Blue Ridge Watershed Coalition (BRWC)
planted 24 flowering trees at Moulton Park in Jefferson
County, WV on May 3rd, 2014. BRWC took on this
project after a similar, and very positive, experience last
year at Blue Ridge Primary School. More significantly, it
was very much in line with our charter to maintain and
enhance the Shenandoah River and the greater watershed. The
site is adjacent to the river and is, besides a park, a
formal campsite and boat launch site for public as well as
commercial use of the river. Consequently, it is subject to
damage, erosion and general wear and tear with impact on the
river. The weather for the planting was ideal, partly sunny
but not too hot.
This phase of the project was meant to
enhance the aesthetics of the park by planting three species
of flowering trees; serviceberry, redbud and dogwood. A
future phase is being considered to reinforce and control
erosion of the river bank. Twenty-four trees were planted,
half along the road for privacy and the others distributed
among the campsites and common areas.
Twenty-two volunteers formally signed
up for the planting on May 3. These were all Jefferson
County residents, many were BRWC members and family and some
were individuals who learned of the project by word of mouth
or from newspaper ads. Six to ten BRWC members volunteered
on May 2 to dig the holes.
The tree planting demonstration was a
valuable, necessary, much appreciated and essential part of
the project.
A note from the Project Leader, Tom
Romero:
“The step by step guidance, instruction
and examples made my job as the Project Leader so much
easier. From the application process through
advertising/recruiting and the actual planting, I always
felt I had experienced hands to rely on.”