In an effort to stem the deterioration of the Darby ecosystem, the Darby Creek Association has established a fund to protect and restore streamside corridors throughout the Darby watershed. Called the Darby Creek Restoration Fund, this fund will solicit money from a variety of sources and direct it into projects to recreate a vegetated buffer along Big Darby and its tributaries.

This fund will offer concerned citizens and organizations the opportunity to contribute money that is guaranteed to be funneled directly into the Darby corridor.

DCA will work to partner with other organizations doing similar projects in the watershed. Landowners in the watershed will be able to apply for grants from the fund for projects to restore wooded buffers on their property. Projects may include tree and native grass plantings, easements, set-asides, and wetland protection, among others.

Research has shown that a vegetated buffer is one of the most important protectors of water quality. Vegetation reduces erosion, slows stormwater runoff, regulates water temperature, and filters contaminants before they can reach a stream. The removal of vegetated borders in many areas of the Darby watershed has contributed to a downward trend in biodiversity in the creek over the last few decades.

A major goal in establishing the fund is to support projects on residential properties along Darby and its tributaries, since such parcels generally have less access to existing reforestation programs than agricultural land. One priority will be to support the Hellbranch Greenway Plan, which recommends streamside buffers to offset some of the impact of increasing development in western Franklin County.

Beyond this, long-term projects will have a higher priority, and trustees will look to target particularly sensitive areas of the watershed.

Tax deductible contributions can be made using the form on p. 8 of this newsletter. For more information on the fund, including how to apply for grants, contact John Tetzloff (Ph. 276-4550, email jftetzloff@aol.com).