We’re excited to share that HVA received a grant from the Crane Fund and Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund, funds of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, in support of our nature-based river restoration projects on the Green River. HVA plans to involve local students in these important stewardship practices.
The Green River in Alford, Egremont, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is a high-quality, cold-water ecosystem—important habitat for native Eastern Brook Trout populations. However, widespread streambank erosion and periods of excess E. coli threaten aquatic habitat, impair water quality, and negatively impact landowners along the river.
This $10,000 grant will support HVA’s goal to develop and implement projects on the Green River that use environmentally conscious practices to prevent loss of land and protect cold-water habitat by reconnecting floodplains, restoring vegetative buffers with native trees and shrubs, and preventing further erosion of sediment and nutrients into the river. Such projects benefit both landowners and wildlife, ensuring the survival of native aquatic species while preserving the scenic and recreational assets of the river for future generations.
Through this project, HVA is excited to invite local students to play a direct role in data collection and field work. This initiative will help progress important river restoration projects while fostering a greater appreciation for the natural features that are right in students’ backyard. Working with HVA staff, they’ll learn about the ecosystem conditions that preserve and enhance the environmental quality of the Green River while gaining valuable career skills and hands-on scientific experience.
The HVA team is excited for this opportunity to support Berkshire wildlife populations and residents along the Green River, provide green job experience for local youth, and create a model for similar projects throughout the region. Thank you to the Crane Fund and Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund for supporting this effort through Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
