Spring tree plantings
April 25, 2011
As part of our Trees for Streams Program, the WRP planted 3,000 native trees along the White River in 5 locations this spring with students and community volunteers. Visit our Facebook page to see pictures of WRP tree planting volunteers in action!
About streamside vegetation
Although 84{db44c3d5e5b2521111bb9179cb40e40c4d2777ab57a0c9e12ea819349259de2f} of the White River watershed is forested today, much of the land adjacent to streams and rivers has actually been deforested over the past 200 years to accommodate the development of roads and railways, housing, and farms. The loss of streamside trees and shrubs – also called riparian buffers – has resulted in lasting ecological and economical impacts throughout the White River watershed. Healthy, well-vegetated riparian buffers are essential to good water quality and aquatic habitat.
Riparian buffers filter pollutants from run-off, reduce erosion, provide shade to keep water temperatures cool for fish, ward off non-native invasive plant species, and create corridors for wildlife. Buffers also serve as the first line of defense against flood events and can safeguard property from erosion. The re-establishment of buffers through planting trees is one of the most effective and efficient ways to improve water quality, reduce erosion and flood damage, and maintain healthy fisheries in our watershed.
2011 student plantings
Every year hundreds of students plant trees along the White River as a hands-on component of their science classes. Students from five watershed schools are planting over 1,500 native trees this year:
~ Friday, April 22: 500 trees in Sharon village with Vermont Technical College students
~ Monday, April 25: 150 trees at Fat Rooster Farm with Braintree Elementary School students
~ Friday, April 29: 750 trees in South Royalton village with South Royalton School students
~ Tuesday, May 3: 50 trees in Brookfield with Vermont Technical Career Center students
~ Thursday, May 5: 150 trees in Stockbridge with Bethel Elementary School students
Join us!
Community volunteers are invited to join us at two plantings in 2011:
~ Saturday, April 30: 1,000 trees at Fat Rooster Farm (354 Morse Rd, Royalton) from 9-11am.
~ Saturday, May 14: 400 trees at Timberhawk Meadows (VT Rte 100 N between Rte 107 and the White River bridge, Stockbridge) from 9am-12pm.
Both plantings are to the public; gloves, shovels, and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information
Contact us or visit our Volunteer FAQs page.
News
Posted: May 17, 2011 by wrp_admin
Garlic mustard pull event
Garlic mustard pull event
May 17, 2011
On May 21, 2011 the White River Partnership and the Upper White River Cooperative Weed Management Association (CWMA) will be hosting a garlic mustard weed pulling event in downtown Rochester, near the Rochester High School, from 9 am to noon. Garlic mustard is a non-native invasive plant that has the potential to spread aggressively throughout the Upper White River Watershed and is the target of a serious effort to control its spread.
About the CWMA
The Upper White River Cooperative Weed Management Association (CWMA) is a collaborative effort among land owners, state and federal government agencies, and NGOs to address the effects of non-native invasive plants (NNIP) across jurisdictional/ownership boundaries within the Upper White River watershed. The CWMA consists of the Town of Rochester, Green Mountain National Forest, George D. Aiken Resource Conservation & Development Council, White River Partnership, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and Vermont Agency of Transportation. The CWMA is actively engaged in inventorying, monitoring, controlling, and preventing the spread of several species of NNIP.
About garlic mustard
Controlling the spread of garlic mustard is among the CWMA’s top priorities because of the plant’s ability to spread quickly and displace the native vegetation within an area, and its detrimental effect on the West Virginia White Butterfly, a sensitive species in the region. The West Virginia White Butterfly commonly mistakes garlic mustard for toothwort, a native plant with similar looking leaves. However the butterfly’s larvae does not survive on the underside of garlic mustard leaves. Subsequently, the spread of garlic mustard will have a direct impact on the butterfly’s ability to sustain a viable population in the region.
MaryBeth Deller, botanist with the Green Mountain National Forest, says, “We are targeting this particular NNIP because it is a relative newcomer to the valley; we have the opportunity to do something about it before it becomes widespread.” Garlic mustard spreads quickly throughout stream corridors and in areas where frequent travel occurs. The Rochester village location was chosen because it contains a large patch of garlic mustard adjacent to a well used trail and mowed area, making it highly susceptible to spreading the scores of seeds that each plant produces. A single plant can produce up to 5,000 seeds, which is why it is critical to remove as many plants as possible before they go to seed (typically in late July and August). This allows only a limited window of opportunity to have an impact on the spread of garlic mustard.
Garlic mustard takes over areas and homogenizes ground cover by spreading a chemical in the soil that kills valuable naturally occurring soil fungi which native plants depend on for nutrient uptake. The spread of garlic mustard is precipitated by the fact that it has no natural predators. For more information about garlic mustard, check out the Nature Conservancy’s Wise on Weeds! invasive fact sheet.
Join us!
The May 21st Garlic Mustard Pull will be a family-friendly event with opportunities to learn how to identify and prevent the spread of garlic mustard on your own property. Volunteers will be meeting at 9 am in the Rochester High School parking lot. Gloves, trash bags, and light snacks will be provided. Contact us with questions or to RSVP.
Posted: April 25, 2011 by wrp_admin
Spring tree plantings
Spring tree plantings
April 25, 2011
As part of our Trees for Streams Program, the WRP planted 3,000 native trees along the White River in 5 locations this spring with students and community volunteers. Visit our Facebook page to see pictures of WRP tree planting volunteers in action!
About streamside vegetation
Although 84{db44c3d5e5b2521111bb9179cb40e40c4d2777ab57a0c9e12ea819349259de2f} of the White River watershed is forested today, much of the land adjacent to streams and rivers has actually been deforested over the past 200 years to accommodate the development of roads and railways, housing, and farms. The loss of streamside trees and shrubs – also called riparian buffers – has resulted in lasting ecological and economical impacts throughout the White River watershed. Healthy, well-vegetated riparian buffers are essential to good water quality and aquatic habitat.
Riparian buffers filter pollutants from run-off, reduce erosion, provide shade to keep water temperatures cool for fish, ward off non-native invasive plant species, and create corridors for wildlife. Buffers also serve as the first line of defense against flood events and can safeguard property from erosion. The re-establishment of buffers through planting trees is one of the most effective and efficient ways to improve water quality, reduce erosion and flood damage, and maintain healthy fisheries in our watershed.
2011 student plantings
Every year hundreds of students plant trees along the White River as a hands-on component of their science classes. Students from five watershed schools are planting over 1,500 native trees this year:
~ Friday, April 22: 500 trees in Sharon village with Vermont Technical College students
~ Monday, April 25: 150 trees at Fat Rooster Farm with Braintree Elementary School students
~ Friday, April 29: 750 trees in South Royalton village with South Royalton School students
~ Tuesday, May 3: 50 trees in Brookfield with Vermont Technical Career Center students
~ Thursday, May 5: 150 trees in Stockbridge with Bethel Elementary School students
Join us!
Community volunteers are invited to join us at two plantings in 2011:
~ Saturday, April 30: 1,000 trees at Fat Rooster Farm (354 Morse Rd, Royalton) from 9-11am.
~ Saturday, May 14: 400 trees at Timberhawk Meadows (VT Rte 100 N between Rte 107 and the White River bridge, Stockbridge) from 9am-12pm.
Both plantings are to the public; gloves, shovels, and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information
Contact us or visit our Volunteer FAQs page.
Posted: March 28, 2011 by wrp_admin
April events
April events
March 28, 2011
The White River Partnership, Greater Upper Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Hanover Outdoors announce 4 spring events to improve the long-term health of the White River:
Didymo alert!
A ban on using felt-soled waders and boots in Vermont waters was enacted by the Vermont legislature to help curb the spread of aquatic invasive species in Vermont rivers. Felt soled waders can contribute to the spread of invasive species such as whirling disease in fish and didymo, a non-native alga commonly referred to as “rock snot.”
The ban, which becomes effective April 1, 2011, is designed to slow or stop the spread of these and other aquatic invasive species to new locations in Vermont.
Gear swap
Turn-in your felt-soled boots and waders at Hanover Outdoors from April 1 – 9, and get a 25{db44c3d5e5b2521111bb9179cb40e40c4d2777ab57a0c9e12ea819349259de2f} discount on new gear!
Willow harvest
Join us on Saturday, April 9, from 10am – 12pm to harvest native willow shrubs in Rochester: from the intersection of Route 100 and 73, turn onto Route 73 west; drive 1.5 miles, past Maple Hill Road on the right; continue on Route 73 another 0.3 miles; drive over a bridge across the West Branch of the White River; then turn into a parking area immediately on the right. We will meet at the parking area at 10am, then walk to the willow site. Live willow stakes can be pounded into moist soils to quickly revegetate an exposed river bank. The White River Partnership will be planting 2,500 live willow stakes to restore 4 riparian buffer sites in Royalton, Sharon and Stockbridge. Bring loppers if you have them. We have gloves and some loppers to share, and will provide light refreshments.
Plant a tree
Join us on Saturday, April 30 from 9 – 11am to improve fish and wildlife habitat at Fat Rooster Farm (354 Morse Road, Royalton) by planting a 50-foot buffer of native trees and shrubs along the Second Branch of the White River. Gloves, shovels, and light snacks will be provided. Rain date: Sunday, May 1, 9 – 11am.
For more information
Contact us with questions or to RSVP!