PEC Tree Planting Scheduled Nov. 22 in Luzerne County, One Completed

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council Northeast Office, in partnership with Earth Conservancy and Wilkes University, will be conducting a streamside tree planting project at the Penobscot property located in Newport Township on November 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

 

Wilkes University Students will be planting 125 trees, as part of their soils course, with assistance from community volunteers.

 

The tree planting project is an implementation project of the Wyoming Valley Rivers Conservation Plan that was prepared by PEC. The tree planting has been made possible by funding provided by the Department of Environmental Protection.

 

The tree planting project is being conducted along the banks of the Forge Creek as it flows through the reclaimed anthracite mine lands currently owned by Earth Conservancy. The purpose of the tree planting is to reduce stream bank erosion, improve water quality and improve wildlife habitat.

 

This tree planting project is a continuation of previous tree planting conducted at the property in the November of 2007 at which time over 100 trees were planted. At that time soil samples from the property were taken and a control group of trees were grown over the course of a year by students in the Soils Course at Wilkes University, under the direction of Professor Holly Frederick.

 

The purpose of this study was to determine what type of soil amendments positively impacted tree growth. The results of this study have been utilized in the planning of this November 22, 2008 tree planting activity. The trees that experienced successful growth in the lab will also be planted at the site in addition to 100 tree seedlings.

 

Earlier in the month, the following five large bare root trees were also planted at the site two Red Maple, one Red Oak, one Witch Hazel and one American Linden Basswood.

 

Volunteers should call the PEC Northeast Office at570-718-6507 for more information.

 

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council, in partnership with the Lands at Hillside Farms, coordinated a streamside tree planting project at the Lands at Hillside Farm in Trucksville on November 14 in Luzerne County.

The tree planting is also part of the implementation project for the Wyoming Valley Rivers Conservation Plan that was prepared by PEC in 2008. The tree planting has been made possible by funding provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

 

The tree planting project is being conducted along the banks of the Huntsville Creek as it flows through the Lands at Hillside Farms. The purpose of the tree planting is to reduce stream bank erosion, improve water quality and to improve wildlife habitat.

 

Volunteers for the planting included students from the Wyoming Valley Montessori School and employees from Benco Dental Company and Unison Engine Components. Vincent Cotrone, Urban Forester from Penn State Cooperative Extension gave an educational talk to the volunteers explaining the importance of stream bank stabilization, how the trees will reduce stream bank erosion and improve water quality, as well as, informed them about the native species of trees that they would be planting, how to plant the trees properly and how to maintain them.

 

The volunteers planted 100 native tree and shrub seedlings and installed 50 tree shelters. The volunteers planted Oak, Silver Maple, Sycamore, Dogwood, Arrowood Viberum, Serviceberry and Willow along the banks of the Huntsville Creek.

 

Food donations for the volunteers were graciously donated by Sheetz, Rte. 309, Dallas and the volunteers were served ice cream from the Hillside Dairy.

 

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council would like to thank everyone involved in this very worthwhile project.