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Native Grass Seed Harvest, October 2002
One of TCCCA’s main objectives is to increase the amount of native
riparian buffer areas along the Conewago and its tributaries. The Milton
Hershey School Environmental Education Center, a key partner in TCCCA’s
efforts, has planted many riparian buffers along the streams on the main
campus of Milton Hershey School. In addition, acres of fields on the
campus have been converted into meadows of native warm season grasses.
These meadows help to prevent stormwater runoff by allowing rains to soak
slowly into the groundwater. In addition, the meadows attract birds and
other wildlife species. Once established, their root systems are deep
enough to choke out the shallow root systems of undesirable invasive
species such as multi-flora rose.
In October 2002, the MHS Environmental Center graciously permitted TCCCA
volunteers to harvest native grass seeds from several of their campus
meadows. The seeds harvested included Big Bluestem, Indian Grass and
Switchgrass. In November 2002, some of this seed was planted along the
Conewago on the Stoffel property, in order to establish a native riparian
buffer for the Stoffels. The remainder of the seed gathered will be used
in future native plantings throughout the Watershed.
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