About 680 acres were added to several state game lands around Pennsylvania at the most recent meeting of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners.

The commissioners approved the purchase of:

182 acres adjoining State Game Lands 91 in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, from North Branch Land Trust for $400 per acre. The land trust received funding through partnership grants provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Open Space Institute.

130.37 acres near State Game Lands 151 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, from Wetlands America Trust Inc., a supporting organization of Ducks Unlimited Inc., for $400 per acre. Ducks Unlimited received funding through partnership grants from DCNR, North American Wetlands Conservation Act and Waterfowl USA. The tract lies within the Celery Swamp Important Bird Area and the Northwest Pennsylvania Waterfowl Focus Areas of the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. It consists of 10 acres of forest, 4 acres of grassland and 92 acres of wetlands, mostly comprised of a system of 65 ponds and dikes. Black Run provides inflow and outflow.

125 acres adjoining State Game Lands 217 in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County, from The Nature Conservancy for $34,215. TNC received partnership grants from DCNR and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. There is a rock outcropping on the southern boundary along the top of Kittatinny Ridge that is designated as a Globally Important Bird Area. The property has been identified by both the Kittatinny Ridge Land Protection Partnership and Appalachian Trail Landscape Initiative as a high-priority parcel for protection.

33.58 acres surrounded by State Game Lands 256 in Wheatfield Township, Perry County, from the estate of Regina L. Rice for $95,000.

31.5 acres adjoining State Game Lands 211 in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, from David and Cecelia Daubert and Daniel and Beverly Bode for $44,100 to be paid with funds from third party commitments for compensation of habitat and recreational losses that occurred on state game lands from previously approved projects.

19.2 acres adjoining State Game Lands 211 in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, from Lela M. Forry for $28,800 to be paid with funds from third party commitments for compensation of habitat and recreational losses that occurred on state game lands from previously approved projects.

0.34 acres surrounded by State Game Lands 282 in Pine Grove Township, Warren County, from Karen A. Beardsley for $1,100.

More: Dog club makes unusual donation to Pa. Game Commission

Commissioners also accepted a donation of 9.39 acres adjoining State Game Lands 129 in Tunkhannock Township, Monroe County, by Blakeslee DG, LLC.

And they agreed to a trade for 148.7 acres from Cumberland Contura LLC in exchange for the Game Commission allowing the company to create and enhance stream and wetland resources within State Game Lands 223 in Whiteley Township, Greene County.

Cumberland Contura has proposed building a coal refuse facility in Whiteley Township, and the company is required to create and enhance water resources as mitigation for impacts on streams and wetlands.

The Game Commission would allow this work to be done on State Game Lands 223, and would receive the acreage in exchange.

Three tracts comprise the 148.7-acre total: tracts of 15 and 69 acres adjoin State Game Lands 223 in Whiteley Township, Greene County, and 64.7 acres adjoin State Game Lands 179 in Jackson Township, Greene County.

At the same meeting, it was reported that the commission recently submitted a successful bid at a public auction ordered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania for 66 acres adjoining State Game Lands 293 in Shippen Township, Cameron County. Bidding on the tract, previously owned by Charles S. Novosel, was approved prior to the Oct. 9, 2019, auction. The purchase price was $85,000, paid from third party commitments for compensation of habitat and recreational losses that occurred on state game lands from previously approved projects.

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Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.