Tree Planting Day

Twenty-four hundred tons of rock was removed from the bio-infiltration basin. The rock was replaced with a thick layer of gravel, a layer of soil, and top layer of mulch. Volunteers are planting 40 bald cypress in the bio-infiltration basin.

Tree Planting Day at the Durbin Project

On Friday, November 30, 2012 twenty-three people showed up to roll up their sleeves and voluntarily get dirty in order to plant ninety (90) trees at the WKU-Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Durbin Project. The trees included forty (40) Bald Cypress, planted in the bio-infiltration basin, and fifty (50) White Pines, to serve as a green "fence" for one of the community walking trails. The Bald Cypress trees were selected for their ability to absorb 100 gallons of water per day per tree and to filter out pollutants; the White Pines were selected as a visual screen and to add habitat for birds and wildlife.

The volunteers included friends and staff of WKU and HFH, and community members who wanted to help.  The day before, the tree holes were pre-drilled, which made it possible to plant and mulch all ninety trees in record time. Within two hours we were celebrating our accomplishment and packing up.  Thanks to all who came for their involvement and helping to make the day a great success!! For photos, click here or go to our WKU-HFH 319(H) Durbin Project Facebook Page.

 

In the above picture you see Ryan Smith, Construction Manager for HFH, in the bio-infiltration basin relocating mulch to spread around the bald cypress.To the right in the  background, is a newly constructed injection well, and to the left in the background is a rock dam that will slow down the velocity of storm water drainage and filter out the trash.

An injection well is a vertical pipe in the ground into which water, other liquids, or gases are pumped or allowed to flow. Injection wells are widely considered to be the best method for disposal of treated waste water. Unlike outfalls or other direct disposal techniques, injection wells utilize the earth as a filter to further clean the treated wastewater before it reaches the receiving water. This method of waste water disposal also serves to spread the injectate over a wide area, further decreasing environmental impacts

The picture below shows volunteers distributing the mulch.

 
Volunteer spreads mulch around the tree.
Below: Basin filled with 40 Bald Cypress trees.

Rod Goodman, Executive Director of HFH,
plants a White Pine tree for the walking trail
fence to separate the properties.