The Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, in partnership with the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program has received funding from Pennsylvania American Water to install a live stake nursery at the Pennsylvania American Water property on Heritage Drive in Lake Heritage, Adams County.

Live stakes are branch cuttings of native trees and shrubs that, when planted along stream banks, grow into new trees or shrubs. They are an effective, low-cost way to establish a root network along stream banks to help prevent soil loss and to rebuild eroded banks. 

Live stake nurseries consist of native shrubs that, when mature, provide live stakes (cuttings) to local conservation organizations and streamside landowners.  These shrubs will provide future material to protect streams and habitat locally.

The nursery will be planted this fall and maintained by Penn State Extension MWSs, locally educated and managed volunteers who address conservation priorities in collaboration with a broad partnership of organizations and local governments. 

Volunteers in the Lake Heritage community will also help install plants and help with maintenance. 

The Master Water Steward Program recruits interested citizens from the community, provides them with formal classroom and hands-on, in-the-field learning, and then connects them with ongoing volunteer opportunities, such as riparian buffer installation, water quality monitoring, and watershed education activities. 

The program is now offered in 42 counties throughout the state, with 776 volunteers, who have contributed over 100,000 volunteer hours since the program began in 2013.

If you would like to learn more about live stakes, stream health or how to get involved in the MWS program, contact Holly Smith by sending email to: hps5293@psu.edu. 

Resource Link:

-- Penn State Extension: Live Staking For Stream Restoration

-- Penn State Extension: Live Staking - A How-To Guide [Video]

Related Article:

-- PA American Water Announces $75,000 In Grants To Support Local Environmental Projects

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[Posted: October 13, 2022]

10/17/2022