This weekend, Trout Unlimited Canda has two workdays planned with the goal of harvesting live willow stakes that will be used during spring restoration activities. Installing live willow stakes along shorelines and unstable banks is an inexpensive and effective way to speed up the recovery of damaged or unhealthy streambanks. Willow staking helps improve water quality, stream health, and fish habitat. Spring is a great time to harvest willow stakes as the plants are still dormant and stakes can be stored and protected for a few weeks until the ground is thawed and ready for planting.
In central Alberta, they are looking for volunteers to help harvest willows from Stainbrook Springs, near the North Raven River.
They'll meet at the Butte Community Hall north of Caroline at 9:30. Later this spring, these willows will be installed along Rocky Creek, a tributary of the Clearwater River.
For more information, e-mail Project Biologist Elliot Lindsay at
elindsay@tucanada.org