Mad River bank stabilization efforts continue
Forty volunteers turned out on Tuesday to help plant 200 native trees and shrubs along the Mad River in Carruthers Memorial Park.
According to Laura Wensink of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), the trees and shrubs help in many ways. She said, “the leaves shade the river, the berries and acorns provide food, the branches provide habitat, the trunks sequester carbon and the roots help to stabilize the soil. We planted eight species, including bur oak, nannyberry and white cedar. If you visit Carruthers Memorial Park, you might notice the green tree shelters, which protect the young seedlings from damage by deer and rabbits.”
The tree planting is part of the Mad River Enhancement Program, which has been ongoing for the past three years, in cooperation with Friends of the Mad River (FOMR). Another phase of river restoration is planned for Carruthers Memorial Park this summer.
Wensink says, if anyone missed this volunteer tree plant event, they can still help at tree plants on May 10 and 24 in Wasaga Beach, Angus and Mono Centre. To sign up, visit the NVCA’s volunteer page at www. nvca.on.ca.
The event was supported by an EcoAction grant from the Government of Canada and donations from FOMR. To support ecosystem restoration efforts, donate via www.canadahelps.org by selecting “Mad River Enhancement” or any other NVCA programs.
