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Community Forestry
Background:
Since 1997, the Friends of the Shiawassee River have worked collaboratively with other agencies to plant trees and other vegetation in the riparian areas along the Shiawassee River. By providing a 'buffer zone', trees help stabilize stream banks by anchoring soil in place, and keep serve to reduce sedimentation in the river system. Since our first tree planting near the Owosso airport along the Jim Miner Walkway, connecting Owosso to Corunna, the FOSR have worked with community partners, volunteers and students to plant over 200 trees and shrubs along the Shiawassee River and, Loop Trail and Jerome St. in downtown Owosso. We've provided assistance through volunteer support for other organizations to help plant rain gardens (or bio-retention systems) in Owosso that serve as 'mini' wetlands to help absorb and slow excess water before reaching the river system.
The FOSR have also partnered to celebrate Arbor Day in the City of Owosso. The event, aimed at fostering an appreciation of trees in the urban and suburban landscape for the environmental, social, and economic services they provide to the community and aquatic system, was first celebrated in Owosso by planting 2 large balled and burlapped trees at our Spring Riverbank Cleanup in April of 2008. In 2009, the FOSR once again worked with the City of Owosso to plant a tree with 3rd and 6th grade students followed by a planting of a 'mini-nursery' of young white pine seedlings which the students will care for.
Conservation work:
The City of Owosso, in partnership with the FOSR, was recently awarded a DNR Urban and Community Forestry Grant in 2010 to continue tree planting along Jerome St. and Harmon Patridge Park. A diverse assemblage of nearly 30 large balled and burlapped native trees will be planted in the spring of 2010 to further improve the City and the Shiawassee River. Volunteers, school groups, clubs, service groups and churches that wish to sign up to help should contact the Friends of the Shiawassee River at 989-723-9062 or info@shiawasseeriver.org.
Riparian Revegetation
Background:
Riparian landowners play a key role in protecting our water quality and habitat for native aquatic species. Because adjacent landuse can greatly influence the river as it flows downstream for others to enjoy, it is critical that we all serve as good stewards of our land. The FOSR encourage landowners to employ Best Management Practices whether their land is in agricultural production, a suburban setting, or a small residential lot. To this end, the FOSR support The Nature Conservancy in Michigan and their partnership with the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources to secure funding and develop programming to direct conservation activities in key subwatersheds.
The Friends of the Shiawassee River are also parntering with the Saginaw Conservation District and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife program to address highly eroded river banks in Saginaw County. This program will identify critical areas for restoration to prevent further erosion from damaging the delicate river ecosystem and protecting the integrity of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, located just south of the City of Saginaw.
Conservation Work:
Landowners with eroding stream banks are encouraged to look into options to help stabilize soil. Assistance may be provided through local NRCS offices.
Landowners in Saginaw County interested in addressing areas experiencing severe erosion may get more information by contacting The Nature Conservancy and Friends of the Shiawassee River at 989-723-9062 or info@shiawasseeriver.org.
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