The WHM Group Donates Land to Wildlife For Everyone Endowment Foundation

The WHM Group, Harrisburg, has donated more than 135 acres of land along Bald Eagle Creek, and a $50,000 maintenance fund for the property, to the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation, State College. Please contact WJAC-TV for full video news coverage.

The property, known as the Bald Eagle Wetlands, was acquired and developed since 2002 by The WHM Group under contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as wetland mitigation for environmental disruption caused by the relocation of Interstate 99 and as a Federal Highway Administration demonstration site.
The WHM Group bought the property; designed and secured all state and federal environmental permits; completed all construction, and then monitored the results consistent with permit conditions.

“The WHM Group’s science and business goal for the Bald Eagle project was to avoid any and all long term mechanical support systems for the project, while creating a fully functioning ecosystem capable of sustaining a habitat to host the return of Pennsylvania’s indigenous species as overseen by Mother Nature,” explained B. Michael Schaul, President of The WHM Group.

The site has attracted an increasingly diverse wildlife population, including species from aquatic mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

“Reports to The WHM Group by neighbors, residents and wildlife not-for-profit organizations that regularly visit the site tell us that species not previously seen there are now using the wetlands and habitat,” said Schaul. The WHM Group is comforted by the return of animals and plants to the site, which demonstrates that the science and business practices followed by the company yielded these successes.

The site includes more than 50 acres of wetland that The WHM Group created, employing runoff and ground-fed hydrologic sources to maintain the ecosystem; about 15 acres of upland woodland; a quarter mile of Bald Eagle Creek, which are multi-use recreational stream stocked with trout; road frontage on Old Rt. 220 and a township road. A few archeologically important sites of former Native American encampments have been protected on the tract.

In addition, a few archeologically important sites of former Native American encampments have been protected on the tract.

Vern Ross, executive director of WFEEF, said in the near-term, the foundation plans to develop wildlife viewing platforms, trails and educational facilities on the site.

As part of the project, The WHM Group inserted into its contracts with Penn DOT its intention to donate the property, after the wetlands mitigation project was completed, to a suitable not-for-profit organization for its perpetual care and use.

Schaul said The WHM Group selected WFEEF because of its not-for-profit business objectives and its overall wildlife educational strategies.

WFEEF was established to provide private support to enhance wildlife habitat, scientific research and education; land preservation; youth programs and for a science and research center. For more information about the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation, visit www.wildlifeforeveryone.org