Friends of the Cheat is looking for help planting trees this week.
The nonprofit’s goal is to restore 20 acres of riparian habitat this spring.
Plantings will be held today through Friday. A signup form through Google docs is available at facebook.com/friendsofthecheat.
Participants can sign up for a four-hour morning or afternoon session or six-plus-hour full day, depending on their availability.
Details and next steps will be emailed after signing up.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, properly designed riparian buffers can protect stream water quality by intercepting and filtering pollution and stabilizing stream banks.
Leaves and branches intercept rainfall, which reduces its erosive impact while also providing shade and helping keep a stream cooler while protecting it from rapid temperature changes. A tree’s roots help bind the soil together.
Vegetation and plant debris slow surface runoff, which encourages sediments and contaminants to settle before entering the water, according to the USDA.
“These trees are going to work wonders for the river and streams they will be planted along,” according to the Friends of Cheat Facebook post.
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