Lancaster Conservancy Transfers 175-Acre Nature Preserve to DCNR

The globally rare serpentine barrens ecosystem will be protected and managed by the state's forestry bureau.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:15pm

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The Lancaster Conservancy has transferred the 175-acre Rock Springs Nature Preserve to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry. The property, which is part of the state-designated Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape and the State Line Serpentine Barrens, contains a unique serpentine barrens ecosystem that supports rare plant species. The DCNR will now manage the land as part of the William Penn State Forest, leveraging its expertise in maintaining these globally significant habitats through practices like prescribed burns.

Why it matters

Serpentine barrens are a globally rare ecosystem found in only a few locations in the eastern United States. The thin, infertile soil supports a specialized array of plant life that has evolved to thrive in these harsh conditions. However, without active management like controlled burns, the barrens can quickly transition to early-successional forest, threatening the unique biodiversity. The transfer to DCNR ensures this globally important landscape will be properly cared for in perpetuity.

The details

Rock Springs Nature Preserve was originally acquired by The Nature Conservancy in the 1990s with DCNR funding, then transferred to the Lancaster Conservancy in 2004. The Conservancy has now passed the 175-acre property to the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, which will incorporate it into the William Penn State Forest. The Bureau has proven experience managing serpentine barrens through techniques like prescribed burns to maintain the specialized grassland habitat.

  • The Lancaster Conservancy announced the transfer on January 30, 2026.
  • Rock Springs Nature Preserve was originally acquired by The Nature Conservancy in the 1990s.
  • The property was then transferred to the Lancaster Conservancy in 2004.

The players

Lancaster Conservancy

A nonprofit land trust that has protected over 11,000 acres of natural land in Lancaster and York counties since its founding more than 50 years ago.

DCNR Bureau of Forestry

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources bureau that will now manage the Rock Springs Nature Preserve as part of the William Penn State Forest.

The Nature Conservancy

The organization that originally acquired Rock Springs Nature Preserve in the 1990s with DCNR funding, before transferring it to the Lancaster Conservancy in 2004.

William Penn State Forest

A state forest spanning multiple tracts across southeastern Pennsylvania, managed by the DCNR Bureau of Forestry and home to several wild and natural areas.

Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape

A state-designated conservation area that includes the Rock Springs Nature Preserve.

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What they’re saying

“The Lancaster Conservancy is pleased to transfer Rock Springs Nature Preserve to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, a proven land manager of the globally rare serpentine barrens. This transfer ensures that the ecosystem will be actively managed to retain its global importance.”

— Brandon Tennis, Senior Vice President of Stewardship, Lancaster Conservancy (Lancaster Conservancy)

“DCNR is proud to welcome this new addition to William Penn State Forest and the management of its globally rare ecosystem. We are confident that the dedicated William Penn team will bring its expertise management of this land and ensure this unique landscape endures for future generations' use and enjoyment.”

— Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR Secretary (Lancaster Conservancy)

What’s next

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry will now assume management of the Rock Springs Nature Preserve, incorporating it into the William Penn State Forest and continuing the active stewardship of the globally rare serpentine barrens ecosystem.

The takeaway

This transfer represents an important collaboration between the Lancaster Conservancy and the DCNR to protect a globally significant natural area. By leveraging the state's forestry expertise, the unique serpentine barrens habitat at Rock Springs will be actively managed to ensure its long-term preservation for public enjoyment and ecological value.