UofL researcher, high school students, to plant trees

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The director of the Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Louisville and students from Male High School will plant hundreds of trees this weekend in an effort to improve water quality in Cedar Creek.

    The tree planting will take place Dec. 10 along Cedar Creek, which flows into Floyds Fork, a tributary of the Salt River. American sycamore, swamp chestnut, swamp white oak, black willow, red maple, silky dogwood and Eastern redbud trees will be planted.

    The volunteers plan to plant 300 trees at the site, creating what is known as a riparian zone. Altogether, a total of 1,500 trees at several sites along streams in the metropolitan area will be planted before the end of January.

    “Reestablishing riparian zones are important in providing wildlife habitat and protecting water quality in streams. The trees will help filter pollutants and debris, keep water temperatures cooler to increase the water’s ability to hold oxygen and reduce erosion,” said Russ Barnett, director of the institute and chair of the Salt River Watershed Watch.

    The planting site is 9302 Bartley Drive, Louisville, on property owned by the Metropolitan Sewer District. Volunteers will be there from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Other sites are to be determined.

    For further information, contact Barnett at (502) 852-1851 or Russell.barnett@louisville.edu.

     

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    Janet Cappiello covers student success for the Office of Communications and Marketing. She has more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, including working for The Associated Press and magazines such as Vegetarian Times and Sustainability: The Journal of Record. She has been at UofL since 2014.