Don and Esther Smith watched over the years as the landscape surrounding their 75-acre family farm changed from rural to suburban. They did not want to see their historic house and barn demolished, nor their land bulldozed for development. They preserved their land in December 2025 with a conservation easement held by the Centre County Farmland Trust — realizing a decision they made 14 years ago. Don and Esther Smith’s newly preserved farm in Spring Township will continue to

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – March 24, 2026  – Centre County agricultural, conservation, and community leaders are calling on Governor Josh Shapiro and state agencies to ensure a transparent, community-driven planning process for the future of the SCI Rockview lands—one of the most defining and visible landscapes in central Pennsylvania. Following the announced closure of SCI Rockview, local leaders acknowledge the difficulty of the Commonwealth’s decision and the significant workfor

Five years ago, ClearWater Conservancy identified the need to expand the pace and scope of our conservation mission to permanently protect and connect local landscapes and waterways here in Central Pennsylvania. Envisioned was a place where both people and nature can connect and grow. This place – the Hamer Community Conservation Center – will be located along Spring Creek, in the heart of the Spring Creek Watershed where so much of our work has been focused. The Center will

State College, Pa. – August 28, 2025 – ClearWater Conservancy permanently conserved 128 acres of forested land in the Spring Creek Watershed through a newly donated conservation easement known as Daryabar, on the Purdue Mountain Road gap of Bald Eagle Ridge in Benner Township. The property’s protection will safeguard critical wildlife habitat, preserve scenic views, and contribute to the ecological health of Bald Eagle Mountain for generations to come. Located within an area

Nestled between Nittany and Tussey Mountain lies a hidden gem of Central Pennsylvania, where nature, art, history, agriculture, and conservation coincide. Rhoneymeade Farm, a valuable historic and open space resource, was ClearWater Conservancy’s first conservation easement. This historic farm, first settled in the late 1700s by Michael Rhone and now home to Rhoneymeade Arboretum & Sculpture Garden, continues to be a space where creativity blooms. In 1986, retired professor D

By Peter Landschoot, Professor Emeritus, The Pennsylvania State University Canada thistle [ Cirsium arvense  (L.) Scop; family...

3/11/25 - ClearWater staff met for a monthly staff meeting outside in the sunshine and warmth after a long winter of being indoors! Land...

Centre County, PA – January 27, 2025  – ClearWater Conservancy is pleased to announce the conservation of a significant 100-acre parcel...

Creating Networks of Habitats to Support Wildlife from the Little Things on Up By Suzy Yetter Welcome to the 2nd edition of Going Native,...

Creating Networks of Habitats to Support Wildlife from the Little Things on Up By Suzy Yetter Back in 2015, my husband and I moved across...