Despite the rain, the Mueller Water Products team donned their ponchos to help us clear away invasive plants along the Reads Creek stream. These plants- like honeysuckle and privet- suffocate native plants that provide ideal habitat conditions for riparian stream life by absorbing pollution and attracting pollinators. Reads creek recieves a major amount of stormwater runoff, so any maintenance we can provide goes a long way in repairing stream health! Stormwater not only contains a myriad of pollutants, but the force off water runoff erodes the banks of the stream- filling it with sediment. Without sufficient access to sunlight and oxygen, plants and critters struggle to survive. After this discussion and a tour of the park, our volunteers grabbed their tools and got to work not only cutting down invasives, but also planting native trees like Sassafras and Dogwood along the streambank. It’s amazing what a few extra hands can do! Areas of the stream once overgrown with privet and honeysuckle appear drastically different. We anticipate seeing thriving native plants on our next creek visit. Thanks again Mueller!
