This week, Earth Week, the North Salem Open Land Foundation (NSOLF) and the North Salem Conservation Advisory Council teamed up for spring clean up efforts at two NSOLF-owned sites: Baxter and Durand Preserves. The organizations planted native dogwoods and willow trees along waterways at the two preserves to help prevent erosion and to clean the water as it flows downstream into larger rivers, ponds and lakes.
Representatives from the North Salem Open Land Foundation and the Conservation Advisory Council prepped stream areas at both preserves as part of a statewide “Trees for Tribs” initiative. “Trees for Tribs” is a New York Department of Environmental Conservation program that works to reforest New York’s tributaries. The program’s goal is to plant trees and shrubs along streams to help decrease erosion, reduce flood damage, improve wildlife and stream habitat and protect water quality. The North Salem Open Land Foundation has planted around 300 trees since 2020 as part of this effort.
Jocko McKean, NSOLF, Andrew Middlebrook NSOLF and Virginia Connolly, CAC. (Image courtesy of Virginia Connolly)Virginia Connolly, member of the Conservation Advisory Council, looks forward to a continued partnership with the NSOLF. “The CAC enjoys working collaboratively with the NSOLF. We learn so much from their expertise and are always very pleased if we can be of assistance to help them complete any of their projects. For us working on this was a lot of fun to be outside helping to make a difference.”
Andrew Middlebrook and Jocko McKean organized a "Trees for Tribs" effort in North Salem this week. (Image courtesy of Virginia Connolly) Andrew Middlebrook, director of stewardship for NSOLF, said, “I truly thank all of the CAC and their members who were able to come out and share their time with us. It is a lot of work to maintain these sites and we appreciate all the help we can get from the community.”
Andrew Middlebrook from NSOLF and Holly Thomson from the CAC. (Image courtesy of Virginia Connolly)
