Monroe County commissioners recently awarded a $345,000 open space grant to Pocono Heritage Land Trust that will enable the trust to expand the Jonas Mountain Nature Preserve by more than 40 percent.

The grant will help PHLT acquire a 123-acre tract in Polk Township that will connect two separate properties within the preserve and expand it from 288 to 411 acres.The preserve will now surround the upper reaches of Jonas Creek in a belt of protected forest. In addition, it will allow a potential future trail link with Camp Trexler, a 900-acre Boy Scout reservation just across Jonas Road.The land trust's newest property acquisition is the result of nearly a year of negotiation with PPL Electric Utilities, which agreed to make a generous donation toward the purchase. The balance of the purchase price will be funded by the county grant."This project is really a cooperative venture between our land trust, PPL and Monroe County commissioners," said Dawn Gorham, PHLT executive director.PPL Electric Utilities plans to build a 5.7-mile high-voltage line through the Jonas area to meet increased electricity demand and keep reliability strong. To build the line, PPL needed a 100-foot-wide right of way through the Jonas Mountain Preserve, Camp Trexler and a number of other properties in the Jonas area.PHLT's board of directors initially opposed giving up protected land for the power line right of way. But after considerable discussion, the land trust approached PPL with a proposal it believed would benefit both the environment and the community. PHLT would allow the new power line to cross its property in return for PPL's financial assistance in acquiring the adjoining 123-acre parcel - a substantial expansion of the Jonas Mountain Preserve that would balance the loss of habitat caused by the power line.In addition, PHLT asked PPL to move the right of way about 200 yards away from Birch Hollow Estates, a subdivision that adjoins the Jonas Mountain Preserve. Homeowners in Birch Hollow have strongly opposed the power line, partly because it would have required the construction of a series of transmission line poles close to their homes.PPL agreed to both parts of the land trust's proposal and purchased the 123-acre property from its former owners in December. The property will be transferred to PHLT in the next several weeks."While we wish this power line wasn't needed, we think the final outcome reflects a strong commitment to conservation values," Gorham said. "PPL officials understood that the power line would slice through one of the last untouched woodlands in the West End, and they were very supportive when we asked them to change the plan. We appreciate their willingness to meet us half way."PPL also agreed to permanently ban the use of herbicides on the right of way and to install a series of barriers to deter trespassing by all-terrain vehicles. ATVs are prohibited on the Jonas Mountain Preserve.In addition, PPL will donate a 4-acre property on Jonas Road that will be used during construction of the power line. The land trust plans to construct a small parking area on the land to improve public access to the preserve."PPL Electric Utilities is proud to be a partner in this key land acquisition for the land trust. The spirit of cooperation among all involved enabled both more protected land and a more dependable and flexible power supply for the growing needs of our customers," said Dave Schleicher, vice president of transmission for PPL Electric Utilities. "The synergies benefited everyone"This will be the second of three major property acquisitions by the land trust in recent years.In late 2008 the land trust acquired Fieldstone Farm, a 52-acre property that straddles the boundaries of Paradise Township, Coolbaugh Township and Mount Pocono. Earlier this year, state and county officials approved grants totaling $516,000 for the purchase of Fairview Water Co., a 60-acre parcel in Mount Pocono. Final acquisition should take place later this year.Monroe County open-space funding played a crucial role in all three acquisitions, and land trust officials expressed their appreciation for the county commissioners' strong commitment to conservation in the Poconos.PHLT is a locally based, nonprofit conservation group founded in 1984. It currently protects over 3,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Monroe and Lackawanna counties.