Plant with a Purpose

PRWC lead a planting of a vegetated buffer zone along the northern shoreline of Lake Stibbs (also known as the Southbury Training School Pond) to help deter the Canada geese that forage and congregate on the lower lawn area and in turn help reduce bacteria runoff into the lake and Transylvania Brook. Vegetated buffers also play a key role in improving water quality and reducing nonpoint source pollution. Buffers slow and absorb runoff, acting as a natural filter in residential, commercial and agricultural settings. The root systems of native plants help slow down rain water, encourage infiltration, and absorb the impact of floods.

PRWC hosted about 20 volunteers to “Plant with a Purpose” over a two day stretch from Friday, July 8 to Saturday, July 9. PRWC staff and volunteers helped plant the 400 native plants and shrubs along approximately 350 feet of the shoreline. The length of shoreline was planted with native species to create a 15 to 20 foot wide buffer along the northern edge of the lake.

PRWC Dr. Marc Taylor Interns, Zoe Kleeblatt and Brooke Tillotson, assisted with mapping and refining the buffer planting plan detail.

The vegetative buffer planting and educational signage

installation at Lake Stibbs is funded by a grant from the Southbury Community Trust Fund. The initiative complements a project administered by Southbury Training School to address the highly invasive water chestnut plants in Lake Stibbs. The water chestnut control project was funded through Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Grants for the control of aquatic invasive species to further improve Lake Stibbs recreational community use.