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DCNR Highlights Stream Buffer Role In Improving Habitat, Water Quality At Big Elk Creek State Park, Chester County

On April 25, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Norristown crew planting trees along the waterway at Big Elk Creek State Park in Chester County to create wildlife habitat and improve local water quality and biodiversity.

The planting is part of a more than 300-acre restoration project at Big Elk Creek State Park that was added to the state park system in 2022.

Earth Day is April 22 and Arbor Day April 26.

“Earth Week is the time to think about the difference each of us can make protecting our land and water. Planting trees, especially along streams, improves the quality of our water nearby, and downstream,” Dunn said. “Streamside buffers and native meadows also help address and offset the impacts of climate change by holding and storing carbon, slowing down flooding caused by severe weather, requiring less mowing, cooling the water as summer temperatures reach new levels, and providing food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife.”

The restoration work is being accomplished in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with a grant through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program supported by federal dollars.

DCNR leads a statewide effort to plant trees along streams to improve water quality, restore habitat, and help sequester carbon among many other benefits.

“Big Elk Creek is a beautiful stream system, in large part thanks to the mature forests that already surround much of it. The new plantings will improve water quality and wildlife habitat even more, and it’s been amazing to help accomplish that over such a large scale,” said Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Senior Forests Projects Manager Ryan Davis.

A four-member crew of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps that is working with DCNR and the Alliance all week planting trees is based in Norristown.

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is a statewide workforce initiative to introduce people ages 15-25 to natural resource conservation and related jobs.

To improve public lands, Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 budget builds on the success of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps with a $5 million investment in a regional effort to diversify and strengthen conservation career and workforce pathways for young people.

About 80 acres of meadows were seeded on former agricultural fields at Big Elk Creek in 2023 and are coming into bloom this spring.

This month, tree plantings are occurring on more than 255 acres of streamside buffer areas at the park.

The tree planting areas are currently hay or crop fields.

Some of the 2,000 trees and shrubs being planted with the Outdoor Corps this week include-- Red and Silver maple, Hackberry, Redbud, Silky dogwood, Spicebush, Tulip-poplar, Blackgum, Sycamore, White and Swamp white oak, Sassafras, and Basswood.

The grant to the Alliance, which supports the meadow work and the streamside buffer establishment project, amounts to around $3 million and involves work in other locations.

The 1,800-acre Big Elk Creek State Park in southern Chester County was added to the Pennsylvania state park system in September 2022.

Celebrating Earth Week

Dunn said there are actions that we all can take to celebrate Earth Week--

-- Plant a native tree in your yard or community;

-- Make a donation to the Keystone Tree Fund, which supports tree planting along streams and in communities

-- Volunteer to assist with cleanups or trail maintenance at a state park or forest or near where you live;

-- Take a child outdoors.

More information for property owners about buffering your stream and sharing your backyard with nature, as well is information about Big Elk Creek State Park is on the DCNR website.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog, Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

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