Newark, Vermont – The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) and a multitude of partners planted 4,004 native trees and shrubs at five sites in New Hampshire and Vermont this spring.

These five projects covered nearly six acres of land along 3,200 feet of shore on the Connecticut River and its tributaries, including the Green River in Guilford, VT; the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, VT; Charles Brown Brook in Norwich, VT; and two different sites on Clark Brook in North Haverhill, NH. Planting trees and shrubs along these rivers and streams will help improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, filter out pollutants, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.

“This spring we spent three weeks planting native trees and shrubs at three sites, where private landowners were interested in protecting and improving fish and wildlife habitat and reducing soil erosion, and at two sites, where CRC had removed old dams in 2018”, noted CRC Conservation Scientist Fritz Gerhardt, who coordinated the projects with the landowners and project partners. “These projects would not have happened without the support and efforts of the landowners, funders, community members, and other project partners, all of whom helped improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and our local communities”, said Gerhardt.

CRC purchased the 4,004 native trees and shrubs from the Intervale Conservation Nursery in Burlington, VT and New England Wetland Plants in Amherst, MA. More than 80 community members volunteered to help plant these trees and shrubs, including local schools, businesses, Americorps, and Trout Unlimited chapters. Additional project partners included the Two Rivers-Ottaquechee Regional Planning Commission, Ecological Connections, Northwoods Stewardship Center, Billings Farm, Norwich Fire & Water District, and Blackmount Country Club.

Funding for these projects was provided by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, One Tree Planted, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, State of Vermont Ecosystem Restoration Program, and the many CRC supporters and members.

Since 2011, CRC and it partners have planted more than 33,500 native trees and shrubs along the main stem of the Connecticut River and numerous tributary rivers and streams in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. CRC works with public and private landowners (farmers, towns and other non-profit organizations) by applying for grants to fund and manage conservation and restoration projects.

CRC is a membership based nonprofit working to protect the watershed of the Connecticut River from source to sea through on-the-ground projects, public education and advocacy. To learn more or to support your rivers visit ctriver.org.

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Fritz Gerhardt
394 Beck Pond Road
Newark, VT 05871
802-535-1202
fgerhardt@ctriver.org