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Zupcic Hollow Easement
Members of the ALT Board of Directors and staff visit
the property for an initial evaluation.
The Zupcic Hollow Easement features a diverse range of habitats. Steep wooded slopes give way to fields and wetlands buffering Little Sewickley Creek and a pond that is home to bass, salamanders, and frogs. Little Sewickley Creek is recognized as one of the highest quality streams in Allegheny County. By placing a conservation easement on this property Allegheny Land Trust will protect the water quality of the creek, as well as preserve the ecosystems that support the area's biodiversity.
Easements are growing in popularity as an effective and less expensive way to protect land. The benefits for the landowner include potentially reduced property taxes because they have reduced the value of the land they own by severing the development rights. If donated, the value of the development rights, which are embodied in the easement, is an eligible tax-deductible contribution. Most importantly, the owner knows the land will remain forever natural.