Adopt-A-Plot Program

The Watershed Institute is looking for volunteers to help us protect and restore the natural habitats in our 950-acre Watershed Reserve. Through our popular Adopt-a-Plot Program, you can become a steward of a plot of land near our Hickory Loop Boardwalk. By “adopting” a plot, you and your family or group will be assigned a specific section of the forest to tend at your own pace and time.

In many portions of the Reserve, natural habitats are being undermined by non-native (“invasive”) plant species that compete with the native flora. We need volunteers who can commit to tending to their assigned plot on a regular basis (twice a month is ideal, but we value whatever time you can commit) and for an extended period of time (at least a year, although plots are active mid-March – mid-November). We have plots ready to be adopted; join us to help us restore our habitat and promote the health of native species of flora and fauna. 

Plots Available for Adoption

S-4:

  • Light level: partially shaded.
  • Invasive Plants: honeysuckle vines, Japanese stilt grass, Common privet.
  • Notable Natives: shagbark hickory, black haw viburnum.
  • Special Features:
    • log pile that can be arranged to your liking
    • waterfront property with overlooking bridge
    • short in depth but wide in girth
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3- most difficult)- 2

Adopted

S-6:

  • Light level: partially shaded.
  • Invasive Plants: honeysuckle vines, multiflora rose, Japanese stilt grass.
  • Notable Natives: shagbark hickory, black haw viburnum.
  • Special Features:
    • Shaded nook in the backyard created by a cluster of leaning hickories
    • Grove of black haw viburnum
    • Squirrels often dine at the head table of this lovely establishment.
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3-most difficult)- 2

Adopted

S-7:

  • Light level: partially sunny.
  • Invasive Plants: bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, vine honeysuckle, garlic mustard.
  • Notable Natives: trout lily, spring beauty, blackhaw viburnum, shagbark hickory, white oak.
  • Special Features:
    • Fallen tree that serves as a hotel to plants and animals alike, it’s totally moss-ome!
    • It has a fallen log that looks like a pair of shorts.
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3-most difficult)- 2.5 due to an expansive ground cover of honeysuckle vines.

Adopted

S-13:

  • Light Level: partially shaded.
  • Invasive Plants: honeysuckle vine, European privet, Japanese stilt grass.
  • Notable Natives: shagbark hickory, Pennsylvania sedge, pasture rose, red oak, arrowwood viburnum.
  • Special Features:
    • Notable understory composition of native pasture rose and arrowwood viburnum with a Pennsylvania sedge ground cover and nice mix of saplings and mature trees.
    • Opportunity to sunbathe on a sizeable, downed tree.
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3-most difficult)- 1

Adopted

S-14:

  • Light Level: mostly shaded.
  • Invasive Plants: honeysuckle vine, crabapple, multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle.
  • Notable Natives: red oak, shagbark hickory
  • Special Features:
    • understory of oak and hickory saplings
    • deep in depth, but short in width
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3-most difficult)- 2.5

Adopted

S-31:

  • Light Level: heavily shaded with an opening in the forest canopy.
  • Invasive Plants: stiltgrass, multiflora rose, honeysuckle vine, honeysuckle bush.
  • Notable Natives: shagbark hickory, sedges, blackhaw viburnum, white oak, red oak.
  • Special Features:
    • Large fallen trees that can be found once uncovered from honeysuckle and multiflora rose.
    • This large plot is made for a hardy group of people that love a challenge!
    • This is a wonderful habitat that has fallen victim to a tree fall that opened the canopy and created an opportune site for honeysuckle and multiflora rose.
  • Difficulty Level (1-easiest to 3-most difficult)- 2.5 due to the expansive ground cover of honeysuckle vines.

Adopted

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