Proposed Clarks Creek Property Sale January 28, 2015 Potential sale of 383.8 acres CRW The Conservation Fund PA Game Commission The Conservation Fund is Fort Indiantown Gap selected partner Using Fort Indiantown Gap Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) funds $1,055,000 10% closing cost = $949,500 to CRW Land ultimately transferred to the PA Game Commission Parcel sale 1
Location Rush Township, Dauphin County 22 miles NE of Harrisburg Clarks Creek High quality, cold water fishery (HQ-CWF) Total Watershed Area 15,200 acres ~7,800 acres owned by Capital Region Water (51%) ~6,600 Acres owned by the Game Commission (43%) ~800 Acres are Privately owned (5%) DeHart Watershed Primary source of drinking water for the City of Harrisburg and portions of Penbrook Borough and Susquehanna and Lower Paxton Townships Built in 1940s Holds 6 billion gallons 5 mile long reservoir DeHart Reservoir 2
Comprehensive watershed management = high quality drinking water and a well-managed resource Proactive, open and transparent, fiscally responsible and sustainable, community focused Watershed Management Voluntary assessment and planning in PA CRW has draft plan developed in partnership with SRBC Updating for stakeholder input and DEP approval Source Water Protection 3
Conservation Options: Deed restriction Zoning Conservation Easement (conservation restriction) Public land management Management Options Revenue Options: Timber and pulpwood sales Carbon offsets Asset sale Management Options 4
Case Study: Lock Haven Authority & The Nature Conservancy s Working Woodlands Program Goals high quality drinking water, financial return, ecosystem health, public access 5200 acres of forest protecting Lock Haven s drinking water source Conserves large swath of forestland through a working conservation easement Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) management certification and sale revenue Caron offset revenue Case Study Long-term Water Protection Ongoing Resource/Asset Management Revenue Generation Management Options 5
Potential sale of 383.8 acres CRW The Conservation Fund PA Game Commission A yes to the sale: Revenue to offset capital improvement costs Parcel managed as State Game Land Potential for future asset sales A no to the sale: CRW exercises management authority CRW retains all land, timber, mineral rights Additional acreage for conservation planning and revenue potential Parcel sale 6
Customers Ratepayers Residents Local Authorities DCCD Rush Twp Public Agencies PGC FIG Interest Groups Environmental Outdoors Hunting Susquehanna Source Water Protection Partnership Stakeholders to consider 7
Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) What & Why Since 2002, The Department of Defense s REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) program has authorized U.S. military installations to enter into agreements with State or Local governments or private conservation organizations to address development concerns and encroachment on lands neighboring the installation. The United States Army s version of this program, the ACUB (Army Compatible Use Buffer) program, has been used to protect multiple National Guard training Installations from encroachment. Encroachment is defined as urban development surrounding military installations that affects the ability of the military to train realistically. Encroachment restricts the Army s ability to operate installations & training areas. It changes the pattern of land use and habitat growth and impedes the Army s ability to train Soldiers. Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Sustainability The ACUB program establishes buffer areas around Army installations to limit the effects of encroachment and maximize land inside the installation that can be used to support the installation's mission. Encroachment is also a concern for the communities and environment outside the fence line, whose health, safety, and quality of life could be affected by noise and other impacts associated with training activities. More than 40% of training installations report encroachment issues. Maintaining compatible development includes the use of conservation easements, fee sales, or other interests in land from willing sellers to preserve mission and environmentally important buffer areas near military installations. 8
PAARNG ACUB Strategy Maintain the natural environment. Preserve current land use, particularly agriculture, forestry, recreation, and the rural character of the area. Promote opportunities for public recreational use. Maintain strong community relations and regular contact. Willing landowners only and protect property rights. Soldier readiness is first and foremost. Maintain the training Installations existing military missions. Accommodate future missions without expanding Installation boundaries. Mission Environment Community 9
Winter Thermal Cover Hemlock Replacement Volunteer Opportunities Protective Cover for Birds and Mammals Utilize Residual Treetops from Timber Operation 10
Multi-flora Rose Autumn Olive Tartarian Honeysuckle Wildlife Habitat Based Goals Sustainable Forestry via BMP s Rehabilitating Forests 11
Bird Watching Hiking Conservation Education 12
Be Heard 13