Land Conservation
ClearWater Conservancy's Land Conservation Program seeks to balance the rapid growth of central Pennsylvania with the conservation of important ecological, cultural, and historic places. We work with landowners and managers to determine appropriate conservation methods, including land management recommendations, conservation easements, and land acquisition.
Curtin
Estate, State Game Lands #323
Travelers down I-80 see a lot of beautiful countryside as they drive through Central Pennsylvania, but not many know the story of behind the land they enjoy. The preservation process for the Curtin Estate was a long and arduous one, and today, thanks to the hard work of many people, the Curtin Estate and all its hidden treasures will be preserved for today’s sojourners and generations to come.
Located on the north side of Bald Eagle Mountain between Howard and Milesburg, the land was part of the historic Curtin Estate owned by Irish-born immigrant Roland Curtin, who founded Eagle Ironworks in 1818. Curtin became one of the leading iron industrialists in the region. It also was home to his son, Andrew Gregg Curtin, Pennsylvania's Governor from 1860-66.
The 2,410 acres of what is now known as State Game Lands 323 spans four townships: Boggs, Howard, Marion and Spring. The property is on the edge of a unique geographic formation as well. This is the area in the Bald Eagle Valley where the ridge and valley formation meets the Allegheny plateau.
During an investigation of Mount Eagle’s water supply, Jon Eich, then a Centre County planning official, found that the parcel where the community’s water supply was located was owned by one property owner. He spoke to community leaders, who wanted to see the parcel become a permanent open space.
After Jon Eich brought the property to the attention of ClearWater Conservancy, the county and Clearwater began negotiations with the landowner to reach a selling price.
"Tony Gerace took the lead," says Eich. Kristen Saacke Blunke, the executive director at the time, agrees with Tony Gerace’s commitment: "He was very passionate about the project. Actually, he was quite passionate about conservation all around."
Negotiations ebbed and waned over a period of years while funding was supplied by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through its Land Trust program. "Tony sure spent many long hours and lots of frustration trying to make the deal happen," said Caren Glotfelty.
The success of this conservation project was due to a true partnership. With the time limits for the secured DCNR grant being pushed to the limit, assistance from The Conservation Fund propelled negotiations to the final step with the aid of supplemental funding secured from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In October 2000, the Pennsylvania Game Commission accepted the 2,410 acre ‘Curtin Estate’ as a donation from The Conservation Fund. The mountain woodland tract is contiguous to or near Bald Eagle State Park, state forest land and state game land, providing valuable wildlife corridors to game and other migratory animals.
State
Game Lands 323 is run and maintained by the DCNR and the PA Game Commission.
This unassuming tract of land offers the environment, wildlife and community
surrounding it many benefits. Local residents and travelers passing by on
I-80 receive a significant open space and scenic beauty. The area has several
unnamed springs and protects the Lambs Gap Run watershed, which serves as a
public drinking water supply for the small community of Mount Eagle. Also, the
Pennsylvania Audubon Society has identified the acquired tract as an Important
Bird Area, one of 74 critical bird habitats statewide. According to the Audubon
Society, Bald Eagle Ridge, between Altoona and Williamsport, is Pennsylvania's
prime golden eagle migration flyway.
The Eagle Ironworks at Curtin Village, with a restored ironmaster's mansion, furnace, blast house and flume, is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's system of 26 historic sites and museums and 49 historic properties.