Stewarding a Thousand Acres in Bear Run Nature Reserve

Volunteer Land Steward Jim Sprowls posts a sign prohibiting unauthorized
vehicles on the trails at Bear Run Nature Reserve.

In the spring of 2000, WPC Members Jim and Louise Sprowls came upon an article in CONSERVE announcing that a new training session for volunteer land stewards would be starting up in the coming months.

“We read the article and knew that was for us,” Louise Sprowls noted.

Thus began their six-year (and ongoing) relationship with more than 1,000 acres of the 5,061-acre Bear Run Nature Reserve in the Laurel Highlands. They serve as the eyes and ears, as well as WPC’s ambassadors to the surrounding communities. As trained volunteer land stewards, they complete regular monitoring visits of their “adopted” property, document existing land conditions and any threats, assist with property maintenance and resource management issues and provide a WPC presence on the land.

“We walk the trails, bushwhack through the greenbriers, monitor how visitors are using the land and assess the condition of the trails,” Louise said. “It’s a beautiful part of the world. Wereally appreciate the opportunity to have a place that’s away from people noises, where we can appreciate the trees, the animals and the quiet.”

More than half of the 72 Land Stewards have now volunteered for three years or more and many have said, “I will continue as long as WPC needs me.” A long-term benefit of a volunteer stewardship team is the continued education and positive reinforcement shared between volunteers. Land Stewards participate in trainings and educational workshops as a team, partner on large tracts of conserved land and complete property maintenance and resource management projects together.

Jim also serves on the advisory committee for creating the Bear Run Conservation Plan, a study that provides important environmental information to guide biological diversity and protection and identify habitat enhancement opportunities.

“We believe in the conservation goals of the Conservancy,” Louise said. “That’s why we joined more than 15 years ago. We just wanted to do more.”

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy thanks the Sprowls and all of our volunteer land stewards who have made a significant personal commitment to help WPC monitor our 20,000 acres of land and 21,000 acres of easements.

For more information on our Land Stewardship program, contact David Fox, easement and land stewardship coordinator, at 412-586-2318. Email David at dfox@paconserve.org.