[275] Volunteers needed for Feb. 16 tree planting at Garrison Creek

For release:  Feb. 11, 2013

Tennessee Environmental Council contact: John McFadden, 615-330-5364

MTSU Stormwater Program contact: Cynthia Allen, 615-898-2660, Cynthia.Allen@mtsu.edu

MURFREESBORO — The Tennessee Environmental Council along with the MTSU and City of Murfreesboro Stormwater Program are seeking volunteers to help plant trees along Garrison Creek in east Murfreesboro.

The event will last from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. To register as a volunteer and for more information, visit http://tectn.org. Organizers are asking volunteers to devote one, two or three hours to mulching and planting trees, live staking or litter pick-up. 

The event is part of a two-day effort by the Environmental Council to plant 10,000 trees at various locations across the Midstate and statewide.

For the Garrison Creek event, the Environmental Council is partnering with the MTSU and City of Murfreesboro Stormwater Program, Stones River Watershed Association and Smyrna High School ROTC.

Volunteers should meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Kroger parking lot on Lascassas Pike and North Rutherford Boulevard. Volunteers should bring waterproof wading boots and a shovel along with gloves and warm clothing.

The Environmental Council is coordinating the project and will be donating the trees for planting along the city stream property. MTSU has assisted with local outreach, publicity and recruiting student and community volunteers, according to Cynthia Allen with the MTSU Stormwater Program.

The city and several partners have begun a long-term project to grow a natural habitat alongside Garrison Creek. Trees were planted in February, October and November of 2012, and vegetation has been allowed to grow with little or no mowing since then. With a very dry early growing season in 2012, the many trees planted in February suffered stress and algae mats in the spring blocked sunlight from reaching the live stakes. 

“Nevertheless, overall we have not been disappointed in the results of last year’s planting,” said Robert Haley with the city of Murfreesboro, adding that the Tennessee Environmental Council donated the trees.

According to the council, the overall goal of the project is to develop a stream protection zone to improve the local water quality. 

The plants and trees along the stream will filter out “urban pollutants” (yard chemicals, oils that leak onto pavement, loose dirt, etc.) that flow into the stream when it rains. The trees will also cool the water and provide a canopy that improves the home for fish and other aquatic wildlife. 

Details on the Feb. 16 event follow:

Where:  Kroger, 2050 Lascassas Pike (Park along the outside edge of center parking lot — look for volunteer signs)

When:  Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What to Bring:  Volunteers should bring waterproof wading boots and a shovel along with gloves and warm clothing.

Pre-Register Online: Go to http://tectn.org.

For more information, call John McFadden, executive director of the Tennessee Environmental Council, at 615-330-5364 or visit http://tectn.org.

To learn more about MTSU’s Stormwater Program and upcoming activities, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/stormwater/.

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