THANK YOU!

to EVERYONE WHO GAVE

to the Westmoreland Land Trust

during the Day of Giving on December 1.

We received $2,528.67 in donations!

THANK YOU!

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION...

http://pittsburghgives.guidestar.org/NonprofitProfile.aspx?OrgId=1064450

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We Welcome Your Suggestions

There may be land in your community that the Westmoreland Land Trust would be interested in preserving.

The Westmoreland Land Trust is an independent, 501(c)(3) organization, formed in late 2007. It has preserved more than 100 acres of open space in four Westmoreland County communities in the past two years.

And there may be parcels in your community that would be a good match for the trust’s efforts.

The land trust looks for such things as:

• land that offers a scenic vista,
• tracts that help to create a larger greenway corridor through the county,
• areas that are ecologically sensitive,
• places that are historically significant, and
• land that has other benefits for our community.

 

The land trust’s volunteer board evaluates the benefits of each parcel according to established criteria, and it can acquire properties through easements, donations, and outright purchases.

If you know of any properties that you would like the Westmoreland Land Trust to consider, please contact us at westmorelandlandtrust@gmail.com.

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Properties Conserved

Otto and Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve

59 acres near Ardara, North Huntingdon Township. Mostly wooded, with existing primitive trails, a creek, and a long history of use by nature lovers, thanks to the previous owners who allowed the public to enjoy it for a number of years.

 

Peter and Victoria Skena Nature Reserve

22 acres on North Hills Road in Murrysville. This former Skena family farmstead is now primarily young woodlands and features a small pond, which is the headwaters of a stream that runs through the adjacent 56-acre Lillian Kellman Nature Reserve, a public open space property owned by the Municipality of Murrysville.

 

The Budd Parcel at Cedar Creek Park

21 acres in Rostraver Township. Steep woodlands along the Youghiogheny River and the Great Valley Passage, connecting to Cedar Creek Park.

 

The Cabin HIll Property

3.5 acres in the City of Greensburg. A mature wooded parcel situated next to the new Rite Aid pharmacy on North Main Street and other, similarly wooded parcels.

 

PERMITTED USES

Westmoreland Land Trust views public access as one of the many public benefits of its land and water protection work and as such will permit the broadest access to the property possible without jeopardizing the conservation values for which a property is protected.

Westmoreland Land Trust embraces the principles of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (www.lnt.org). The following are some general practices, modeled on the LNT principles, that apply to all Westmoreland Land Trust properties.

• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your areas of visitation for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter even if it’s not yours.
• Preserve the past. Examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures or furniture, and do not dig trenches.
• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, and winter.
• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud noises.

The types of permitted uses will be addressed in each property’s management plan and will be based on the requirements needed to meet the plan’s management objectives and not jeopardize the conservation values and public benefit of the site. Generally, passive recreation, which includes hiking, observing nature, and other similar natural pursuits, is encouraged on WLT properties.

For more information on Westmoreland Land Trust's Stewardship Policies, please click here StewardshipPolicyADOPTED6-18-10.

Note: The public is advised that entry upon any property shall be at their own risk and that use is governed by the Land Management Plan for Westmoreland Land Trust properties.

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IN THE NEWS

Click here for a great article in the Tribune Review on December 26 that featured Westmoreland Land Trust.

SCENES FROM Westmoreland Land Trust’s
First-ever

GROUND-SAVING EVENT

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Where the new Land Trust announced the first properties preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of

all: The 59-acre Otto & Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve in North Huntingdon...the 22-acre Peter & Victoria Nature Preserve in Murrysville...The 21-acre Budd Parcel at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver Township...and the 3.5-acre Cabin Hill Parcel in the City of Greensburg.

ABOUT WESTMORELAND LAND TRUST

On Thursday, December 6, 2007, the Westmoreland County Commissioners – Tom Balya, Tom Ceraso, and Phil Light – passed a resolution creating the Westmoreland Land Trust.

What is a land trust?

A land trust is a local organization that conserves land of special value to the community, such as land that contributes to the region’s quality of life because of its scenic, recreational, environmental, historical, or cultural qualities.

Why do we need a land trust in Westmoreland County?

Land use plays a crucial role in determining the future of a region.

Citizens throughout the county have stated that their number one priority is to retain the predominant rural character of Westmoreland County.*

The primary land use objective in Westmoreland County, as identified in the comprehensive plan, is to provide a balance between development and preservation. The land trust is an important addition to the organizations that are already actively working to help achieve that balance because, on the conservation side, the trust has the potential to preserve a wide variety of types of land – such as land that offers scenic vistas, tracts that help to create larger greenway corridors through the county, and sensitive areas that are under pressure for development.

*Citizen input was obtained from a series of public meetings held in 2004 to gather direction for the county’s blueprint for the future, its comprehensive plan.

How does the trust function?

The newly formed Westmoreland Land Trust is an independent organization, directed by a board of local citizens. The trust is not responsible for any local zoning decisions.

The Westmoreland Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, making donations tax-deductible. The trust can accept a variety of gifts, including cash donations, gifts of land, and bequests, and givers can get the personal benefit of claiming those gifts as deductible items on their taxes, in addition to the larger benefit of knowing that they are doing something important and long-lasting for our community.

Who is on the land trust board?

The following people are on the board of the land trust.  They serve one- to three-year terms.

Betsy Aiken, Export, Westmoreland Conservancy Governor and Community Volunteer

Mark Bowers, Rostraver Township, Westmoreland Conservancy Member and Botanist

Bruce J. Corna, Jr., Washington Township, Bruce Construction LLC

Chuck Duritsa, Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Regional Director (Retired) and Environmental Consultant

Alex Graziani, Greensburg, Executive Director, Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County

R. Ted Harhai, Monessen, State Representative

Susan L. Huba, Greensburg, Executive Director, Loyalhanna Watershed Association

Karen Jurkovic, Greensburg, Communications Consultant specializing in conservation

Commissioner Ted Kopas, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County Commissioner

Mike Kuzemchak, Rector, Laurel Highlands Program Director, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Larry Larese, Export, Director, Westmoreland County Department of Planning

H. Lewis Lobdell, Ligonier Township, Executive VP Managing Director PNC CRC, PNC Bank

John Lohr, Norvelt, County Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency

John Pallone, New Kensington, Attorney

Tony Quadro, Stahlstown, Assistant District Manager/Technical Programs Director,
Westmoreland Conservation District

Vincent Quatrini, Jr., Unity Township, Chair, Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

Malcolm Sias, Unity Township, Planning Coordinator, Westmoreland County Bureau of
Parks and Recreation

Lisa Smith, Stahlstown, Ecologist and Land Stewardship Consultant

Loree Speedy, Rostraver Township, Cartographer and Field Botanist for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Virginia Stump, Westmoreland City, Team Leader/Area Specialist, USDA Rural Development
and member of the North Huntingdon Planning Commission

John Ward, Unity Township, Attorney at Law, Ward & Christner, P.C.

When and where are the meetings?

Meetings of the land trust are usually held at the Westmoreland Conservation District headquarters, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg.

The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 18, at 9:00 a.m.

Meetings are held for the general business of the land trust, and are open to the public.

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission

To conserve and steward lands and waters of Westmoreland County

that harbor ecological, scenic or recreational qualities to offer

a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Vision

All Westmoreland County residents and visitors enjoy the scenic

and natural value, accessibility and quality of open space conserved.

Throughout Westmoreland County recreational land abounds,

water resources are protected, wildlife flourish, and the quality of life is high because of the continuing work of the Westmoreland Land Trust

complementing the work of like-minded entities.

Values

The Westmoreland Land Trust values the following.

• Conservation of diverse real property that is in, or in close proximity to, Westmoreland County; and

culturally, historically, ecologically, recreationally, or scenically valuable.

• Restoration, protection, and maintenance of conserved property as appropriate for its best long-term stewardship

• Partnership with public or private entities where beneficial to encourage collective effort

• Research and planning in support of conservation efforts

• Promotion and education of conservation opportunities and benefits

• Conformance with the Land Trust Standards and Practices published by the Land Trust Alliance in 2004, or as amended

Adopted May 19, 2008