UPDATE II (4/18/2014; 2:00pm ET): Lycoming County has made its way into the international spotlight for environmental projects thanks to the Marcellus Shale industry. EID recently reported on a video produced by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation that was nominated for an international Remi Award at the 47th Annual WorldFest.

The video highlighted an important, yearly conservation effort to repair Wallis Run stream in Loyalsock State Forest.

As it turns out, not only did this video win the gold in the category of Film and Video Production, but another Anadarko video — which shows the extra mile the company takes to work with local landowners in restoring their property after it is used for natural gas development and related infrastructure — took home the silver:

Please take a moment to watch both videos and learn more about just one of the many ways companies operating in the Marcellus work with community members to conserve and protect the environment.

Congratulations to Anadarko and all of the groups involved in these projects!

UPDATE (3/27/2014; 1:00pm ET): A local project EID first covered two years ago is receiving international accolades. I had the privilege of assisting Anadarko, the North Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources two years ago when the various entities first collaborated on a stream restoration project in the Wallis Run tributary of the Loyalsock Creek in the Loyalsock State Forest. This year will mark the third year for the project that improves trout feeding grounds and erosion and sedimentation issues in the stream, which was heavily impacted during Hurricane Lee.

To help explain the project, Anadarko produced a video that has recently been nominated for a Remi Award, an international award that will be given at the 47^th Annual Independent Film Festival, Worldfest, in Houston April 4-13^th. Mary Wolf, the Government Relations Advisor for Anadarko’s Marcellus operations, had this to say about the nomination:

“It’s great to have the international spotlight on the North Central Pa. Conservancy and the DCNR and the work they are doing to enhance Wallis Run in Loyalsock State Forest. Our employees are proud to live and work in this community, and this ongoing project enables them to improve the environment for the benefit of all.”

Please take a moment to watch the Remi award nominated video.

—Original post, Aug. 2, 2012—

On our site and in discussions, we’ve seen a debate over who the real environmentalists are when it comes to natural gas development and other issues. Are they the individuals who move to the countryside during their golden retirement years to enjoy tranquility after years of working in the city, the people who protest science and progress in the name of the environment? Or is it the farmers, hunters, fishers, and others who work the land daily for livelihood and recreation? Bryant LaTourette wrote a post on our website recently claiming the latter, and I tend to agree, albeit not for the reasons you will probably assume.

You see, although I do believe the activists have a concern for the environment, it is often misguided and dictated by those living with a city park as their link to nature. It all goes back to the debate over preservation versus conservation. Activists seek to preserve the environment, leaving nature just as it is untouched by human hands. The reality is we have impacts regardless of intent and because of this conservation is a more realistic approach to maintaining the balance of our ecosystem. Actions speak louder than words and it is through actions one can see true concern for our environment. Recently, I was able to witness two such efforts led by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in my hometown.

Anadarko, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC), the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) Improve Wallis Run

As most of you know, almost a year ago a devastating flood hit our region. The area surrounding the Loyalsock State Forest was hit especially hard when the Loyalsock Creek and its tributary stream, Wallis Run, overflowed their banks, destroyed Slabtown Bridge and left many stranded or homeless. The impacts of this natural disaster are still being felt around our community, and while most life has gone back to normal, there is still work to be done to clean-up the mess it left behind.

Wallis Run Road, September 8, 2011, picture from http://www.flickr.com/photos/macswitch/6129937157/

Driving out that way yesterday, I was amazed at the visual reminders remaining from the flood. Trees were bent over and stripped, and in the construction zone for the project an entire telephone pole still rested on the bank. Rene from the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, a non-profit, land conservation organization, explained to me how the area we were standing on, littered with creek rocks and muddy silt had been covered in vegetation prior to the flooding. The destruction of this vegetation has resulted in sediment erosion problems along the stream bank and a decrease in trout habitats and feeding grounds throughout the area.

Rene also explained to me the details of the project, which was a collaboration between non-profits, the government and the private sector that began on Monday and will complete today.

Who Helped?

Anadarko contributed the $10,000 needed for materials for the project, as well as manpower throughout the entire week, as Rene explains in the following video. Explanations of DCNR and PFBC’s involvements can be viewed HERE, HERE and HERE.

This project was also an opportunity for local college students and those interning in the area to get some hands on work experience. Lycoming College students helped earlier in the week, and while I was there interns from Anadarko and PFBC were lending a hand. It wasn’t all work for them either, as a few took a shot at attempting to try Pennsylvania log rolling.

I wish you all the best of luck in finishing your studies and beginning your careers in oil and gas, regulation or conservation. It was obvious to me you all care about the environment and will be a part of the process to continue to improve operations and decrease environmental impacts.

What was done and how does it work?

Please take a moment to listen to Rene explain what was done, why it was done, and what it will accomplish, followed by footage of this occurring. She explains it better than I ever could!

One of the other uses for the rocks–I’d really call them boulders–not explained in the videos, will be to place them in the center of the stream for trout resting zones. Where this has been done in other locations, there is a noticeable growth in the size of the trout.

Rene said they hope to do a similar project again next year.

Anadarko and others in the natural gas industry fuel conservation through the National Wild Turkey Federation

The other event I had the privilege to attend thanks to Keystone Energy Forum and Anadarko was the 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Federation‘s Fueling Conservation banquet in Pennsylvania. This event was sponsored by a laundry list of companies throughout the natural gas development supply chain (seen below) seeking to raise funds for conservation efforts throughout the state. Last year’s event raised around $30,000, and I would be very surprised if this year’s didn’t achieve the same success or even surpass it. The 50/50 drawing alone raised $1,500!

NWTF’s Fueling Conservation Sponsors

This event is another great example of multiple organizations working together to enable conservation in our communities.

Anadarko Supports Local Conservation

NWTF Thanks Anadarko and the Natural Gas Industry

How will the money be used including funds to DCNR and PFBC?

Here is information from NWTF on how last year’s funds were used to help better understand where the money from this effort will go.

Anadarko Petroleum and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation held the first conservation-based fund-raising dinner in August 2011. NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquets are designed to benefit conservation, but this fund-raiser supplemented the efforts of our local chapters throughout the state.

Thanks to the generosity of Anadarko Petroleum, we are proud to host Fueling Conservation dinner tonight. This event illustrates Anadarko Petroleum’s commitment to conservation in Pennsylvania.

Our association with Anadarko Petroleum dates back to 2010 when the company made a generous donation of nearly $10,000 to fund habitat enhancement projects within Andarko’s area of operation.

Last year, Anadarko officials asked how they could help out again. Plans were developed for the first Fueling Conservation dinner. The fundraiser was a tremendous success, drawing a crowd of 400 to Haywood’s on the Water and netting about $30,000. The success was largely due to the start up donation and Diamond Life Sponsorship provided by Anadarko. In addition, company officials encouraged representatives of related industries and partners to come out and fill the hall.

The Fueling Conservation dinner added significantly to the Pennsylvania Hunting Heritage Fund, enabling the State Chapter to increase the wildlife habitat proposals for Sproul State Forest in Clinton County and Loyalsock and Tiadaghton state forests in Lycoming County, and were able to fund all of the projects because of the revenue from this event. The projects included:

• Improving 15.5 acres of wildlife food plots on Post Draft Trail and pipelines in Sproul State Forest.
• Creating and improving 51 acres of permanent wildlife openings on Tiadaghton State Forest.
• Improving 21 acres of permanent wildlife openings on Loyalsock State Forest

No matter if you’re a turkey hunter or deer hunter, hiker or birdwatcher, this investment will improve your enjoyment of the fields and forests. It will improve habitat conditions for wild turkeys and other game species, song birds, and upland animals of all kinds on hundreds of acres of the forest.

Fueling Conservation is a great example of what can be accomplished when conservation organizations and industries join forces. Anadarko Petroleum has shown a great interest in conservation and stepped up to assist the local community with projects that will provide a positive impact on wildlife populations and increase your enjoyment of our state lands.
We appreciate the interest Anadarko has show in helping out chapters raise funds for wildlife conservation. NWTF and Anadarko have a great partnership.

Thank you!

If your company, service organization or hunting club is interested in hosting a fundraising banquet or would like to get involved in NWTF conservation projects, please contact:

Ray Smith,  district field supervisor at rsmith@nwtf.net or 570-220-1535
Bob Eriksen, conservation field supervisor at berikson@nwtf.net or 908-454-1882
Jay Jordan, energy wildlife coordinator at jjordan@nwtf.net or 803-637-3106

To view more pictures from this event, please click here.

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