CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Countryside Conservancy’s A Greenway Action Plan for the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed is designed to provide a coordinated and strategic approach to creating connections throughout the 32 townships and municipalities of the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. 

Background

Countryside Conservancy was first organized as the Northeast Heritage Land Trust in 1994 in response to the destruction of stonewalls and felling of trees in the Waverly area.  Concerned citizens banded together to act as a voice for all who were distressed that the peace and beauty that surrounded them would soon be swallowed by encroaching development unless they took steps to prevent it.  As the citizens’ group grew, they became aware that the entire region is under siege.  Stonewalls are being shipped out of state; farm failures are increasing as prices plummet; mini-mansions are eating up large tracts of open space; quarrying and clear cutting make it more difficult for riparian buffers to prevent stream pollution. 

In response to this growing threat, Northeast Heritage reorganized in 1996 as Countryside Conservancy, a non-profit land trust dedicated to protecting open lands and natural resources in and near the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed.  With the 33 townships and municipalities of the Watershed as their base of operations, it soon became obvious that some form of prioritizing needed to be done in order to make sure that the group’s efforts were being directed to the most threatened properties and issues.  A Greenway Action Plan for the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed is a response to the request for direction. 

Plan Organization:

The plan is presented in five sections:

1. Why should we even consider developing a Greenway?  What are the economic and social benefits of Greenways?  What have other areas found when they develop Greenways?

2. What do we have to work with?  What are our strengths and weaknesses?  What is threatening us?   Where do we see opportunities for Greenways?

3. What are the similarities and differences in our townships and municipalities?

4. How do we further analyze our situation?  A model study of one small sub-watershed, Ackerly Creek, shows how one threatened neighborhood is planning for their future.

5. How do we get there?  What steps do we need to take in order to make our dream a reality?

Methodology

In 1998, with funding from the Willary Foundation and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Countryside Conservancy began a greenways planning  process which would help identify potential connections and linkages throughout the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. 

As a land trust, the Conservancy also wanted to use the Greenway study and inventory to help them understand their own land preservation task.  For example:

With this in mind, a Resource Committee of Advisors joined a steering committee from the Conservancy Board to direct the process.  An inventory of existing plans and data was undertaken.  Committee members began to visit communities, civic groups, township and borough meetings and neighbors in order to announce the study and solicit help from stakeholders.  Public meetings were conducted to elicit reactions, suggestions and objections to the Greenway Plan. 

In 1998, a Preliminary Report was prepared and presented to the Board, Committee and the Foundations.  In 2002, the recommendations of the preliminary study were reviewed and analyzed based on the actual development in the past three years.  Additional interviews were held, and 2000 census data was added.

Incorporating Related Planning Efforts

The Lackawanna County, Susquehanna County, and Wyoming County Comprehensive Plans provide countywide policy documents to help steer growth and development in a positive economic fashion while maintaining, preserving and enhancing a high environmental quality.  These plans are incorporated by reference in this watershed greenway plan and should be considered an integral part of the plan.

The Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan currently in the process of being updated, is incorporated by reference.  Being included on Its updated project list is a prerequisite to Department of Conservation and Natural Resources funding.  This listing can be found in the Appendix. 

The Tunkhannock Creek Conservation Plan by Joyce Stone and published in 1997 provides a full description of watershed history, soil, water and natural resources as well as a special places listing current to 1997. 

Part of the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed lies within the boundaries of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region.  The Endless Mountains Heritage Region Management Action Plan (11/98) has a long list of recommendations for local partners as well as a listing of their own priorities which is summarized and found in the Appendix of this plan.  

Supporting Documentation

A large amount of research, analysis and work went into the creation of this Action Plan.  A glossary has been attached to define terms and to provide distinction between the kinds of trails and greenways.  Where possible, supporting documentation has been summarized.  For further information, see: