Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn along with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps crew marked Earth Week by planting trees at Big Elk Creek State Park to create wildlife habitat and improve the quality of water and biodiversity in the area, according to a staff report from the Penn WATCH. 

“Earth Week is the time to think about the difference each of us can make protecting our land and water,” said Dunn. “Planting trees, especially along streams, improves the quality of our water nearby, and downstream.” 

Last week’s planting event was part of a restoration project at Big Elk Creek State Park on 300 acres that were added to the state park system two years ago.

It is being done in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, through a grant provided by DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program. 

Overall, 2,000 trees and shrubs will be planted as part of the project, including Red and Silver maple, Hackberry, Redbud, Silky dogwood, and Tulip-poplar. 

Read more about trees being planted at Big Elk Creek State Park in the Penn WATCH. 

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