Lacawac's preservation efforts are for charitable and educational intentions exclusively. We are committed to building and sustaining an organization that can provide conservation opportunities and stewardship in perpetuity. Through our land protection efforts and community outreach, Lacawac connects local communities to the importance of actively supporting and sustaining our forests, and waters. Our mission of preservation allows us to conserve the precious lands vital to clean drinking water, biological diversity, outdoor recreation, and to the overall beauty and quality of life.
Every property and every landowner are unique. Lacawac is here to help you find the land preservation option best suited for you and your property. Lacawac works with local private landowners, municipalities, and other partners to protect the land in two ways.
Every property and every landowner are unique. Lacawac is here to help you find the land preservation option best suited for you and your property. Lacawac works with local private landowners, municipalities, and other partners to protect the land in two ways.
- We draft conservation easements with landowners enabling them to retain ownership while restricting or eliminating the development potential of the land. We also refer land owners interested in conservation easements to other local land trusts. There may be additional tax incentives for this type of arrangement.
- We work with landowners who donate their land to Lacawac Sanctuary.
Conservation Easements
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Land Donation
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Lands Owned
Mark and Courtney Peterson
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Protected Lands
Lake View Easement11.16 Acres | Pike County
Conserved in 2021 |
Lacawac Sanctuary Land Acquisition History
1966
Isabel and Arhtur Watres founded the Sanctuary with a donation of 341 acres.
1976
Isable and Arthur Watres donated an 18-acre parcel.
1979
Henry and Charlotte Van Duesen Trust gave 18 acres to Lacawac (site of the beaver dam)
1994
Arthur and Isabel Watres donated an additional 76 acres.
1998
Gertrude Walker’s bequest of land in Hollisterville and a 1996 Pennsylvania Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) enabled Lacawac to purchase the 25-acre Ledges Tract.
2001
Lacawac acquired a 3-acres and a house – the Director’s Residence or Gate House. The acquisition was funded in part by a $17,000 grant from DCNR.
2003
Acquisition of 18.66 acres on the northern end of the Sanctuary, including 600 feet of Wallenpaupack lake frontage – funded by a $370,000 grant from DCNR, a $5,000 grant from the John and Helen Villaume Foundation, contributions from Arthur Watres, Chad Reed Watres, and Jack Spall and financing assistance form the Dime Bank.
2004
The Partner Ridge Tract, 10 acres, which is contiguous to the field west of the Coulter Visitor Cetner was funded at $165,000 by members’ donations and by a DCNR grant in partnership with the Delaware Highlands Conversancy.
2022
Mark and Courtney Peterson intend to donate their land to Lacawac Sanctuary. The Peterson’s donated 87 acres in December of 2022 in Lackawaxen Township in Pike County, PA. The property is known as the Mark and Courtney Peterson Nature Preserve.
2023
Lacawac purchases two Sanctuaries originally owned and maintained by the dissolved Northeastern Pennsylvania Audubon Society. The Browning Beaver Meadow Sanctuary located north of Honesdale is 78 acres and was originally conserved in 2010. The Price Simpson Wetlands Sanctuary is 34 acres and is in Lake Ariel. It was originally conserved in 1992.
Isabel and Arhtur Watres founded the Sanctuary with a donation of 341 acres.
1976
Isable and Arthur Watres donated an 18-acre parcel.
1979
Henry and Charlotte Van Duesen Trust gave 18 acres to Lacawac (site of the beaver dam)
1994
Arthur and Isabel Watres donated an additional 76 acres.
1998
Gertrude Walker’s bequest of land in Hollisterville and a 1996 Pennsylvania Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) enabled Lacawac to purchase the 25-acre Ledges Tract.
2001
Lacawac acquired a 3-acres and a house – the Director’s Residence or Gate House. The acquisition was funded in part by a $17,000 grant from DCNR.
2003
Acquisition of 18.66 acres on the northern end of the Sanctuary, including 600 feet of Wallenpaupack lake frontage – funded by a $370,000 grant from DCNR, a $5,000 grant from the John and Helen Villaume Foundation, contributions from Arthur Watres, Chad Reed Watres, and Jack Spall and financing assistance form the Dime Bank.
2004
The Partner Ridge Tract, 10 acres, which is contiguous to the field west of the Coulter Visitor Cetner was funded at $165,000 by members’ donations and by a DCNR grant in partnership with the Delaware Highlands Conversancy.
2022
Mark and Courtney Peterson intend to donate their land to Lacawac Sanctuary. The Peterson’s donated 87 acres in December of 2022 in Lackawaxen Township in Pike County, PA. The property is known as the Mark and Courtney Peterson Nature Preserve.
2023
Lacawac purchases two Sanctuaries originally owned and maintained by the dissolved Northeastern Pennsylvania Audubon Society. The Browning Beaver Meadow Sanctuary located north of Honesdale is 78 acres and was originally conserved in 2010. The Price Simpson Wetlands Sanctuary is 34 acres and is in Lake Ariel. It was originally conserved in 1992.
