Crossings

by Tim Burris, Mariton Preserve Manager

Josh crossing a very deep section of creek.

Josh Saltmer (Bear Creek’s Preserve Manager) and I have been working in the Poconos monitoring conservation easements.   A lot of these easements were established to protect important water resources as well as unique habitats.  With all the rain we received in March and April we have been trying to avoid wet feet.  We have been crossing creeks on logs,  hummock jumping and making treks looking for shallow crossings.

This photo was taken several years ago, when the deck was much better. We still cross it to access a wonderful piece of protected property.

It has been a few years since I monitored these easements and it is good to be back on them again.  Like many of our easements, they protect a slice of history:  habitats that were once common in their region, but are being lost to development.  I often remark that when Mariton’s founders protected this property it was just like every other chunk of abandoned farmland in the township.  Fifty years later, most of those parcels are growing houses, and Mariton is unique.  The Pocono region has experienced exponential “growth”.  It amazes me how much more traffic we have to negotiate since I last monitored these easements.  So, it is good to thank the people with foresight who protect these important pieces of our heritage.  And it is important to take a moment to think about how to cross the obstacles to protecting more of our natural resources.