As the ground thawed and spring ephemerals emerged, the Spring Watershed Crew traveled throughout Vermont and New Hampshire on their first projects of the year.

From the humble yarrow (Achillea millefolium) to the mighty red maple (Acer rubrum), the crew worked to plant over 5,600 native trees and 300 native plants to help improve water quality throughout the Memphremagog and Upper Connecticut River Watersheds.

By restoring riparian buffer zones and installing rain gardens, these projects help to improve surface water quality by filtering and slowing down runoff from uphill areas like roads, fields, or parking lots.

A big thank you to our team of NorthWoods staff, AmeriCorps members, the Connecticut River Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Lamoille County Natural Resources Conservation District, and all the volunteers who worked together to help make these projects possible!