Photo Courtesy of Dan Ressler, Associate Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Susquehanna University

Recently, Chesapeake Conservancy, Pennsylvania DCNR, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) have partnered with central Pennsylvania Universities to plant more trees on college campuses.

Susquehanna University, located in Snyder County, and Bucknell University, located in Union County, have been at the forefront of these efforts. Susquehanna and Bucknell Universities (whose plantings were funded by PA DCNR and CBF respectively) are both taking on the responsibility to protect the waterways of the Susquehanna watershed. Together, these tree plantings installed over four acres of Riparian Forest buffer. These forest buffers, which are streamside plantings of trees, will conserve the streambanks by stabilizing them and conserve the waterways by slowing rainwater runoff, mitigating nutrient and sediment pollution into the water. This process benefits water quality within central Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Ashley Spotts, with CBF, says, “We look forward to continuing this partnership with the Chesapeake Conservancy and Bucknell University to plant more trees on campus to improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.” In addition to protecting the waterways, forest buffers provide protection to the land by serving as a barrier during flooding events. 

All photos courtesy of Dan Ressler

Land Conservation Partners

Chesapeake Conservancy
Pennsylvania DCNR
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Susquehanna University
Bucknell University

Land Conservation Funders

Pennsylvania DCNR
Chesapeake Bay Foundation