In the week of September 21-27, 2020, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) conservation team joined the second year event of the “Roots for Rivers” in Princeton hosted by the Mercer County Park Commission.
The Roots for Rivers Reforestation Grant and Technical Assistance Program is funded by The Nature Conservancy as part of their ongoing efforts to plant 100,000 trees in New Jersey by 2020.
The Mercer County Park Commission was seeking to plant 1,200 trees and shrubs at Rosedale Park in Princeton the week of September 21. This Roots for Rivers planting would improve water quality in the Stony Brook – Millstone watershed and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators. The planting was originally scheduled for April of this year, but was postponed due to COVID.
The Commission had since developed volunteering guidelines based on information from the CDC and the New Jersey Department of Health that ensure the safety of staff and volunteers. Volunteers provided their own gloves, masks, water, and any other refreshments. The Park Commission provided tools needed for the planting and sanitized them between group use. Masks were required when people are within six feet of each other. However, the Commission was limiting group sizes so that people could spread out. It will comply with and enforce any other federal or state laws related to COVID in effect at the time of the planting.
Shifts were from 9 am – 12 pm and 1 – 4 pm each day on a first come, first serve basis. Alex Rivera, Land Steward of the Mercer County Park Commission led the volunteer events. More than a thousand volunteers from the Greater Princeton area planted 1,200 trees within a week! In addition, GPA members volunteered for the following tasks:
Stewardship – We help keep our trails and grounds in a pleasant condition. Clear brush and invasive plants.
Trail Watchers and Guardians of the Trail – We help regularly monitor and maintain the over 10 miles of trails on our 950-acre Watershed Reserve. Guardians commit to coming at least once a month to work on a specific trail. Trail Watchers help as they can without making a specific time commitment.
Litter Patrol – We help keep the Watershed pristine by helping with this late winter/early spring litter patrol along the Watershed’s surrounding roads. For example, Amber Yu spent 2 hours on 9/27 cleaning the Turning Basin Park.
Participants (9/26, 4 hrs for all): Fengqi Wen, Lan Cheng, Xin Chen, Catherine Feng, Ryan Tian, Tiffany Tian, Steven Li, Alissa Wu, Amy Xu, Zihui Alisa Xiao, Abigail Bao, Angela Bao, Lina Yang, Xiangcheng Samuel Ying, Ruofei Olivia Mao, Steven Chi, Andy Chi, Fiona Fan, Sarah Liu (2 extra hours for video production), Shannon Liu (2 extra hours for video production), Dawson Lin, Fangyi Chen, Gina Shen, Elizabeth Ma, Amy Shuyan Lin, Cathy He, Xinyue Yang, Sophia Wang, Sky Tianyi Han, Cosner Yang, Jessica Chen, Angela Chen, Xinyi Christine Zhang (2 extra hours for video production), Kevin Liu, Nicole Liu, Ian Xie, Ethan Xie, Alexander Lin, Jennifer Dong, Chris Hsu, Weihuan Cao, Yi Wang
