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ESF Graduate’s Project Makes the Finals
A project designed by an ESF alumnus is one of 10 finalists in a national competition that awards financial grants to programs that protect or preserve the environment.
Kevin Grieser MS '05 is coordinator of the Riparian Buffer Program operated by the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program. An initiative he developed, called "Trees for Tribs," is one of 10 finalists chosen from among some 100 entries in the Redwood Creek Greater Outdoors Project.
The winner will be chosen through online voting. The winner will receive $50,000 in project funding; each runner-up will receive $10,000 in funding.
Grieser said "Trees for Tribs" involves a partnership with the Hudson Basin River Watch (HBRW). The goals are to enhance stream buffers and recreational experiences by planting native trees and shrubs, and to monitor water quality at project sites to demonstrate improvements.
Grieser said the program helps improve water quality, reduce flooding and enhance biodiversity in the Hudson River estuary watershed.
The "Trees for Tribs" initiative started in 2007. Through the program, more than 18,000 native trees, shrubs, and grasses and been planted along more than 49,000 feet of stream buffers along the estuary's tributaries. More than 130 projects have been completed withthe help of some 1,500 volunteers.
The DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery has provided more than80 percent of the plant material used in the program. Grieser said he analyzes the sites, determines what plants will grow best and then depends on the landowner — which can be a private individual or a community organization — to supply volunteer labor and some subsequent monitoring.
This spring alone, he had been involved with 25 projects through which 3,500 plants are being planted.The contest is sponsored by Redwood Creek Wines.