AmeriCorps members serving with Trout Ulimited (and other conservation sites) are given opportunities to do small scale and large scale tree plantings. “When you look out over the highest ridge lines and deepest valleys of the West Virginian landscape, you should think of the scene as a riverscape, not a landscape. The river is the work horse of the landscape, constantly eroding rock and soil to carve out an extensive network of waterways that host a diverse population of beautifully colored brook trout,” said Jess in our February 2019 Newsletter.
On a typical riparian restoration day, trees that are no more than a few feet tall are given the best change possible for survival: a carefully dug hole, a tree tube, and a wooden stake. Plastic tree tubes are placed around the tree for protection, and a wooden stake is zip tied to the tree tube to provide extra stability for the growing tree. A completed riparian project produces a scene of white tree tubes with small branches poking out at the top as far as the eye can see.
In 2018 alone, Trout Unlimited staff, volunteers, and AFNHA AmeriCorps members restored over 30 acres of riparian habitat and planted over 4,000 trees. “An incredible effort that can only be accomplished by a dedicated cohort of individuals working towards a larger goal.”
