1. Collaborative Conservation of Critical Delaware River Watershed Land
Pocono Kittatinny Cluster of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative
10/27/17

2. PKC Partners

3. PKC Characterization
How do you focus your efforts to maximize the benefits of limited resources?
AREA - 1,107 square miles, 710,00 acres, approximately 8% of the Delaware River watershed
POLITICAL UNITS – Parts of 3 states (NY, NJ, PA), 7 counties, 30+ municipalities
DRINKING WATER SOURCE - for 322,000 people locally and millions downstream
LAND COVER - 79% Forested
4% Farmland
9% Urbanized
8% Other Uses
PROTECTED LAND - 29% Protected

4. PKC Threats and Stressors

5. PKC Strategies

6. PKC Focus Areas – Science: SRAT
Screen shot of SRAT

7. PKC Focus Areas – Science: Analysis

8. PKC Focus Areas – Science: Modeling Growth

9. PKC Focus Areas – Phase II

10. Feasibility, Landscape Scale Connectivity, Wildlife Corridor between Large Publicly Protected Tracts, The Northeast Connection - Little Bushkill Forest Reserve, Camp Hidden Falls: Delaware Highlands Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, PA DCNR, NPS

11. The Northeast Connection - Little Bushkill Hunting and Fishing Clubs

12. The Northeast Connection - Facts
Name
Total to be Conserved
Mink Pond Club
2,292
Maskenozha Rod & Gun Club
1,197
Lehman Lake Rod & Gun Club
710
Camp Hidden Falls
1,035
Connector Properties
TBD
Subtotal
5,234
Delaware Water Gap NRA
67,000
Delaware State Forest
83,519
TOTAL
155,753

13. Forest Legacy Program –The Northeast Connection

14. Forest Legacy Program –The Northeast Connection

15. Follow up – Focus Area Characterization and Ongoing Monitoring

16. PKC Lessons Learned Collaboration works Coordination is essential
Land protection strategies can be developed over time
Land Trusts can move from opportunistic to strategic acquisitions
Complementary strategies can multiply the impact of protection
New for Phase II
Does adoption of forest management practices move landowners towards conserving their lands?
What forest management practices most protect and improve water quality
How can riparian land restoration practices move the needle in a high quality watershed?

17. Contact Info
Steven Schwartz
Consultant, Pinchot Institute for Conservation