When autumn leaves drift from forest canopies into creeks, they can look like waste waiting to be cleared away. In a healthy watershed, however, this seasonal…
Posts
Why fallen leaves are vital for stream health
Reforesting Five Miles of Potomac Tributaries
A healthy river begins far beyond its main channel. Small creeks, runs, and branches carry rainwater through forests, farms, neighborhoods, and towns before…
How to Host a Virtual Seed Identification Workshop
A virtual seed identification workshop can turn a seasonal collection activity into an accessible lesson in tree biology, forest restoration, and watershed…
Red and white oaks: why acorn crops vary
Acorn production differs substantially between red oaks and white oaks, even when the trees grow in the same forest and experience the same weather. The…
Growing Native and the conservation districts restoring the watershed
Healthy forests and clean streams depend on work that continues across property lines, seasons, and communities. In the Potomac River watershed, Growing Native…
How to Identify American Hornbeam Seeds in the Field
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a small native hardwood found along streams, wooded slopes, floodplains, and moist forests throughout much of…
The Role of Herbivory in Restoring Riparian Zones
Riparian zones are the living margins beside rivers, streams, and wetlands. Their trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous plants stabilize soil, filter runoff,…
How to estimate seed yield before a collection day
A productive seed collection day begins well before volunteers arrive with buckets and gloves. Estimating the likely seed yield helps organizers choose a…
Native Streamside Trees That Create Lasting Shade
Small streams depend on the trees that line their banks. A well-planted riparian corridor can cool shallow water, shelter fish and insects, stabilize soil, and…
Why Upstream Forests Matter to Washington D.C. Residents
Washington, D.C., sits near the mouth of a much larger ecological system. The Potomac River does not begin at the city line, and the condition of its water is…