Staff and volunteers for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey recently planted 575 native trees at Yards Creek Preserve in Blairstown, thanks to a grant from the Roots for Rivers program.
Once the mature forest is established, it will reduce erosion and rehabilitate wetlands on the Paulins Kill River, which feeds the Delaware. The trees will also provide shade to cool the water, discourage invasive species from growing, provide a root system to stabilize stream banks, filter out pollutants, and store flood waters. The restored floodplains will also supply food and habitat for a diversity of wildlife.
Sandy Urgo, TLCNJ’s Vice President of Land Preservation, is pleased with the results. “We endeavor to be excellent stewards of land after we acquire and preserve it. Years from now, this will be a forest filled with mighty oaks, which is an amazing legacy for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, the Roots for Rivers program, and every volunteer who gave so generously of their time and energy. Thanks to the grant and our friends who were willing to come out and work hard on our behalf, it was a success!”
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