Volunteers Plant Willow Trees to Stabilize the Marsh

On April 22, 2024, ten dedicated volunteers and two National Park Service staffers planted 150 native black willow tree (Sali nigra) stakes in the hydric soils of Dyke Marsh.

One goal is to help stabilize the marsh and reduce erosion in the tidal zone. We hope they will grow and develop root systems that help hold the soil in place and encourage accretion of soil. Many pumpkin ash trees (Fraxinus profunda) in the marsh are being attacked by the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Although many are resprouting, the future is uncertain. We are very grateful to have received a Coastal Resilience and Trees Fund Grant from Wetlands Watch and the Virgina Outdoors Foundation for this project.

Jim Gearing, the project's leader, loaded the black willow stakes into the National Park Service's truck.  All photos by Glenda Booth.

Many of the black willow stakes were sprouting, ready for planting.

Board member Clarence Monteiro  hammered a wooden into the soil preparing for planting the trees.

Robert Collier was an expert at driving stakes into the soil for planting willow trees.

Krista Hoffman successfully pushed a willow stake into the hydric soil.

This is a black willow stake planted, flagged and ready to grow.

Jim Gearing and Jonathan Molineaux, NPS Partner Coordinator, teamed up to plant trees.