(9/21) Volunteers are sought as a new large-scale reforestation project in Frederick County this season, led by local non-profit and tree planting initiative, Stream-Link Education (SLE).
Volunteers are needed in Emmitsburg October 9, 23, and November 6, and in Thurmont November 20 and December 4 from 9 a. m. – 11 a.m.
Stream-Link Education was recently awarded a grant through the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to plant 30 acres of trees along Frederick County streams, according to Lisa Baird, SLE’s Program Director.
Beginning this autumn, community officials look to put this funding to good use through SLE’s multi-year initiative starting at the Wastewater Treatment Plant along Tom’s Creek in Emmitsburg October 9 to plant forest buffers.
11 acres of land adjacent to Tom’s Creek, owned by the Town of Emmitsburg and 16 acres owned by the Daughters of Charity will be planted with 8,100 native trees and shrubs over the course of the next 2 years, according to the SLE September press release.
Forest buffers, or clusters of trees planted along waterways, filter stormwater and soak up excess nutrients before pollution ends up washing into creeks and rivers.
Forest buffers are a natural combat to climate change, including carbon sequestration, drinking water supply protection, wildlife habitat enhancement, floodwater mitigation, erosion control, soil revitalization, and air and stream temperature regulation, according to Baird.
"The thousands of native trees and shrubs will buffer, filter and ultimately reduce the most common pollutants coming from suburban and agriculture runoff that would normally flow into the Monocacy and the Potomac Rivers and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay. Specifically, 1,283 pounds of Nitrogen, 30.97 pounds of Phosphorus, and 34 tons of sediment per year will be intercepted by the buffer," according to John Smucker, SLE’s Executive Director.
Community engagement is a crucial component to the success of SLE projects, as well as fostering environmental ethics in the community and developing good stewards of land and water throughout the township.
"This project will educate and engage over 900 citizens in hands-on tree-planting and tree maintenance activities. Volunteer events are open to the public and citizens of all ages are encouraged to attend," Baird.
"Moreover, we estimate that this reforestation project will save the Town of Emmitsburg and its residents $434,712.62 in stormwater management costs," Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs said.
Many local organizations and partners have pledged support including local municipal green teams, chambers of commerce, numerous scout troops, 4-H clubs, YMCA youth camps, local, regional, and global environmental non-profits, including the Common Market and One Tree Planted, faith-based organizations, schools and academic institutions, businesses, and more.
"The Sisters are very good stewards of the environment; they are pleased to offer the 16 acres for planting," George Brenton, Administrator of the Daughters’ Emmitsburg Campus said.
The mission of SLE is to connect the community to environmental conservation through educational and meaningful volunteer tree planting experiences, according to Baird.
For more information about the SLE and its reforestation initiative, visit www.streamlinkeducation.org.
