Free trees, shrubs, native plants to Buffalo Creek watershed residents
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The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is offering free trees, shrubs and native plants to residents of the Buffalo Creek watershed, particularly those who live along a creek or stream.
Considered to be one of the wildest, untouched natural areas in the Pittsburgh region, the Buffalo Creek watershed covers about 170 square miles in 22 communities from Freeport to Butler.
“We want to connect people with information — and trees — to keep the Buffalo Creek watershed healthier and cleaner,” said Sarah Koenig, Audubon’s conservation director.
Maintaining buffer zones with native trees, shrubs and plants helps residents protect their stream banks, stop erosion and attract wildlife. About 98% of the watershed is privately owned.
The buffers also are better for the water, stopping migration of soil and chemicals used on lawns or for agriculture and road salt.
Audubon has secured grants totaling more than $1 million from federal and state agencies to maintain and increase water quality in the watershed. A portion of that money is paying for the free trees.
How to get free trees
Here’s the deal: Audubon is seeking to offer free trees and shrub plantings including hazelnut, paw paw, black raspberries and elderberries to landowners with a stream.
The nonprofit is also looking for residents to participate in a Zoom workshop on streamside buffer zones on Oct. 15, 22 and 29.
Residents can receive one free tree with each of three workshops.
One of the workshop leaders, Andrew Rohrbaugh, a botanist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will discuss invasive plants and how to get rid of them from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15.
“Many people have ‘green blindness’ and think that if it’s green, it’s good,” Rohrbaugh said.
But that’s not the case.
“Our native plants evolved in a landscape in partnership with native insects, butterflies, birds and animals,” he said. “ If you want your stream buffer to be the best to provide good wildlife habitat and protect your streams, you will want to encourage native plants.”
Workshops include:
Oct. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., “Healthy Buffers, Healthy Streams” and “Invasive Species: How to Identify and Treat Them”
Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., “In-Stream Work: Best Practices, Woody Debris, and More” and “Managing Streams for Wildlife”
Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., “Clean Water Starts Here: Best Practices for Around the Home” and “Stream Restoration and Streambank Stabilization”
Tree distribution for participating in the workshops will be held on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Buffalo Creek Nature Center site, 154 Monroe Road, Buffalo Township.
To learn if you qualify for free tree and shrub planting, contact Sarah Koenig, conservation director, at skoenig@aswp.org or 412-963-6100.
To register for the workshops, please visit Audubon’s website visit www.aswp.org or call 412-963-6100. A link to join the meeting will be emailed prior to the workshop.