Unique Partnership Called On For Greening Lower Susquehanna Program

Greening the Lower Susquehanna Conservation Corps volunteers had the opportunity to help maintain a rain garden on the base of the U.S. Air Force 193rd Special Operations Wing in Middletown, Dauphin County.

Middletown called on the Greening the Lower Susquehanna program of the Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center and Penn State Extension for help in restoring a rain garden on the base that was in need of help.

Weeds were out-competing the native grasses and dogwood trees originally planted there. Greening the Lower Susquehanna staff, Jennifer Fetter and Kristen Kyler, called on the program’s volunteer conservation corps for help.

On August 12, eleven volunteers participated in removal of invasive weeds from the rain garden and spreading mulch to help prevent their return. These efforts will allow the plants intentionally planted in the rain garden to better establish themselves.

As a result, the rain garden will better be able to do its job of collecting and infiltrating stormwater.

Routine rain garden maintenance also helps to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the garden, which is important for preventing them from becoming unattractive to passersby, and resulting in their removal.

This rain garden is especially important because of the high percentage of impervious area on the Air Force base. Best management practices, such as this rain garden, help reduce flooding and infiltrate stormwater when there is little permeable area to do so.

The Greening the Lower Susquehanna Volunteer Conservation Corps has over 350 active participants who respond to requests for help throughout the lower Susquehanna region.

To join the mailing list for future events, send email to: VolunterGreen@psu.edu.

(Reprinted from the Sept. 14 Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

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