Spreading the Word About Bats

Little Brown Bat, a common species found in Bucks County, PA.

For the last five years, Heritage Conservancy's Associate Director of Development (and resident bat enthusiast!) Sandra Yerger has been educating the public on the benefits of bats to our environment. Bats are vital to the region's ecology in that some species can consume up to 1,200 insects per hour in a six-hour feeding period, helping farmers and residents keep harmful insect populations under control. According to Bat Conservation International, bats are the most endangered land mammals in North America, suffering from habitat loss, environmental pollution and vandalism in caves where they hibernate.

Working with PA Game Commission, Sandra has been instrumental in assisting and monitoring summer maternal bat colonies in Bucks County by providing much needed data to help determine the effect of White Nose Syndrome on bat populations.

Monitoring bat populations has grown increasingly important with the rampant spread of a fungus called Geomyces Destructans, or White Nose Syndrome, which has caused the death of millions of bats in the last several years. This data collection is significant across the country in order to determine the effects of White Nose Syndrome on the reproductive rates of bats.

Sandra will be presenting on the current status of Pennsylvania's bats at the Fifth Lehigh Valley Watershed Conference on October 9, 2012 at Lehigh University.

October 9, 2012

Let It Bee!

What happens to Pennsylvania's ecosystems when there are no more

bees in bonnets or bats in the belfry?

1:00 - 2:15 PM  

(Afternoon Course 3)

Lehigh University

STEPS Building

27 Memorial Drive West

Bethlehem, PA

Pennsylvania Watersheds: More Than a Decade of Study

Riparian buffers are one of the most effective protective measures for our water resources in Pennsylvania. These areas of trees and shrubs along the banks of rivers and streams filter polluted runoff, increase wildlife habitat, and cool the water in creeks. They provide a vital transition zone between water and human land use. As development occurs, natural woodlands along streams are often destroyed, leaving stream banks without adequate riparian protection. Identifying and restoring these areas can lead to improved water quality, stream bank stability and wildlife habitat.

Example of a riparian buffer along the Schuylkill River.

In 2000, we developed a program to identify and map forested riparian buffers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, completing the first analysis in 2002. The results of the project indicated that 30% of the region's riparian corridors lacked forested vegetation, which is critical to stream health and watershed function.

Recently, in partnership with Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC), we undertook a re-assessment of the project of six of the original watersheds studied to learn what changes occurred over time. The updated study, which took place from 2010 to 2012, reviewed correlations between riparian buffer status and land use patterns. Analysts evaluated nearly 1,600 linear miles of streams in the six watershed areas, including the Lower Schuylkill River, Perkiomen, Wissahickon, Pennypack, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford and Neshaminy Creeks located Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties. Earlier this month, a series of three workshops were held to present the initial findings of the re-assessment.

At the conclusion of the project, data will be publicly available via the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access Site (PASDA). Other maps and statistics will be available via links from both the MCPC and HC websites. This project was funded through a Federal Coastal Zone Management Grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Matching funds were provided in part by a Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Program Grant from the PA DCNR, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. In-kind support provided by the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

State Historic Tax Credit Established in Pennsylvania

On July 2, 2012, Pennsylvania became the 30th state in the country to offer a state historic tax credit when Governor Tom Corbett signed HB 761 (an amendment to the Tax Reform Code) and enacted Act 85, establishing the Historic Preservation Incentive Act. This tax credit will be a companion to the very successful federal tax credit program.

The establishment of this program will offer a 25% state tax credit for the rehabilitation of qualified income-producing buildings that are also using the federal tax credit. By leveraging the existing 20% federal tax credit with an additional 25% state credit, the program will help attract investment into Pennsylvania. Data has demonstrated that states with state credits tend to have an advantage over states that do not have tax credits in attracting investment in historic rehabilitation.

Historic Aldie Mansion in Doylestown, PA, our headquarters

"This law recognizes that historic preservation is an important component of economic development, and promotes rehabilitation of significant historic structures," said Jeffrey Marshall, President of Heritage Conservancy. "This is especially good news in regards to the historic preservation work we perform in and around Bucks County."

Credit for moving this effort forward goes to Senator Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, who introduced the legislation and continued championing for it throughout budget negotiations. Representative Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, advocated for this legislation in the House and helped to move it to the finish line. In the end, this program was established as part of the Commonwealth Budget in the Tax Reform Code.

Farm to Table: A Trend Worth Preserving

A Message from Linda J. Cacossa, Heritage Conservancy's  

Chief Operating Officer

Earlier this month, over 150 members and friends joined us at Lindsay Farm in Warwick Township when we hosted our 4th Annual Farm to Table event. Quickly becoming one of our signature fundraisers, this event provides the unique opportunity to connect people to the land in two ways: through inviting our supporters to visit one of our beautiful preserved properties, and by connecting people to our mission and the land on a deeper level through a delicious meal prepared with local ingredients found right here in Bucks County. View photos from this event HERE.

In addition to the funds raised during the silent and live auctions at this year's event on Lindsay Farm, we raised close to $5,000 during a special appeal that was used for the first phase of stabilizing the historic "English banked" barn pictured here. We continue to seek funds for the complete restoration of this historic structure. For more information on how you can help, contact Sharon Young at syoung@heritageconservancy.org. Credit: Herb Grana

For years, the local food movement has gained popularity as the general public continues to increase their awareness about where their food comes from and how it's produced. As land preservationists, this makes us very happy! The more we understand about organic farming initiatives, sustainable and community-supported agriculture, the more conscious we become as a whole to the importance of preserving the lands on which all these initiatives are made possible. We are all connected to the land, and Farm to Table is a very accessible way to illustrate this.

We are hosting a similar Farm to Table event in autumn this year as a way to further educate and engage the public with our land preservation work in Springfield Township. Landowners in the Cooks Creek Watershed area partnered with us for this event as a way to celebrate the permanent preservation of over 1,300 acres of land in Springfield Township, 400 acres of which were protected in 2011.

I invite you to join us at 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 22 in Springtown, PA for our inaugural Farm to Table Dinner Party in Upper Bucks County called The Art of Preservation, where the work Heritage Conservancy completed in Springfield Township will be showcased. The event features elegant cocktails and locally sourced foods, served on a historic farm. Proceeds from this event will further benefit land preservation efforts, including farmland, in the Cooks Creek Watershed area.

Thank you so much to those who continue to support our mission and initiatives. Your contributions make it possible for us to continue to preserve the beauty and bounty of Bucks County, and to connect people to the land.

I hope to see you in September!

Sincerely,

Linda Cacossa

Click HERE to view a video feature of our Farm to Table event at Lindsay Farm on Phillyburbs.com!