ROSE VALLEY LAKE AT RISK
PROJECT 70 PUBLIC TREASURES IN PERIL
The Project 70 Land Acquisition & Borrowing Act was enacted June 22, 1964, promising that "This indenture is given to provide land for recreation, conservation and historical purposes, as said purposes are defined in . . . P.L. 131."
Seventy million dollars were allocated for the acquisition of land throughout Pennsylvania, including acquisition by eminent domain. The Act provided funding for at least forty-four State parks and historic sites, as well as numerous other public conservation and recreation areas. One of these other public areas is Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming County, owned by the Commonwealth and under the control of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC).
Lands around Rose Valley Lake are at risk because of a proposed change in right-of-way through public lands to allow private development and personal gain.
This would set damaging State-wide precedent.
The PFBC's Resource First philosophy and Article I, Section 27 of Pennsylvania's Constitution (Public Trust Doctrine) support upholding Project 70's protective covenants.
We the undersigned hereby petition the Board of Commissioners, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission; the Honorable Senators and Representatives, Pennsylvania General Assembly; and the Honorable Tom Corbett, Governor of Pennsylvania, to adhere to the following:
uphold the covenants and restrictions in the Project 70 Land Acquisition & Borrowing Act, and not to compromise in any way these covenants or restrictions for the benefit of private development.
uphold the "intent" of Rose Valley Lake, "to prevent developments . . . and retain the area in generally primitive conditions."(1972 PFBC document)
uphold the PFBC's Mission and Resource First philosophy
uphold Article 1, Section 27 of Pennsylvania's Constitution (Public Trust Doctrine) which states, "The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come."
Thank you,
Friends of Rose Valley Lake
We are a group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts who believe in honoring promises of the past and doing all we can to preserve the heritage of Pennsylvania's natural outdoors.
