Community Tree Planting Event is Great Success

Posted on April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Mid-Atlantic, River Renewal 

ChasChas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

I think most will agree, one of the more exciting aspects of river conservation work is simply getting your hands dirty.

Grant it, it’s not for all, but for many picking up trash alongside a favorite river ensures measurable results (insert shameless plug for National River Cleanup). And, that kind of immediate satisfaction does indeed help to sustain those longer, and equally important, legislative battles.

As you know, a lot of our work is grounded – and enabled – by your participation. For example, some of those longer legislative battles are powered by our activists who travel to DC (insert second shameless plug for River Action Day).

But for greater localized action, we are fortunate to have many inspired field staff committed to community projects.

For example, last month Sara Deuling from our Pennsylvania Field office coordinated a “Mohnton Tree Planting Event�. Sara recaps the successful effort (and slide show below):

sara deuling When we arrived at the site before 10am, Larry Lloyd had already planted about 20 trees and had laid out a planting pattern with stakes for the trees. I provided an informational packet with photos of the evolution of the dam removal site.

The work started by planting the trees, which were segregated by the wetness desires: streamside, mid-bank, and upland. Once the trees were planted, about 20 feet on center, Larry identified all of the shrubs and directed the volunteers where to distribute them. Particular care was given to their wetness desires, shade preferences, mature heights and distribution across the site.

The shrubs were filled in between the tree species, with a final planting density of approximately 5’ on center. The group planted 365 trees and shrubs in total.

Once the site was cleaned up, the volunteers agreed that the site had undergone a major improvement and everyone headed home after a long day of hard work.

The site looks very natural and will provide substantial habitat benefits to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms. Some of the species planted included, Swamp white oak, Pin oak, Silver maple, Tulip poplar American sycamore, and 10 others.

A great deal of thanks and appreciation go out to Larry Lloyd, Berks Conservancy, Andrew Strassman, PA Natural Heritage Program, John Buzzar, PA Fish & Boat Commission, Fay & Molly, friends of John Buzzar, Jeremy Trexel, URS Corp., John Pittenger, URS Corp., and Chase Kelch, friend of John Pittenger.


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