Pearl Plants Trees

Earlier this spring, Pearl spent an entire week planting trees in the Missisquoi Watershed on land owners properties in Enosburg and Lowell. In just a few days, 650 trees were planted! This would not have been possible without dedicated staff, volunteers, and furry friends.

These trees are going to serve as riparian buffers. A riparian buffer is an area of vegetation that includes grasses, shrubs, and trees and is located along the banks of water bodies such as rivers. These buffers improve water quality stabilize streambanks, provide habitat for wildlife, and help to manage floodwaters. 

The species of trees planted by Pearl and friends included black willow, shrub willow, silver maple, white pine, white oak, choke cherry, burr oak, and silky dogwood. These are native species to Vermont. This means that they occur naturally in their ecosystem and have adapted naturally to a local environment. It is important to plant native shrub and tree species because they support local wildlife, promote biodiversity, and require less maintance and water.

In addition to planting trees and shrubs, MRBA staff and students from North Country Union High School hammered willow stakes into the river bank of the Trout River. Willow staking is when a cutting is taken from willow trees and is then planted into the wet soils of streambanks. These woody plants will root quickly and hold in the soil as well as absorbing water.

Missisquoi River Basin Association has a long history with tree planting. Since the start of the organization in 1996, volunteers and staff have planted well over 20,000 trees along the banks of the Missisquoi River and its tributaries. These trees have had a large positive effect on the Missisquoi Watershed and will continue to serve as buffers, shelter, and food for the local ecosystem for years to come.

Pearl certainly had a blast during this week helping to dig holes and running from hole to hole to put her nose in the fresh dug dirt. One thing is for sure- Pearl will never pass up on a tree planting day.