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AR CommuniTree Project

Healthy Trees, Healthy Streams

The background. In 2023, the Collaborative developed an exciting project. In late 2024, funding was received to initiate the Arkansas CommuniTree Project.  Partners are working together to grow high quality potted trees from bare root seedlings.  These 'communitrees' will be donated to reforestation projects around the state focused on stream and lake side corridors or "forested riparian buffers" in watersheds that provide drinking water to Arkansans. Forested riparian buffers provide shade for both land and aquatic life and a strong and stable streambank resistant to erosion and resulting loss of land. 

 

The Partners. Representatives from the Arkansas Dept of Agriculture's Division of Forestry, Conway Corporation, Central Arkansas Water, Beaver Water District, Arkansas Master Naturalist and local school and citizen volunteers are working together to provide high quality, locally sourced potted trees to Arkansas landowners. Thank you to Central Arkansas Water, Beaver Water District, and Conway Corporation for providing the "host" sites for these trees to live and be cared for during the next year.  A huge thank you to the volunteers who have helped us already! To date, we have 1,050 trees potted at Beaver Water District, 180 trees at Conway Corporation, and 1,600 trees at Central Arkansas Water's site. This makes a total of 2, 830 trees and we have approximately 500 remaining to pot!

 

Healthy Roots = Healthy Streambanks! This project aims to address and remove barriers to those who are wanting to restore or stabilize healthy roots along critical waterways.  Conservation efforts like this can help prevent or minimize erosion and loss of land.  This positively affects neighboring downstream landowners minimizing upstream sources of erosion and sediment on their own properties.  This benefits the entire community by minimizing the need for removing accumulated sediment at the water intakes of downstream water utilities.  If your organization would like to join in this important state wide project, email us below for more details!

Our next volunteer potting event is scheduled for Thursday, May 22nd from 2 - 5 pm. Visit our events page to learn more and don't forget to RSVP to arforestsandwater@gmail.com. Thank you!

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