January 6th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on Thursday announced the protection of more than 156 acres along the Evitts Mountain ridgeline in Bedford County. The property was immediately transferred to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry to become a new addition to Buchanan State Forest.

Located at the border of Maryland, the property connects a 1,769-acre section of Buchanan State Forest, which the conservancy acquired and transferred to DCNR in 2011, to Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland, creating an unbroken corridor of protected land across the two states.

“Bedford County is an important place for land protection for the conservancy. To date, we have added more than 2,000 acres to Buchanan State Forest,” said Tom Saunders, the conservancy's president. “We are glad to protect more of this Evitts Mountain ridgeline, with its expansive forest and great views, tying together protected forests across Pennsylvania and Maryland with this connection.”

This newest addition to Buchanan State Forest brings its total acreage to 69,859, spanning across Franklin, Fulton and Bedford counties.