Open Space Board backs Wildlands DCNR partnership grant application

The Carbon County Open Space Advisory Board voted to send a support letter for a Wildlands Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) partnership grant application intended to extend Wildlands funding for two years.

Staff reported that the Lehighton Water Authority project is scheduled to close May 20 and that Maggie, the county GIS conservation planner, will be invited to the next board meeting as the first stakeholder for the county's conservation-plan timeline and outreach. "We are applying for another DCNR partnership grant to add another 2 years to our Wildlands ability funding for wildlands to continue to provide technical assistance to the open space advisory board, county, and municipalities and our outreach and education," a staff member said.

A board member moved that the board support the Wildlands DCNR partnership grant application; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion language discussed at the meeting was recorded as supporting the "Wildlands DCNR partnership grant application." Board members asked staff to provide a template for the support letter so it could be signed or printed as required.

Why it matters: the grant would fund two additional years of technical assistance from the Wildlands program, which staff said underpins county outreach, assistance to municipalities and education efforts. Commissioners had already approved a support and commitment letter at their meeting earlier the same day, and the advisory board’s vote provides an additional local endorsement.

What’s next: staff will circulate a draft support letter and the board will sign or otherwise authorize it prior to the DCNR application deadline.