Hudson River Program Hosting Stream Buffer Plantings

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program’s “Trees for Tribs” initiative will be coordinating a number of stream buffer plantings this spring throughout the Hudson River Estuary Watershed.

Watershed organizations, land trusts, environmental organizations, municipalities, schools, soil and water conservation districts, private residents and a local farm will be participating and volunteering in the “Trees for Tribs” initiative at 29 different project sites from late April through early June. Volunteers will be planting more than 4,500 native trees and shrubs along more than 15,000 ft of streams and rivers in the Hudson Valley.

Riparian (streamside) buffers are an important aspect of maintaining healthy streams and protecting water quality. These buffers composed of trees, shrubs and grasses help to reduce pollution entering waterways by slowing down and filtering storm water runoff. Buffers also help to reduce flooding and erosion by stabilizing streambanks and absorbing high velocity flows. In addition, they serve an important role for wildlife as a shoreline transition zone and travel corridor, not to mention increasing overall biodiversity and improving in-stream health.

The “Trees for Tribs” initiative is in its second year and is conducted by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program through a partnership with the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University.

This list includes a number of the larger and public planting projects scheduled for this spring. Additional information, including contact information on volunteering, other planting projects and applying to the “Trees for Tribs” program, is available by contacting Kevin Grieser, Hudson River Estuary Program’s riparian buffer coordinator at 845.256.3145 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation