U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Little Rock District

Release No.: 98-08
Contact: James D. Beard
Phone: (573) 223-7777

TREE PLANTING

PIEDMONT, Mo., June 24 – The Army Corps of Engineers at Clearwater Lake recently completed its annual tree plantings. These trees were planted in various locations throughout the project for wildlife habitat enhancement and bank stabilization.

Some of the trees are flood tolerant. Using a boat to access locations, trees were planted to replace dead and dying stands affected by this year’s high water. Trees were planted in the Dafron Branch, Charleton Bluff, Cave Springs, Brawley Hollow, and Webb Valley areas. These areas were planted with bald cypress, swamp white oak, overcup oak, and shumard oak. Pecan trees were planted in upland areas of east Funk Branch. This will hopefully provide squirrels and other species with quality habitat, while providing hunters with optimum hunting opportunities in the future.

Planting trees along stream banks creates riparian corridors. A riparian corridor is the strip of land that borders a stream channel. These are a valuable part of our natural resource. The riparian zone provides important habitat for wetland species and serves as a migratory corridor for waterfowl, shorebirds, mammals, and other animals.

Riparian corridors are actually a part of the flood plain, but because they are so important to the stream system they deserve special consideration. A well functioning corridor is at least 100 feet wide and forested. The riparian corridor is technically defined as the area of the flood plain that experiences regular flooding.

Vegetation in this corridor provides many benefits and is necessary for a healthy stream. For instance, riparian trees shade the water and protect it from the scorching sun. Their leaves provide organic material for food chains. They also hold stream banks together with deep, dense root systems. During floods, they slow the flow of water and protect adjacent fields from flood plain scouring. When a tree eventually falls into the water, it provides valuable fish cover and habitat.

All streams are dependent on well-managed riparian corridors. Re-establishing adequate riparian corridors is a key step in restoring degraded streams. The staff here at Clearwater Lake is striving to enhance habitat and to help keep Clearwater “Clear.”

If you would like information on how you can do your part to promote bank stabilization and restore riparian corridors in your area, contact the Clearwater Lake Project at (573) 223-7777 or write the Corps at RR 3 Box 3559D, Piedmont, MO 63957.

As always, the staff at Clearwater Lake encourages you to come out and enjoy your public lands and see first hand the work done to enhance your natural resources and other recreational opportunities. Information about the lake is available on our web site at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/clearwater/index.htm.

To ensure a developed campsite will be available upon your arrival, call the National Recreation Reservation Service at 1-877-444-6777 or visit the Website at www.recreation.gov and make your reservations in advance. Other general lake and agency information can be retrieved from the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks.

For lake levels, releases and forecasted Black River conditions, links to the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center and the Corps of Engineers Water Management websites are now located on the Clearwater Dam and Info Webpage at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/clearwater/damandlake.htm.