Planting a tree has a true environmental benefit. Trees provide shade for people, animals, and aquatic life, as well as, lessen thermal impacts to our streams and waterways. Trees uptake nutrients and lessen impact to ground water pollution, provide food for people and wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and so much more.
If you or your organization is interested in conducting a project such as this, please contact the Washington County Soil Conservation District at 301-797-6821, Ext. 3 and ask for Denise Price, Urban Program Director.
Fountaindale Elementary
October 19, 2010, the District, along with Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service, Staples, Sun Edison, Fountaindale Elementary School and North Hagerstown High School students planted 150 trees on the Fountaindale Elementary School campus.
This planting was a result of Staples and Sun Edison’s commitment to planting trees (purchased via the Maryland Forest Service’s Tree-Mendous Maryland Program) above and beyond what was required of them via the Forest Conservation Program and working with the District to make it happen.
In addition to their aesthetic value, the trees reduce yard maintenance and minimize thermal impacts to the stream flowing through the campus, as well as, overall benefits to the Antietam Creek Watershed.
Williamsport School Complex
The Washington County Soil Conservation District, in partnership with the Washington County Board of Education, Department of Natural Resources, Elementary, Middle, and High School Students from Williamsport Schools (approximately 80 students), and the Lion’s Club held an educational/outreach tree planting at the Williamsport School Complex, November 3, 2011. Sunny Meadows Greenhouse, donated 14 larger trees toward the project, while the Lions Club provided the funding for the majority of the trees, via the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tree-Mendous Maryland Program and the Washington County Board of Education supplied 60 cubic yards of mulch. Denise Price, the District’s Urban Program Director, brought all the partners together and handled the logistics for the event, as well as, worked with Aaron Cook (Forester) Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Paul Breakall (IPM Coordinator/Turf Care Technician), Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE), to select the best suited trees and there location for the school site.
John Swauger and Kristin Shank from Washington County’s Department of Public Works (Engineering and Construction) were on hand to assist and supervise students planting trees.
The Lion’s Club, participated as part of their international Million Tree Planting Campaign. The link below provides more information regarding their efforts:
Four local Lions Club members participated and acted as the project coordinators for the Club.
Planting a tree has a true environmental benefit. Trees provide shade for people, animals, and aquatic life, as well as, lessen thermal impacts to our streams and waterways. Trees uptake nutrients and lessen impact to ground water pollution, provide food for people and wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and so much more. The trees at Williamsport were planted in an area adjacent to an Unnamed Tributary to the Potomac River, to provide an educational area for students during and following the planting, as well as, lessen mowing, i.e. WCBOE staff time, air pollution from mowers, etc.
County Properties
The Washington County Soil Conservation District (District), in partnership with the Washington County Board of Public Works (Public Works), the Washington County Roads Department (Roads Department), Washington County Division of Environmental Management, and the Department of Natural Resources, held a tree planting at two County owned properties, along the stream at the Roads Department on Northern Avenue and along Spring Valley Drive – two County owned lots within the subdivision, as a part of meeting goals under the requirement for Maryland’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The trees were planted by (approximately 11 District & County staff, as well as, a member of the Antietam Watershed Alliance), and purchased, via the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Tree-Mendous Maryland Program. Denise Price, the District’s Urban Program Director, brought all the partners together and handled the logistics for the event, as well as, worked with Aaron Cook (Forester) Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Elmer Weibley, District Manager, for the District, to select the best suited trees and there location. Elmer worked with Public Works to finalize the Memorandum of Agreement and Notice to Proceed, as well as, the Roads Department to have the holes drilled.
Funding was provided through monies within the County’s budget, for practices, such as, this to meet the WIP goals.
Back to Top