https://youtu.be/2VIlDh2aMxM
Located in a small office building that was hidden behind a hill near the highway is ClearWater Conservancy. ClearWater’s mission is simple: conserve and restore the natural resources of central Pennsylvania through land conservation, water resources stewardship, and environmental outreach in the community.
How does the conservation acquire land and who handles it? Meet Kevin Abbey. Abbey is the Land conservation manager of Clearwater and has been for the last five years. A passionate environmentalist, Abbey has always been drawn to nature. He studied zoology with the idea of pre-med to go along with it, but he felt he could do more.
Abbey became involved with ClearWater when he joined the committee that reviewed land conservation and stewardship, volunteering for a decade.
“When [the person who originally held my position] left, I applied and got the job to replace him.” Abbey said as he stood in the garage. “I have done environmental work in my other professions so I came in knowing what I could do.”
The land conservation manager takes a careful analysis of the property and works with local landowners in order to conserve ecologically important habitats in central Pennsylvania.
A special place to Abbey is behind Tussey View Farms, a conservation easement he visits often.
A Conservation easement is a legal agreement reached between a land owner and a qualified land trust organization or conservation agency that permanently limits a property’s uses in order to protect the natural, cultural, and/or historic resources of that property.
Behind Tussey View Farms is the very beginning of spring creek. Spring Creek is a river that carved a canyon into the mountains resulting in Spring Creek Canyon. Abbey expressed his joy of hiking the canyon.
“I love hiking,” Abbey said. “Spring Creek Canyon is a beautiful place to go as you can see how to river carved through the mountain.”
He has the opportunity to hike when doing Adventures in Conservation, a program offered throughout the summer and fall by ClearWater.
“We lead hikes, do rock climbing, have walks and teach about geology or native plants.” Abbey said.
A fairly new program offered through ClearWater is Centre Outdoors.
“Through a centre foundation grant, [we] enlisted a whole slew of partners to get people outdoors and use nature as a healthy prescription to get people physically active.” Abbey said.
Making it to the top of the mountain where the creek begins, Abbey expressed how much he wants others to see this as well.
“I hope that when you go back to State College, you tell others and come here to see this.” Abbey said.
Leave a Reply