STROUD TOWNSHIP - Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) announced the designation of 20,466 acres in Cherry Valley as a National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The vast area overlaps parts of southern Monroe and northern Northampton counties.

The designation culminates a more than four year effort in which Congressman Kanjorski initially met with local groups in Monroe County about Cherry Valley, and introduced and passed legislation calling for the Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study of the area, which enabled the Fish and Wildlife Service to make the designation allowed today. 

The designation marks the third National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania, and the first since 1972.  

Kanjorski, right, celebrates with Monroe County Commissioner  Suzanne McCool and Stroud Township Supervisor Ed Cramer

Part of Cherry Valley, from the Stroudsmoor Country Inn, where the announcement of the designation was made

“Today is a wonderful day for Cherry Valley, and it marks the perfect holiday present for the residents of Monroe County” said Congressman Kanjorski.  “It is amazing to see such overwhelming grassroots support for an initiative, as I have witnessed with Cherry Valley.  It is because of these efforts that I first learned about what a wonderful area Cherry Valley is and they are the reason that I worked to pass legislation calling for a study of Cherry Valley.” 

The congressional effort was bipartisan.  Republican Charlie Dent (R-15) worked closely with Democrat Kanjorski to push for the federal designation.

Support spread quickly among local officials, and environmental advocates.

“This is a great day for nature”, said Paul Kunze, Pennsylvania State Director of the Nature Conservancy.  “The people of Cherry Valley have understood, for generations, how special this place is.  “We wouldn’t be here today celebrating this if their wonderful stewardship over the generations had not taken place.”

Kanjorski said this puts in place now, a level of protection of a natural resource that otherwise would be threatened by growth in one of Pennsylvania’s fastest growing counties.

“”We’ll have growth that’s controlled and not misused or abused”, Said Kanjorski.  “It will grow in emphasis as the population of Monroe County expands.”