Craftsbury Academy student Lily Dunbar, at left, and CA graduate Kaila Pennock help NorthWoods plant trees along the Black River earlier in the spring.
Craftsbury Academy student Lily Dunbar, at left, and CA graduate Kaila Pennock help NorthWoods plant trees along the Black River earlier in the spring.
EAST CHARLESTON -- This September the NorthWoods Stewardship Center will partner with Craftsbury Academy to to identify properties in need of stream bank restoration along the Black River and its tributaries. This project, supported in part by funding from the Northern Forest Center, USDA Rural Development, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, will educate landowners about the areas of natural vegetation covering the banks of a stream, or 'riparian buffer', which are essential to maintaining stream health and property value.
"Students will have a chance this fall to continue their work towards stream improvement by approaching landowners with at-risk property fronting the Black River and educating them about the value of restoration programs," said Craftsbury Academy teacher Karl Stein.
Academy science teacher Peter Merrit adds, "This project gives our students a chance to learn about the importance of responsible farming as well as how to participate in real field research, from implementation to data analysis."
In spring 2012, NorthWoods worked with landowners along the Black and Clyde Rivers to restore stream health by enrolling water-side acreage in the Trees for Streams Magog (TFSM) program, administered by the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District. Over 1100 trees were planted along 4 acres of stream edge by NorthWoods, 200 of those planted with the involvement of Craftsbury Academy.
Other programs in the area which provide cost-assistance to landowners to improve stream buffers include the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) which focuses on land that has been in agricultural use, and the Clear Water Carbon Fund which addresses the additional advantages of tree plantings for carbon sequestration.
In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, many landowners throughout Vermont are distinctly aware of the threats an unbuffered stream can pose. As this year's hurricane season approaches, promoting the improvement of Vermont's riparian zones will be essential to the long term interests of both private landowners and public health. This grant will allow the NorthWoods Stewardship Center and collaborators to address such issues, foster environmental education in the next generation, and promote the future health of the waterways of Vermont.
NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a non-profit organization based in East Charleston Vermont, dedicated to connecting people and nature through research, education and action. For more information, go to www.northwoodscenter.org.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.