Ongoing
Work
Watershed Conservation and
Land Reclamation Projects
There's always work to be done! Here are some highlights of Independence Conservancy’s ongoing efforts in keeping our green spaces green.
In partnership with Potter Township, Independence Conservancy is restoring and re-wilding an 89-acre WWII-era defense site they have named Rocky Bend Nature Preserve. On their adjoining lands, the Conservancy and the Township offer free public access to 1.5 miles of forested Raccoon Creek frontage for low-impact recreation, hunting, fishing, paddling, birdwatching and nature study.
It's our ongoing responsibility to protect 99 acres of land in three counties, including Rocky Bottom Natural Area and Creekside Trail on Raccoon Creek Road in Potter Township - the only free public access to lower Raccoon Creek.
We launched the Raccoon Creek Recovery project, a comprehensive biological survey of the overall health of Raccoon Creek and its tributaries - a catalyst for future efforts promoting healthy habitat, cleaner water, and greater awareness of our local outdoor treasures.
We help keep Raccoon Creek flowing clean with abandoned mine discharge treatment systems that collectively treat over 2.5 billion gallons of polluted water each year.
Independence Conservancy offers the unique spring and fall Community Tire Collection Program providing economical waste tire disposal options to municipalities in three counties - over 65,000 tires and wheels processed since 2004.
More Land Reclamation & Watershed Preservation Work
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Helped to draft the Raccoon Creek Region Conservation Plan, a guide for sustainable development in the Region.
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Removed 22,000 fugitive tires and 300 tons of scrap metal from many illegal dump sites throughout the Raccoon Creek region.
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Restored 1000 feet of collapsing banks on Raccoon Creek, building a flood bench, and enhancing habitat with thousands of trees, shrubs and native wildflowers.
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Restored 1600 feet of eroded Raredon Run with natural stream channel design and native plant buffers, calming floodwaters and building habitat.