WESTPORT — As part of its on-going efforts to stabilize rivers and wetlands the Boquet River Association recently held a tree-planting exercise as part of its Beaver Brook riparian buffer restoration project.
In spite of rainy conditions and chilly temperatures 52 volunteers whose, in many cases, bright colored raingear stood out against the grey sky, headed down the trail to plant 685 native trees and shrubs.
BRASS project manager Lukas McNally and nursery owner Alex Caskey provided mini-workshops on how to plant for maximum success and highest ecological benefit. Planting a sapling entailed more than digging a hole and plopping it into the earth.
The diameter or width of the slit and compaction of the soil played a part. In spite of the day’s precipitation needed water was gathered from the nearby brook. In addition, grow tubes were installed to protect the saplings from deer on the top and placed below the surface to ward off voles.
The location was also of importance so as not to compete with existing vegetation, and trees were planted a radial distance of from three to seven feet from one plant to another.
According to BRASS, “The Beaver Brook restoration project is a low-cost, volunteer-based approach to reducing sedimentation and create a healthier, biologically complex riverscape that will support multiple critical wildlife populations. The effort was initiated as a partnership of the Boquet River Association (BRASS), Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Ruffed Grouse Society. We had tremendous support from our key sponsor, Upstone Materials, along with Tamarack Earthwork, the Adirondack Council and the landowners Barred Owl Brook Farm and Ananta Farm, LLC.”
The plants were sourced from two local nurseries, Barred Owl Brook Farm and AuSable Freshwater Center that specialize in hyper-local trees and shrubs.
Planted species included elderberry, white oak, American plum, sycamore, willow, balsam poplar, Bebb’s willow, Eastern cottonwood, red maple, shrub willow and speckled alder.
BRASS Executive Director Colin Powers said hewas pleased with the number and dedication of the volunteers.
“We saw the power of grass-roots restoration at a time when environmental protection is being threatened across our country by funding reductions. We’re privileged to work in an area where so many residents recognize the value of our exceptional watershed and are passionate about preserving it,” Powers said.