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Conservation Headlines
6/11/2025
Ridge Administration Presents Grant to Help Regional Authority Manage Newly Acquired Lands for Recreation, Open Space
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
SOMERSET, Pa., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge,
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C.
Oliver today presented a grant to help the Cambria Somerset Authority
develop a plan to manage 5,200 newly acquired acres in Cambria and Somerset counties
- including three reservoirs and two river intake dams -- for recreation and
conservation purposes.
The $38,000 grant, through DCNR's Community Conservation Partnership
Program, will fund a comprehensive plan for the recreation, conservation,
open space and water supply uses of the lands and water encompassing the Wilmore
Dam and Reservoir, Hinkston Run Dam Reservoir, and South Fork Dam and
impoundment in Cambria County; and Border Dam and impoundment, and
Quemahoning Dam and Reservoir in Somerset County. The reservoirs and dams and their corresponding lands -- totaling 5,200 acres -- were acquired last year from
Manufacturers Water Company, a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel.
"With the purchase of these lands and the management of these
significant water resources, we have protected invaluable conservation, recreation and
economic resources for the region," said Secretary Oliver. "I congratulate
your efforts to form an unprecedented inter-county partnership to help
accomplish your goals."
Oliver noted that DCNR provided a $1.5 million grant to the Southern
Alleghenies Conservancy to acquire the land. The grant was the largest ever
awarded by DCNR to a land trust conservancy and helped acquire the largest
single land and water purchase made through DCNR's grant programs. The
conservancy facilitated the land purchase for the Cambria Somerset
Authority, formed in 1999 to control and operate the water interests and manage the
lands for recreation and conservation.
"The CSA has been moving aggressively to develop public recreation at
its facilities since it took ownership in August 2000," said Jim Greco, chairman
of the Cambria Somerset Authority. "This grant will help us develop a
master plan that guides us in the proper conservation stewardship of the 5,200
acres. The CSA remains committed to developing public recreation while protecting
water quality in all of our reservoirs."
The land management and master plan will help outline the recreation and
conservation goals of the authority. The Cambria Somerset Authority held
two series of public meetings -- one coordinated by the Southern Alleghenies
Conservancy, the other by Paul C. Rizzo Associates -- to gauge public
support for recreation at the reservoirs. These meetings found strong support for
activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, and nature
watching. Under the previous ownership, recreation was restricted on most
of the land.
The authority has committed to developing public access at all five
reservoirs. Three of the reservoirs were opened for public fishing and
boating in early May in a partnership arrangement with the Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission.
Part of the plan also will address conservation of the water and lands
including protection of critical riparian buffers; water quality
improvements to local waterways; sustainable forest management practices; and protection of aquatic species. The authority would partner with local conservation
organizations and state conservation agencies to accomplish these goals.
"DCNR has been a cornerstone in the foundation of partnerships that have
been responsible for the public acquisition of these properties, and we are
pleased to have Secretary Oliver here to continue DCNR's role," said Len
Lichvar, executive director of the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy.
The grant presented today was part of a $30 million statewide
announcement made by Gov. Ridge April 19 in Latrobe, Westmoreland County. The grants are helping communities and organizations in 63 counties protect open space;
support community parks and recreation; enhance greenways; convert rails-to-
trails; and protect river resources. The grants are made possible, in part,
through Gov. Ridge's $650 million "Growing Greener" program -- the state's
largest-ever environmental investment.
For more information, call (717) 787-7672 or visit DCNR's website
through the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us or directly at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.
CONTACT: Gretchen A. Leslie, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 717-772-9101.
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