Last Thursday Herb Peddicord, WVDOF, and Cacapon Institute helped students with a Tree Planting At Musselmen High. CI has been working with the students for several months discussing stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution. Students have identified “hot spots” on campus (link to map in the above article). After discussing the problem with the administration and grounds management, the students chose a site next to the largest parking lot for their first watershed restoration project. They designated a low-mow area where the grass will only be cut 2-3 times a year. The resulting taller grass will trap sediment passing over the area from the parking lot (and save wear and tear on the mowers that struggle in the wet area). They planted trees to define the low-mow area and will be installing a sign before the end of the school year. The Girl Scouts of Shawnee Council, who have been doing a Future Leaders of Watershed project taking Musselmen students to local elementary and middle schools to demonstrate the Enviroscape, contributed the 20 B&B ~2” caliper trees.
Notice in the photos how we had to dig out the B&B trees’ root collars that were burried up to ½ a foot during the transplanting process.
Future potential projects include a green roof, improving a wetland on site, natural stream restoration to control errosion, and constructed wetlands and rain gardens.