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Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership
In 2023, as a way to help support the efforts of MARC, the MSRKA, in cooperation with numerous local partners, including the 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation, announces the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership.
Partners in this initiative include:
Stories related to the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership:
In 2023, as a way to help support the efforts of MARC, the MSRKA, in cooperation with numerous local partners, including the 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation, announces the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership.
Partners in this initiative include:
- Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association
- Montour Area Recreation Commission
- Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
- Susquehanna University Freshwater Research Institute
- Bucknell University
- Columbia County Conservation District
- PA Master Naturalists
- Lee A. Viard & Associates
- Columbia-Montour Visitor Bureau
- 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation
- Get Lost Photography/Videography
- Fessler IT Consulting
- Wild Trout Man
- Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Susquehanna River Basin Commission
- PA Game Commission
- PA Fish and Boat Commission
- Lycoming College Clean Water Institute
- Bloomsburg University
- Susquehanna Council Boy Scouts of America
- Mama T's Homestead (environmentally based art and craft projects)
- Central PA Rock and Mineral Club
- Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce (letter of support)
- Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce (letter of support)
Stories related to the Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership:
- Sunbury Daily Item (Oct. 26, 2023): Efforts to support Montour Preserve deserve praise
- Milton Standard-Journal (Oct. 25, 2023): Preserving the Preserve
- From the Riverkeeper (Oct. 24, 2023) : Partnership can foster new opportunities at Montour Preserve for those willing to get creative
- Sunbury Daily Item (Oct. 24, 2023): Riverkeeper group details partnership to aid Montour Preserve
- Sunbury Daily Item (Oct. 24, 2023): Partnership to secure Montour Preserve secures funding
- Press release (Oct. 24, 2023): Education partnership, county tax re-adjustment will allow MARC to keep managing Montour Preserve
The following video was created to help promote the Montour Preserve during the effort to develop the partnership and find a funding source for it. The video was created by Michael Kinney with voice-over by long time preserve naturalist Jon Beam:
Deferred/wish-list projects
As the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) carefully tried to manage its meager incoming cash flow and budget lines, numerous projects at the Montour Preserve had to be deferred to be tackled when more funding became available in the future. Other items were on the "wish list" of things that would be ideal to upgrade or improve when more funding became available. This list will be reviewed and re-prioritized now that new funding is coming in. However, if certain projects stick out and "speak" to you as something you or your group/business would like to help address, please reach out as soon as possible to us by clicking here.
As the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) carefully tried to manage its meager incoming cash flow and budget lines, numerous projects at the Montour Preserve had to be deferred to be tackled when more funding became available in the future. Other items were on the "wish list" of things that would be ideal to upgrade or improve when more funding became available. This list will be reviewed and re-prioritized now that new funding is coming in. However, if certain projects stick out and "speak" to you as something you or your group/business would like to help address, please reach out as soon as possible to us by clicking here.
- The Chilisuagi Trail bridge across the Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek, near trail mile 1.6, continues to be damaged by various flood events, but MARC lacks the estimated $40,000+ that will be needed to engineer, permit, and construct a new bridge.
- Additional trail bridge repairs/upgrades. $60,000 (estimated cost)
- The Muskrat Educational Blind in the restricted area of the preserve has been severely damaged by flooding and will cost upwards of $40,000 to $50,000 to fix.
- Parking lot and road resurfacing. $95,000 (estimated cost)
- Boat dock replacement/handicap accessibility improvement. $40,000 (estimated cost)
- Picnic area plumbing repair. $8,000 (estimated cost)
- Electrical surge protector installation. $8,500 (estimated cost)
- Visitor Center exhibit repair and replacement. $15,000 (estimated cost)
- Visitor Center outdoor light fixture repair and replacement. $750 (estimated cost)
- Heron Cove boat launch light fixture repair and replacement. $3,000 (estimated cost)
- Goose Cove #2 Pavilion concrete pad replacement. $2,500 (estimated cost)
- Trail markers and signage. $10,000 (estimated cost)
- ADA upgrades with push-button wheelchair door access at two main doors and bathroom doors. Estimated cost: $20,000 (estimated cost)
- Tech upgrades in auditorium (projector on last legs), including sound system, improved wifi, etc. Estimated cost: $10,000 to $15,000 (estimated cost)
- Handicap accessible surfacing the Goose Woods Trail around the observation pond trail. Estimated $25,000-40,000.
- Fresh paint and carpet in auditorium.
The 165-acre Lake Chillisquaque was built in Montour County in 1972 by PP&L as a backup cooling source for its power plant located 1.5 miles south of the lake. Around it, the Montour Preserve was developed: A 640-acre nature preserve with picnic pavilions, boat launch, 10 miles of trails, interactive fossil pit where people can find and take home fossils, a nature center with walk-through displays and an educational center with a large classroom, a kitchen and offices.
Over the years, the site has been a popular spot for school field trips, Scout trips, family picnics and bigger events such as Envirothon competitions. For 50 years, the venue has hosted springtime maple sugaring demonstrations and there have been regular programs for hiking, bird watching, star gazing and other outdoor exploits.
In 2015, the property was sold to Talen Energy, which ever since has allowed the preserve to stay open to the public under the management and maintenance of the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC).
In 2021, as part of a settlement agreement with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (MSRKA), Talen Energy agreed to eventually donate the Montour Preserve to an entity identified by the MSRKA once Talen no longer needs the lake as a backup coolant for its Montour power plant (the timeline for this is unknown as the plant is being transitioned from burning coal to natural gas).
Over the years, the site has been a popular spot for school field trips, Scout trips, family picnics and bigger events such as Envirothon competitions. For 50 years, the venue has hosted springtime maple sugaring demonstrations and there have been regular programs for hiking, bird watching, star gazing and other outdoor exploits.
In 2015, the property was sold to Talen Energy, which ever since has allowed the preserve to stay open to the public under the management and maintenance of the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC).
In 2021, as part of a settlement agreement with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (MSRKA), Talen Energy agreed to eventually donate the Montour Preserve to an entity identified by the MSRKA once Talen no longer needs the lake as a backup coolant for its Montour power plant (the timeline for this is unknown as the plant is being transitioned from burning coal to natural gas).