WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

The Power of Trees in a Watershed

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Trees that grow along waterways play a critical role in maintaining a healthy stream or river. Trees provide a huge list of benefits: from providing habitat and food to stabilizing banks and cleaning the water – trees do it all.

The Riparian Zone is the area of land that borders a waterway. This zone is very important for maintaining the health of the stream, and the trees and plants that grow in this area play a critical role in the function of a stream. Riparian trees provide a huge list of benefits: they shade the water to keep it cool, provide food and habitat, stabilize the banks of the stream and filter water to remove pollutants.

A mature leafed out canopy of a tree provides shade from the direct sunlight and keeps the water cooler. Many of the streams in this area are fed by ground water, which means that in a healthy system the water should be very cold. Cold water holds higher levels of oxygen than warm water, and as the stream water begins to warm up, oxygen levels can quickly decrease to the point that many kinds of stream life can no longer thrive. In many cases, streams can warm to the point that some stream life cannot survive. While many different things can cause a stream to warm up, one of the most obvious is a lack of riparian trees. Direct sunlight on a slow moving stream in the heat of August can rapidly warm the water, but by planting riparian trees this can be avoided.

A healthy riparian zone full of trees also provides food and habitat in the stream. In healthy headwaters or the start of a stream or river, the most important source of food is the leaves and branches that enter the waterway. This is called detritus, and is the foundation of the food pyramid. Major inputs, like the falling leaves in autumn, will feed the ecosystem through the entire winter. The leaves that fall into a stream get caught on rocks and sticks and form leaf packs, which are nutrient rich bonanzas for the stream ecosystem! For this reason, it is important that when replanting riparian areas that native plants are used, as many non-native plants do not have the same nutritional value, and will not be consumed when they enter a waterway. Trees and branches that fall into waterways also provide important cover and hiding places for many stream species. The fry, or baby fish, needs a cover to avoid being eaten by larger animals. In a natural undisturbed stream system, there would be log jams, snags, and loads of leaf packs in a waterway to provide this cover.

The canopy is not the only important part of the tree for our streams – the roots of a plant in a riparian area serve the important purpose of stabilizing the banks and slowing the rate of erosion. Erosion is a natural part of a stream’s life, but the rate of erosion can become a problem. When plants are removed from the banks, there is little to secure the soil and rocks along the edge of the waterway, and as rainfall causes water levels to rise and speed up, the force of the water begins to carry the loose bank downstream. This results in stream banks becoming steep, undercut and unstable, and large deposits occur downstream, which can smother existing stream life. Organisms like mussels can become buried underneath sediment that arrives rapidly from upstream erosion.

This May, the Watershed Protection Team is planting 250 trees at Ashbridge Preserve, and we need your help! Join us from May 23 through May 29 in populating the meadow at Ashbridge Lake with a diverse set of native trees and shrubs. This year, the tree planting is designed to take place over an entire week to allow for multiple small groups to come out and make a difference while staying safe and following COVID safety guidelines. We are doing our best to keep all volunteers safe while improving the habitat along Ridley Creek!

 

To access this year’s planting, we will need to cross Ridley Creek, so please come prepared in shoes that can get wet and muddy! Please bring your gloves and water bottles to stay hydrated during the planting.



This planting has been made possible by generous funding from the DCNR.

Darby Creek Headwaters Monitoring Program

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The Watershed Protection Program has teamed up with Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) and Stroud Water Research Center to create a citizen science water monitoring program in Darby Creek! This collaborative project aims to create a network of training and mentoring opportunities to empower the neighbors of Darby Creek to collect high quality stream data and become water advocates for their community. The long-term goal of this project is to use the information collected from Darby Creek to advise restoration decisions, like choosing the most effective location to improve riparian buffers or the best place to install a rain garden to slow down storm water entering the stream. Detailed monitoring data will also help to identify pollution sources and areas of the landscape that pose a risk to watershed health and integrity. Cultivating a stronger understanding of the waterway takes time and effort, and we are looking to the community for help!

Training for this program will focus on safety, data quality, and education on watershed ecology and the influence of humans on waterways. Individualized training will be provided to each volunteer to ensure that every person is confident in safety protocols and how to collect high quality data and water samples. In addition, volunteers will learn more about how human activity and landscape development affects the health of waterways beyond the borders of the headwater region. The creation of a volunteer network will provide a platform for volunteers to become stream advocates who are knowledgeable about current issues in the watershed and can speak to both the needs of the waterway itself, as well as the surrounding communities.

While the Trust is focusing on the headwaters of Darby Creek, our partnership with DCVA ensures that this program is being implemented throughout the entire Darby Creek Watershed. This whole-watershed approach will provide opportunities to learn about how the waterway changes as it moves downstream and will highlight challenges that local communities face such as flooding, thermal pollution, freshwater salinization, and erosion and sediment problems and will provide a foundation to address those issues. The data we collect will help address these concerns starting at the origin of the stream, right in the Trust’s program area. Our waterways are a valuable part of our environment and are a reflection of the health of the entire landscape – the more we understand how they are being impacted by human activity (and protected by highly valuable forests and wetlands), the more effective we can be at preserving and restoring them.

We are looking for volunteers! To learn more about this program, email lbm@wctrust.org, and to become a volunteer, contact director@dcva.org.

  • Darby Creek. Photo by Sue Miller,
    Darby Creek Valley Association.
  • Darby Headwaters Team.
    Photo by Evan Hunt.

From Tops of Trees to the Base of the Food Chain

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There is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, signaling that fall is here! Have you ever wondered what happens to the leaves that fall every autumn?  When the trees shed their leaves, the leaves continue to play an important role in the environment. They fall onto the land and return the nutrients back into the soil or blow into streams, where they are vital in sustaining our freshwater ecosystems through winter months.  As the leaves gather in our waterways, they get caught on rocks and on sticks and form masses called leaf packs.

Leaf packs are so much more than just bundles of leaves and sticks. They are nutrient rich pockets in the stream that provide cover and food for a wide diversity of stream insects. Raw leaves that enter the stream are hard to for insect larvae to eat, and need to be broken down before they can be consumed.  When leaves enter the waterway, they quickly become coated in a slimy biofilm, a name for a collection of algae, fungi and bacteria, which work quickly to condition leaves and turn them into a more palatable meal for macroinvertebrates. Some insects, like stoneflies, prefer to scrape the biofilm off of the leaves while others, like mayflies enjoy eating the leaf itself! As the leaf is broken down by the biofilm or shredded by insects, nutrients get carried downstream by flowing water and provide sustenance for other parts of the stream. Insects like caddisflies, live just downstream of the leaf packs and collect the floating leaf particles to eat.

Aquatic insects are a discerning group of organisms, and have preferences in what leaves they consume. Just as you and I may not order type of food at a restaurant, not all insects will prefer the same leaves! It has been documented that stream insects prefer native plants to non-native plants, and most insects studied have preferred types of native plants. It is important to have a diverse community of trees and shrubs along our waterways to provide a variety of leaves every fall to feed the aquatic community.

Leaf packs sustain a variety of insects throughout the winter months, and the annual addition of leaves into our headwater streams is critical for the health and survival of the aquatic ecosystem. These leaves feed the insects at the base of the food chain, which in turn feeds the many fishes, birds and mammals that rely on streams to survive.  We can be good stream stewards by planting a diverse community of native trees and shrubs along waterways and leave leaves where they fall to allow the nutrients to be reincorporated into the ecosystem to sustain another generation of life!

You can learn more about leaf packs from our friends at Stroud Water Research Center here!

Stonefly larvae are scrapers or grazers and eat the biofilm off of leave.
Predators exist wherever there is prey!  This dragonfly larva hunts the shredders and grazers in and around the leaf pack, and nutrients from the leaves are transformed up the food chain.

Mayfly larvae are shredders, and prefer to eat leaves which have been conditioned by biofilm.
Leaf packs gathering in Okehocking Run at Rushton Preserve.

Watershed Department Bids Farewell to Drexel Co-ops

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Co-ops participating in fish electroshocking research with the Academy of Natural Sciences and Willistown Conservation Trust this summer.

Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) is proud to participate in Drexel University’s Co-op program. Each year, from April to September, students join our Watershed Department to gain hands on field experience and learn from each of the different departments at the Trust. When Zack and Jules Smith joined the watershed team this spring, the Trust was already in lockdown. The whole team (Lauren, Evan, Zack and Jules) was not able to get together in person, so we met digitally, hoping that each week that we met via Zoom would be the last. Despite the many adjustments that set this co-op cycle apart from previous co-op  experiences, Zack and Jules showed that they had the adaptability of any great field researchers and were able to quickly join in the conversation and meaningfully contribute to the progress of the Watershed Protection Program.

Jules Smith

Jules:

When my co-op at Willistown Conservation Trust began at the beginning of April, I had no idea what to expect but the past few months have been nothing short of spectacular. One of my favorite parts of my co-op was participating in journal club discussions with the watershed team. Each time one of us presented a new topic connected to the work that is done at the Trust. I was continually learning new things, both from the papers we read and from Lauren, Zack, and Evan. Everyone’s willingness and eagerness to discuss such a wide range of science gave me new perspectives that I will carry with me long after my time at the Trust has ended.

The field work I was able to participate in allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for land conservation and understand the importance of proper preserve maintenance. Tree planting and stewardship days were especially impactful as I gained hands-on experience in caring for native plants. I loved being able to lend a hand in keeping the preserves beautiful for everyone who comes to enjoy them.

Zack Smith

Zack:

Coming into my co-op at WCT I was expecting an experience that was mainly field work based and required working in close proximity to other people, but as the Coronavirus pandemic settled in it was apparent that was no longer going to be the case. This change was confusing at first but ultimately provided a unique co-op experience. The past 6 months have emphasized the importance of flexibility. Though I was eager to start working in person I had to remind myself that times have changed, and I need to be able to adapt to the situation.

This theme carried throughout my time at WCT. The remote work that we did was pretty refreshing and educational. I really enjoyed searching for a report of the week and reading all about a genus or species only to change my mind a few hours later and do it all over again. Our long and meaningful discussions about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice have provided a much different experience than I was expecting. I feel like I have learned a lot about myself, society, and others through these conversations and I am grateful for the safe space we had.

Lastly, the weekly field days in the latter half of the co-op were such a treat and an even better break. Going in and getting that person-to-person interaction while doing physical work on the preserves was rewarding in many ways. Though the co-op didn’t look like I expected, at the end of the day it was an invaluable opportunity that provided many different experiences necessary to growing as a person and a scientist.

Although this summer did not go as anyone on the Watershed Team planned, it was a rich and wonderful experience to be joined by such dedicated and passionate researchers.  The contributions of Zack and Jules have made a strong impact on the department, and all of us at the Trust are excited to see what amazing things are in store for the co-op class of 2020!

How to Safely Pick Up Plastic Litter

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It is that time of year again – Plastic Free July!  In case you missed our previous blog posts on this topic, you can see them here!

We recognize that trying to reduce our plastic consumption during this period in history is tough – Americans are producing 30% more trash this year than the same period last year, and it seems like everything at the grocery store is wrapped in additional layers of plastic.  There is growing concern that the increase in plastic consumption is translating to a rise in plastic litter, particularly in single use masks and gloves being discarded in parking lots.  This leads to the question:

What can be done about the litter?

If you are interested in picking up litter along a stream bank, road, or around your neighborhood, there are some precautions you need to take to be sure that litter is the only thing you are picking up.

1)            Practice social distancing. If you are participating in a clean-up effort with people outside of your immediate family bubble, than be sure to remain at least six feet apart. If you are going to be in an area that has potential hazards, like along a waterway, be sure that you do go with a partner and stay safe six feet apart!

2)            Wear bright colors. Florescent colors and reflectors will help people to see you doing the important work of cleaning up litter, especially near high risk areas like roads. If you have extra gloves, you can invite them to join you in your efforts!

3)            Wear a mask. If you are in an area where other people might be around, please wear a mask.

Wear bright colors, a mask and gloves.

4)            Wear gloves.  You should always wear gloves when picking up litter!  A pair of disposable nitrile gloves ensures that anything that is transferred from the litter does not collect on your skin. Be sure to practice good glove etiquette and DO NOT TOUCH your face, clothes, exposed skin or water bottle with gloves that have been in contact with unknown litter (here is guide for teaching good glove technique!). It is very important that your gloves are non-permeable and disposable – unfortunately it means generating some waste in order to help reduce waste in our environment.  Your personal safety is the most important thing!

5)            Use trash pickers. If you have access to an extended grabber/reaching tool (like this one), you can use this to pick up garbage and reduce the contact with the potentially contaminated trash. We purchased the grabbers that we are using at the Trust from the Dollar store.  Be sure to sanitize your grabber after using it with hot soapy water or Clorox wipes.

6)            Keep an eye on your surroundings. While you are out cleaning up litter, stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings. This will keep you safe and you may notice beautiful details in your environment, like chicory or other native flowering plants.

Chicory at Ashbridge Preserve.

7)            Wash your hands. As soon as your gloves come off and are properly disposed of in your garbage bag, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands in hot, soapy water.

Evan Hunt and Lauren McGrath social distanced and ready to clean up the stream!

8)            Properly dispose of your collected litter. Check with your local municipality’s recycling and hazardous waste ordinances.

9)            Celebrate your efforts! Every clean-up effort should be celebrated with pictures, a hearty snack and a delicious cold drink to rehydrate after working hard in the July weather!

As always, when you are in the outdoors, remember to check the weather for any rain or excessive heat warning and plan accordingly (you might want to plan on going out in the cooler mornings or evenings), be mindful of boundaries and do not trespass, and drink plenty of water!

Have you picked up garbage during the pandemic? Send your pictures and tips to land@wctrust.org.

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. We will keep them open as long as it is safe to do so. While visiting our preserves, please practice social distancing and wear a mask if you encounter another person who will be closer than six feet … Learn more about our nature preserves.

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What Will You Discover? This Spring and Summer we invite you to discover first hand some of the compelling new projects the Trust has been working on: -A Master plan for Rushton Woods Preserve to make it better, richer and more accessible for all people to visit and be inspired to love and protect nature. -New … Donate Today

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Willistown Conservation Trust's mission is to: "preserve and manage the open land, rural character, … read more

WHERE WE WORK

The work of the Willistown Conservation Trust is concentrated on 28,000 acres of Willistown Township … read more