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.
Tussey
View Farm
In the spring of 2007 when Fred Strouse contacted Katie Ombalski, ClearWater Conservancy’s conservation biologist, to discuss conservation options for his 260-acre property, he knew it was rich with important natural resources. Two and one-half years later, Fred is realizing a conservation dream for his property.
With the help of a Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation and a generous donation of land value by Fred, a 71-acre parcel is being purchased by ClearWater Conservancy, and a conservation easement is being purchased on a 189-acre parcel. The 71-acre parcel will then be gifted by ClearWater to the Bureau of Forestry and added to Rothrock State Forest.
The grant requires that significant public access be granted, and Fred has agreed to allow the public to enjoy nature observation on 178 acres of his property for most of the year.
When Fred purchased his farm in 1960, it originally consisted of 350 acres, most of which are on the slopes and top of Tussey Mountain. Over the years Fred sold some of his land but retained the 260-acre Tussey View Farm on the south side of SR 322.
Prior to owning the farm, ever since Fred can remember, the property had been in crop production and had been used for pasturing, timbering and hunting. Fred was determined to make an enterprising dairy farm and by 1966, “we were milking 140, 150 cows and were farming almost 500 acres in all.” Fred has kept up most of these activities on Tussey View Farm until recently, when he enrolled 60 acres of cropland and pastureland in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), turning these fields into grasslands consisting of cool-season grasses and legumes. The large grassland area can become prime habitat for many grassland birds.
Fred
continues to manage his 200-acre forest primarily for wildlife, and allows
friends by invitation to hunt the abundant wildlife at various times of the
year. “I’ve enjoyed good hunting for all species of wildlife on my land.”
It is not surprising that Fred finds abundant wildlife on his property. Much of the property is within the Greater Tussey Mountain Important Bird Area #81 and the Central Mountains Important Mammal Area #20. Protection of the property will buffer the large contiguous private forest land of Tussey Mountain and public land of Rothrock State Forest and help to maintain core forest habitat, important to a diversity of mammals, as well as a diversity of forest interior birds, some of which are species of special concern.
Fred not only enjoyed farming and the excellent hunting on the property, he also made Tussey View Farm his home, when in 1968 he constructed his present-day dwelling. “I enjoy great views across the valley, from Tussey Mountain to Mount Nittany, with the valley spreading out between.”
The property is a natural resource treasure trove, and Fred knew this when he approached ClearWater Conservancy. “When I realized that one of the headwaters of Spring Creek was on my property, I contacted Katie at ClearWater Conservancy. I had heard about her work at Musser Gap, and I wanted to know if ClearWater was interested in protecting my land.”
“I wasn’t interested in developing any of my property, and after observing the activities of ClearWater Conservancy, I thought their program might be a very fitting way to still own much of my land while preserving, enjoying and sharing a beautiful property.”
Not long after an initial meeting with Fred, Katie and Bill Hilshey, ClearWater’s Conservation Easement Manager, put together a conservation package that would conserve the natural and scenic resources of the entire 260-acre property and allow Fred to continue to own 189 acres. What made this conservation plan work was Fred’s generous donation of considerable land value.
Fred’s generosity should come as no surprise to those who know him. Fred has served on the Board of Directors and several committees for the Second Mile, a child development organization founded by Jerry Sandusky. He also gives generously of his time to 4-H, having helped establish the Pennsylvania 4-H Endowment Council. The 4-H played a major role in Fred’s formative years. “If it wouldn’t have been for 4-H, I wouldn’t have amounted to anything.”
Fred took the knowledge imparted to him by 4-H and went on to have a successful career in the dairy industry. In addition to his other philanthropic pursuits, Fred is active with the Food Bank and in Junior Holstein activities and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Holstein Hall of Fame this year.
Perhaps most importantly for the citizens of Centre County
and the counties beyond, the conservation easement on the 189-acre parcel will
protect several seeps and springs comprising the headwaters of Spring Creek. In
fact, the headwater springs of the main stem of Spring Creek are on his
property. Protecting these headwaters will help ensure the quantity and quality
of the water of Spring Creek, and completes an important phase of the Upper
Spring Creek Watershed Coldwater Conservation Plan developed by ClearWater
Conservancy in 2007.
The 71-acre portion of Fred’s property on top of Tussey Mountain is a major component of the Centre County Natural Heritage Inventory-designated “Galbraith Gap Run Headwaters Seep Biological Diversity Area”. This Biological Diversity Area contains wetlands of “notable significance” and is considered to be a site that is important for the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the region. The multiple springs, seeps, and vernal pools on this portion of the property and its proximity to Rothrock State Forest, were particularly noted by the Bureau of Forestry, who showed no hesitation when approached about accepting this 71-acre parcel.
Fred’s generous donation of land value and his donation to ClearWater Conservancy’s Stewardship and Legal Defense Fund ensures that his property and its many natural and scenic resources will, long beyond our lifetimes, be protected by ClearWater Conservancy and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ClearWater Conservancy acknowledges the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation for the grant they provided to assist with the purchase, and acknowledges the Bureau of Forestry for working towards the acquisition. The land acquisition and conservation easement were made possible by the many hours of service donated by Amos Goodall of Goodall and Yurchak, P.C., Attorneys at Law.
Photos by Matt Dallos and Jennifer Shuey