3/31/2026 – Citizen Science—Live-Staking with a Master Watershed Steward

Right now, erosion from increased stormwater is an issue across the Delaware Valley. More impervious surfaces, like roads and parking lots, can allow more water to flow into our streams than ever before. 

When long-term volunteer and member of the Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, Paula Walter stepped out onto the Preserve’s trails along Pidcock Creek and noticed significant erosion, she knew what to do–live-staking. 

Live-staking is a technique that uses fresh, living branches from native shrubs or trees to help fix a damaged stream bank. The branch is pushed deep into the wet soil in mid-March or early April so it can grow roots, sprout new stems and turn into a whole new plant. The roots help anchor the bank to prevent further erosion.  The plants shade the stream, keeping the water cool and creating more habitat for the creatures that live in and out of the stream.

Paula brought the idea to the Preserve's Nursery and Collections Coordinator, Gabi Roberts. Paula, Gabi and Jim Walter, a fellow member of the Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, came together to make this an educational opportunity for the public. “I could have asked the Master Watershed Stewards to do it on their own, but I felt that this deserved to be an educational moment for our community,” Paula explained. “It’s important to show how easy a project like this can be for landowners.”

At the event, 19 people, plus the Master Watershed Steward volunteers, came out to plant over 350 trees and shrubs! All of the plant material was either purchased from Ernst Conservation Seeds or collected at local volunteer homes to ensure progeny. Ten species were planted, including nannyberry viburnum (Viburnum lentago), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), silky willow (Salix sericea), pussy willow (Salix discolor), peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), American black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and winterberry (Ilex verticillata). 

“It’s great that we had the opportunity to do something like this,” Gabi says. “Three of the species we planted were not previously part of the Preserve collection, so it’s great that we could introduce more species and increase biodiversity at the Preserve.” 

If you have an area of your property that is prone to erosion or flooding, many of the above species will be available at our Native Plant Nursery Season Opening on Thursday, April 9, to Preserve members and on Friday, April 10, to the general public. You can learn more about live-staking and other watershed conservation projects on the Master Watershed Stewards website.