Darby Creek Advocate Volume 10, Issue 2 September 2002
Corridor Fund completes first tree planting
DCA teams with Franklin Soil and Water District on Hellbranch project
The Darby Creek Association’s new Corridor Restoration Fund recently completed its first tree planting. Under the leadership of a key partner, the Franklin Soil and Water District (FSW), nearly a thousand native trees were planted in flood plain along Clover-Groff Run, an important tributary of Hellbranch Run.
The project materialized when the landowners, Karen and Randy Hirsch, committed to reforest part of their property at the northwest corner of U.S. Route 40 and Alton-Darby Road. The Hirsch’s goals were to improve water quality, enhance their property, and reduce the amount of lawn they had to mow. The floodplain portion of the property stays wet for long periods, and the Hirschs decided the best land use was woods.
Franklin Soil and Water used state and federal grant money to defray 75 percent of the project’s cost. DCA pitched in the remainder, meaning the project was completed at no cost to the Hirschs. The funds DCA contributed all came from donations from members received in the last year and a half. The trees were planted by volunteers from FSW, DCA, and the Hellbranch Residents Association.
DCA hopes this will be the first of many projects. Research has shown that a healthy riparian buffer is crucial to a stream’s health. A vegetated border reduces runoff, moderates water temperature, and dramatically improves in-stream habitat.
To build on the success of the Clover-Groff project, DCA has entered into an agreement with FSW to use Corridor Funds to reward landowners who participate in the district’s Hellbranch Program and choose the option of restoring buffers of 150 feet or greater. On such projects, combined funds from the two organizations will give landowners a forested buffer at no cost. By rewarding larger buffers, DCA and FSW hope to maximize protection. Interested landowners should contact Hector Santiago with FSW (801-9450).
Now that we have made this commitment, DCA must deliver. The Fund has already applied for one grant, and is looking into other money sources. We also hope to continue to attract individual donations from members and other concerned persons. Please consider using the form on the back of this newsletter
to donate to the Corridor Fund. No part of your donation will go to administrative expenses—every dollar will buy trees or other supplies.
Another way to contribute is to donate work. DCA is currently forming a pool of volunteer tree planters (see box on p. 2 for more information). Please consider joining this work crew, and reward yourself with the satisfaction of contributing to the creation of a lasting Darby legacy.