters, and allied organizations locally and nationally on the importance of building a sustainable organization. The ultimate goal of the project is to grow the trust's endowment to a sustainable level. This is the first time that nblt reached out to the community for capital support. The project will be ongoing. 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 over 2,300 recipients.

Filer

EIN

23-7755642