Collaborative effort protects critical land in the Lebanon Valley

The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC) is pleased to announce the

conservation of 136 acres in the Annville area of East Hanover Township, PA. The Lebanon County

farm, owned by John and Megan Donmoyer, is actively farmed with crops and a dairy operation. The

farm is near Fort Indiantown Gap, and within the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape. The land

around the Kittatinny Ridge is a strategic area of focus for TLVC, serving as a crucial corridor for

songbird migration and vital habitat for rare wildlife. The Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape was

established to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, improve agricultural and

TLVC land protection director, Courtney Reimann, shared, "This project is significant because it was

funded through a partnership with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional

Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, and the ARMY

National Guard's Fort Indiantown Gap Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI)

program. The RCPP grant opportunity allows farmers to preserve and improve their farms. The REPI

program supports military readiness while preserving agriculture, recreation, and natural habitats."

The Donmoyer family chose the option of the RCPP grant instead of selling their farm to developers.

"Developers gave me many offers over the years, but I wanted the farm to stay in the family," John

Donmoyer explained. "TLVC's role as a land trust was to bring together the pieces of the puzzle to

make that work, and on a local level, to ensure the conservation of the farm into the future," added

The Donmoyer property has rolling hills of prime farmland where various crops are planted and

harvested throughout the year. The wooded areas along the Swatara Creek provide important wildlife

habitat and control runoff into the Swatara Creek, which is an important water source for the Lebanon

area. The farm has historical importance as well, with deeds for the property going back to the mid-

1700's. Megan Donmoyer shared, "Over the years, I've found an English coin, musket balls, and gun

flint on the farm." Charles "Chuck" Wertz, TLVC board member emeritus, added, "The farm has

three lime kilns, the remains of a spring house, and a cattle underpass to allow cattle to pass from one

side of the farm to the other, beneath Jonestown Road."