458 Acres Of 'Essential Habitat' Conserved In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Nearly 500 acres of ecologically vital land has been preserved in Montgomery County, the Natural Lands Trust has announced.

The 458-acre tract in New Hanover and Upper Frederick townships covers the grounds of Camp Laughing Waters, which has been managed by the Girl Scouts since the 1950s. The Girl Scouts will continue to own the land, with a conservation easement in place to ensure it is never developed.

The land represented the largest swath of unprotected land remaining in all of Montgomery County.

“The property’s permanent preservation has been a priority for decades," Kate Raman, a conservation project manager with Natural Lands, said in a statement. "We are beyond thrilled to be able to celebrate this conservation success. It’s a win for future generations of Girl Scouts, for wildlife, and for everyone living in this region who will continue to benefit from the fresh air, clean water, climate mitigation, and other ecological services this land provides.”

The property contains 30 acres of ponds and wetlands, sits within the larger, 9,383-acre Swamp Creek Conservation Landscape. Swamp Creek is the Perkiomen Creek's largest tributary, which in turn is a major feeder of the Schuylkill, so its health has trickle down effects.

The area provides essential habitat for numerous species of songbirds, which require dense forests to thrive.

The agreement also means that an even larger area of continguous open space will be preserved, as the area abuts Bob Wayland Memorial Park and Constable Charles Spellhoffer Memorial Park.

Montgomery County, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, and the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund worked with local officials and Natural Lands on the agreement.