Poague Run – Sterling Example of Watershed Restoration
I watched the children carry their jars with native Brook Trout fingerlings to the edge of Poague Run. They carefully stepped close to the water and tipped the jars over releasing the fish into the stream. This simple act is a conservationist’s “Mount Everest”. Together, we climbed the mountain....
Earth Day Post for Middle Schoolers
American Sycamore – Fortress of the Stream Bank
One of eastern North America’s greatest native trees is the American Sycamore, Platanus occidentals. Perhaps the most endearing feature of this legendary tree is its bark, especially in winter when the white bark, mottled with green and brown is fully exposed.
This is What a Well Functioning Riparian Buffer Looks Like
There are many definitions of riparian buffer. In this post and the video linked here, we offer the elements of a well-functioning buffer and show what they look like. Riparian buffers are one of the most effective Best Management Practices to abate non-point source water pollution. The word “riparian” comes from...
Planting and Growing a Successful Riparian Forest Buffer
I have been involved with over 500 miles of riparian buffer plantings and have witnessed plenty of failures and successes. I would like to share with you what I believe is the recipe for success, that being TREE CANOPY CLOSURE IN TEN YEARS.
Harpers Ferry – a History Steeped in Irony
I’m standing in the middle of the footbridge across the Potomac River at Harper’s Ferry looking downstream. Beneath me flows the nation’s river that at this point in its journey, drained six million acres of land.
Enthusiasm Gas Tank for Riparian Forest Buffers Refilled at Stroud
I recently attended a “Stream and Buffer Ecology Workshop” at the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, Pennsylvania. Stroud is a world-class research facility for fresh water science. This year their “Moorhead Environmental Complex” was awarded a “Platinum LEED” rating, which is the nation’s highest certification for green construction.
In The Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Agriculture is Half Way in Doing Their Part to Restore the Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation asked me to write several articles about farmers doing their part to improve the soil and water resources on their farms. These articles are designed to showcase how and why, these farmers installed Best Management Practices such as “stream-side fencing” to exclude livestock from streams.
Tree Shelters, Are They Worth It And If So When Should They Be Removed?
Author preparing to plant a “bare-root” hardwood seedling into tall fescue sod. When converting grasslands to forest it has been a common practice to plant bare-root, hardwood tree seedlings directly into the sod. Most recently tree shelters have been used to increase the growth rate and survival of hardwood (not pine)...
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“I read every one of Bobby’s blog posts. They keep me informed on everything from their cattle farm operation to their best management practices in action. His blog always features relevant information on keeping our waters clean, our soil out of the runoff, and other environmental issues of our time.”
