Over 40 students from the Pleasant Hills Middle School in Allegheny County worked to help protect the Peters Creek Watershed by planting a riparian buffer zone along a 300-foot section of the stream on April 27.

Many streams throughout western Pennsylvania have eroding stream banks that contribute to an overall decline in water quality. Riparian buffer zones are areas of vegetation along stream banks that help to stabilize soil and filter out pollutants from surface runoff before they enter waterways.

The students’ work will augment a model stream bank stabilization carried out by Jefferson Hills Borough in 2005. As Phase I of an on-going stream bank restoration project, Jefferson Hills Borough regraded the same section of stream bank by utilizing natural stream bank stabilization methods.

According to Justin Wagner of Gateway Engineering, the lead engineer for this project, two rock vanes were placed at the beginning of a curve to deflect the energy of the stream away from the bank and into the center of the channel. Behind each vane, a pool of water collects and sediment from this slow-moving water is deposited and further stabilizes the stream bank.

The Pleasant Hills Middle School students will complete this effort by planting the riparian buffer zone.

This project is part of a program designed by the Pennsylvania Resources Council called “Schools Working for their Watershed Program” which provides a community service opportunity to middle and high school students.

In addition to the community service work, students participate in a two-session educational program on watersheds and riparian buffer zones. Through the educational program, students will develop a thorough understanding of riparian buffer zones and the role they play in maintaining watershed health.

By participating in both the classroom instruction and the restoration work, students will have the opportunity to apply classroom instruction to a real life situation.

The project has been a collaborative effort by a number of regional organizations. Funding for this project was funded by the Pennsylvania Resources Council, the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program and Jefferson Borough.

Funding from WPWP was used to cover project planning and the educational progam. Jefferson Hills Borough contributed funding for the purchase of plants, shrubs, trees and landscaping materials. The planting day was coordinated by Gateway Engineering and PRC.

Peters Creek Watershed Association is utilizing some of their available funding through the Water Resources Education Network for the design and installation of an educational sign at the site. High school students from the Student Conservation Association assisted the middle school students during the planting day.

For more information, contact Christine McHenry-Glenn at 814-432-2324 or send email to: cglenn@prc.org .

4/27/2007