What You Can Do

What You Can Do To Help the Susquehanna Water Gap

Things Everyone Can Do

Join the Susquehanna Water Gap Coalition ($10). 

(Seperate from the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy) 

Click here to print out flyer with membership form. 

Send a check payable to the Susq Water Gap Coalition  to:

Nina Ertel, 289 Riverview Terrace, Dauphin, PA  17018

Join the Susq Water Gap email discussion list:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/swgcpa/

You will also receive:

Ø     Periodic updates and action alerts on proposed developments

Ø     Announcements of local hikes, canoe trips, and other recreational activities that celebrate the river and ridges   

Make an extra donation to help us spread the word and protect the Water Gap. 

Make copies and hand out 2-sided flyer or tri-fold brochure about the Susquehanna Water Gap to friends, family, or at local events.

Things Water Gap Citizens Can Do:

If you live in a township that is currently being targeted by developers, contact the Coalition Committee working to protect your part of the Gap region:

Ø   Marysville Borough:  Cliff Dillmann; egretpa@comcast.net

Ø   Penn Township & Cove Mountain: Brian Foster; bdfoster@paonline.com

Ø   Middle Paxton Township & Second Mountain:  Dana Lomma; lomma@verizon.net

Ø   Peter’s Mountain Wind Energy Plant Threat:  Greg Burgdorf; gjburgdorf@comcast.net  ¾ also visit the website: www.stopmtn.org 

Contact your elected township or borough supervisors, and let them know you want them to enact stronger land protection ordinances to protect the forested slopes and valued views in your community. 

Also: 

Ø   Encourage the creation of an Environmental Advisory Council (see “Local government” section below for more information on EACs).

Ø   Encourage a “conservation” or “open space” ordinance for new developments.

Things Water Gap Landowners Can Do:

Consider a conservation easement (land protection agreement) for your property.  The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy can help you explore options that protect the land in the way you want.  There are also additional federal tax benefits if you do this before the end of 2007. 

Contact the Conservancy at:  info@centralpapaconservancy.orgCentral PA Conservancy; 4750 Lindle Rd.; Harrisburg, PA 17111   717-233-0221 

Things Local Government Officials Can Do:

If you are in an elected or appointed position with one of the Gap’s townships, you can support the updating of ordinances or conservation overlay districts to protect environmentally sensitive places and to promote developments that are designed for maximum conservation. 

For details on better subdivision design, check out “Growing Greener, Conservation by Design” and other conservation tools designed for PA municipalities:   http://www.natlands.org/categories/article.asp?fldArticleId=69