OCNRCD seeking participants for 2018 Trees for Stream Initiative
Middlebury VT- The Otter Creek Natural Resource Conservation District (OCNRCD) is currently seeking landowners within the District who live along rivers or streams and are interested in installing riparian buffers on their property during the 2018 growing season.
Riparian buffers are the grasses, shrubs, and/or trees that grow along streams. In natural conditions these plants colonize streambanks, controlling erosion and helping to filter and clean stormwater runoff before it enters our waterways. Without this protection, streambanks become unstable, erode, and become a greater source of non-point source pollution.
According to the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s most recent State of the Lake report, the erosion of streambanks accounts for roughly 20% of VT’s total phosphorus load into the Lake. Stream bank erosion is of particular concern in the Winooski watershed where so many live and work adjacent to our rivers.
If you own property along a stream or river and would be interested in having a riparian buffer planted on your property, contact OCNRCD’s manager, Pam Stefanek at pam.stefanek@vt.nacednet.net to set up a site visit. Landowners who participate in the program will be required to contribute a small portion of the planting cost and commit to a long-term stewardship of the buffers once planted.
For more information on participating in our Trees for Streams initiative or for more information on conservation programs and resources provided visit https://www.ottercreekconservation.org/. The Otter /creek Natural Resources Conservation District is one of 14 conservation districts throughout Vermont. It encompasses most of Addison County. The district relies on grants and individual donations to complete its conservation work. The OCNRCD focuses its resources on completing conservation projects within the areas of agricultural assistance, forestland enhancement, urban conservation and watershed stewardship.