Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (MRC) and the Town of Greensboro have formed a partnership to develop and implement the Greensboro Tree Initiative. With a total of $43,247 awarded from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this project will identify opportunities to improve water quality in the Choptank River using the environmental benefits of trees.
Trees improve water quality by filtering and absorbing polluted runoff that would otherwise enter the river unfiltered. The goals of the project are to identify the current conditions of the tree canopy throughout the town, locate new planting sites, and rank sites based on potential improvements to water quality. By prioritizing sites, trees can be planted in areas with the greatest capacity to soak up water. High priority areas may include those located next to natural drainage paths, where the volume of flow is high, and areas next to expanses of impervious surfaces—pavement and hard surfaces where water can’t infiltrate into the ground.
Joe Steinfeld of Davey Resource Group and Keitasha Royal of Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy conduct a detailed tree survey as part of the Greensboro Tree Initiative.
The result of this analysis will be a five-year execution plan for the project. If fully implemented, the plan will assist the Town in increasing tree canopy coverage and improving local water quality.
The project will also focus on engaging the citizens of Greensboro in the tree initiative. Residents will be surveyed to better understand viewpoints on the health of the river, trees in the community, and their roles in cleaning up the waterways.
“Being right on the banks of the Choptank River, the Town of Greensboro is in a great location for using increased tree cover to benefit local water quality,” says Choptank Riverkeeper Matt Pluta. “Planting a tree is an easy and effective way to get community members engaged in improving their local environment.”
MRC will host a public meeting on February 16 at 6:30 p.m. to introduce the project to the community, and get feedback and input on the project framework. The meeting will be held at the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company, located at 116 North Main Street. The meeting is free and open to the public; Greensboro residents are especially encouraged to attend.
“The Town of Greensboro is very excited about the tree initiative,” says Town Manager Jeannette DeLude. “It will not only help us to improve water quality in the Choptank River, but also provide needed shade for the park area and improve the visual landscape. Greensboro is proud to implement strategies to help improve the environment for our citizens. This is just the start of a wonderful project.”
For more information or to RSVP for the meeting, please contact Greensboro Town Manager Jeannette DeLude at (410) 482-6222 or jdelude@greensboromd.com.
MRC partnered with the Town of Greensboro as an approved NFWF Technical Assistance Provider. This means MRC provides technical support, manages projects, and submits and manages grants on behalf of beneficiaries. Such partnerships provide beneficiaries with increased access to funds, technical expertise, and project management skills
To learn more, contact Matt Pluta at matt@midshoreriverkeeper.org, or 443.385.0511.
