For Release: Wednesday, October 7, 2009
DEC and Partners to Hold Events for Planting Stream Buffers in the Hudson Valley
Media and Additional Volunteers Invited to Participate
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be joined by partnering organizations and dozens of volunteers to conduct stream buffer plantings this month throughout the Hudson River Valley as part of the "Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs" initiative.
Stream buffers are an important aspect of maintaining healthy streams and protecting water quality. Stream (also called riparian) buffers - composed of trees, shrubs, and grasses - help reduce pollution entering waterways by slowing down and filtering stormwater runoff. Buffers also help 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, along with increasing overall biodiversity and improving in-stream health.
Environmental organizations, boy scout troops, municipalities, neighborhood associations, schools, soil and water conservation districts, Trout Unlimited chapters, land conservancies and private residents will be volunteering with the "Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs" program at 20 different project sites throughout October and into November. Volunteers will be planting over 2,500 native trees and shrubs along more than 5,000 feet of tributaries (streams and rivers) in the Hudson Valley.
This list below includes four of the larger weekend projects (100+ trees and shrubs) scheduled for this fall that continue to need volunteers. Media are also invited to attend.
| Project Site | Date | Time | Partner Organizations |
Hudson River Tributary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Rte. 21, Ghent, NY (farm just west of highway dept. facility) |
Oct. 17 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
Columbia Land Conservancy | Kline Kill |
| 910 Rte. 2, Gallatin | Oct. 17 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. |
Roeliff Jansen Kill | |
| Roe-Jan Park- Hillsdale State Route 22, Hillsdale |
Oct. 18 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
Hillsdale Town Board, Columbia-Greene Trout Unlimited |
Roeliff Jansen Kill |
| Conservation easement at 277 Buttonwood Ave., Cortlandt Manor |
Oct. 31 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Town of Cortlandt, Grow Westchester, The Art of Living Foundation |
Dickey Brook |
The "Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs" project is conducted through the DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program. The DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery has also been a key partner in this initiative, by providing over 80 percent of the plant material utilized for this program. Without their support, the program would not be where it is today. Information about the initiative and the importance of stream buffers can be found on the DEC website.
Additional details, including information for volunteers, other planting projects, and applying to the "Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs" program is available by contacting Kevin Grieser, Hudson River Estuary Program's Streamside Buffer Coordinator, at (845) 256-3145 or (845) 256- 3827 and kagriese@gw.dec.state.ny.us
