We just completed another successful (11^th consecutive) RiverSweep !  We planted about 18 Buckeye, Elm and assorted other trees on a lot owned by West Creek Conservancy, just south of the main branch of West Creek.   This is just west of the Stewardship Center in the West Creek Reservation and off of West Ridgewood Drive in Parma.

We also did some extensive  soil excavation and amendment around each root ball and some decent fencing around each tree, to increase survivability from deer. Herb’s blue bandana kept the rain and the deer away….none to be seen during the event !  (It did rain cats and dogs on my way back to Akron). 

In doing so, we were able to eliminate a neighborhood squatters parking lot and pull the forest back towards Ridgewood Drive.  We also provided an additional riparian buffer around West Creek.

Yes, we have made progress over the years!  There was not even a mass clean-up by the high school volunteers this year.   This is because The upper reaches of West Creek,  where we extracted cart dams in the early years, has been deeded over to Cuyahoga County Metro Parks.  The Park District is now responsible for maintenance.

Many thanks to all who helped in the 2018 event and in our past events!