PA Environment Digest

Share this:

Students Partner With Conservationists For Tree Planting, Habitat Improvement In Clearfield County

By Steve Harmic, Penn State News

A group of students in the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology program partnered with local and state organizations to help improve the habitat of a wild trout stream in the area.

Situated at the edge of S.B. Elliott State Park on Rockton Mountain are privately owned properties through which the stream, Montgomery run, flows. Eventually, the stream empties into the reservoir that provides the City of DuBois' water supply.

As part of their Silviculture class, students joined forces with representatives from the Clearfield County Conservation District, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry, and the Allegheny Chapter of Trout Unlimited to help improve the habitat for native trout in this section of Montgomery Run.

The biggest effort has been in planting trees, which can make surprising changes, according to Kelly Williams, a watershed specialist with the Conservation District.

"With no trees in this area, it makes the water too warm for trout," Williams explained. "Trees will eventually shade the stream and keep it cool."

The lack of trees in the area is due to the impact of a logging operation over a century ago. However, it's not only because trees were harvested from the site.

"A splash dam left here in the late 1800's from logging caused this area to flood over and over again through the years, which didn't allow trees to fill back in. It did allow for grass to take root. Once grass takes hold, that keeps the trees out," Williams explained.

The dam would have been used by loggers to intentionally flood their log landing in order to float timber downstream to a saw mill. But when the logging was done, the dam remained in place, with a portion of it still intact even today.

While has dam deteriorated enough that the area no longer floods, it does remain a wetland, with soft, soggy soil. That led experts to seek out tree species to plant that would thrive in that environment.

Rick Conrad, a forester with the DCNR Bureau of Forestry explained, "We chose trees that do well in wet areas, as well as species that are native to this part of the state. We also chose trees that will shade the stream well and keep it cool. That's a lot better for aquatic life."

The tree species they chose were white pine, elderberry, river birch, American sycamore, and black willow. In all, 1,100 trees will be planted, with white pine being the predominant species, at 600 trees.

"I think this is an awesome learning experience," said Wildlife Technology student Morgan Silvis, of Tionesta, PA. "It's great to contribute something to wildlife in the area."

"It's really adding to my experience," agreed student Katelyn Blystone, from Smicksburg, PA.

Williams, a graduate of the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology program herself, said a win-win is just what she had in mind when she contacted campus faculty for help on the project.

"I graduated from Penn State DuBois, and now I'm working in Clearfield County, and it was awesome to reach out to my alma mater for help," Williams said. "Without these students, getting these trees planted would be impossible. And they get a nice field experience, too. It really benefits both groups."

(Photo: Students Katelyn Blystone, right, and Morgan Silvis look over one of the saplings they've planted as part of an environmental repair and restoration effort along native trout stream Montgomery Run.)

NewsClips:

Crable: Statewide 10 Million Tree Restoration Effort Launches On Lancaster County Farm

Kummer: PA Is Planting 10 Million Trees To Curb Pollution In Waterways

Morelli: PA Partnership Sets Tree-Mendous Goal Of 10 Million Plantings

New Statewide Partnership Launches Effort To Plant 10 Million Trees Across PA

10 Million Trees Could Be Planted Over Next 7 Years In PA

Planting 10 Million Trees In Pennsylvania For Clean Water

Tree-Planting Effort Focuses On Midstate Counties

Editorial: We Speak For The Trees [Scroll Down]

New Trees Plants Along Wilkes-Barre River Trail

Tree Planting Slated For April 27 At Griggs Farm, Tioga County

Sen. Alloway’s Army, CBF-PA Plant Trees In Shippensburg Area