Carroll Valley Park Riparian Forest Buffer
Riparian forest buffers are the trees and shrubs planted along streams that help maintain the health of our waterways.
What looks like hundreds of tubes throughout the park right now, are beginning to show signs that they will one day be trees and shrubs. These tubes, or tree shelters, are designed to protect the native tree and shrub seedlings that were planted in April 2019.
Adams County Conservation District managed a grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to fund and coordinate the installation of these native trees and shrubs.
PA DCNR is leading a broad initiative to increase riparian forest buffer establishment statewide, including providing grants to install riparian forest buffers along waterways in Pennsylvania.
Riparian forests buffers act as filters for the sediments and pollutants from farm fields, residential lawns, and roadways to help keep them from reaching the water.
Trees provide numerous benefits to our ecosystems, communities and health.
Environmental Benefits
- Improve bank stability, reduce erosion
- Flood control and storm water management
- Provide wildlife habitat - food, protection, and homes for mammals and birds
- Shade and cool the water temperature
- Filter sediment and pollutants before reaching the stream
- Improve air quality
Community & Economic Benefits
In addition to environmental health, trees provide countless benefits to strengthen the health of our communities and local economy.
Trees foster a strong social community. Having trees in communities have been known to strengthen social development, reduce crime, and provide spaces for people to come together.
Health Benefits
Trees contribute multiple benefits to our physical and mental health. It has been shown that spending time among trees and green spaces reduces the amount of stress that we carry around with us in our daily lives.
Children have been shown to retain more of the information taught in schools if they spend some of their time outdoors in green spaces.
Promoting physical activity, increasing hospital recovery time, and lessening the symptoms of stress and anxiety are just a handful of the ways trees boost physical and mental well-being.
For more information about planting native trees and shrubs on your property, please contact
Joe Hallinan, Watershed Specialist
670 Old Harrisburg Road, Suite 201, Gettysburg PA 17326
717-334-0636 x3042
