Celebrate Earth Day by taking meaningful, hands-on action to protect local waterways.

Join Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District (OCNRCD) and our partners for a community willow staking event along a tributary of the Barton River in Glover. This volunteer-powered effort will help stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, and improve habitat through bioengineering techniques that landowners can use on their own properties.

Whether you're a landowner, conservation enthusiast, student, or simply looking to give back this Earth Day, we welcome you.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, April 19
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Glover, Vermont

Parking: Glover School | 100 School St, Glover, VT 05839
Restrooms: Available at the fire station
Food & Drink: Coffee and snacks provided in the morning; lunch provided at 12:30 PM

What Is Willow Staking?

Willow staking is a proven streambank stabilization technique that uses live willow cuttings planted directly into eroding banks. Once established, the willows root and grow, creating a living structure that:

• Holds soil in place
• Slows and absorbs flood energy
• Improves water quality
• Enhances wildlife habitat

During this workshop, participants will learn:

• Why willow staking works
• Where it is most effective
• How to properly install stakes
• Common mistakes to avoid

Through this hands-on learning, you'll leave with practical skills and real-world experience.

Schedule of the Day

9:00 am | Arrival, waiver signing, coffee

9:10 am | Welcome, site overview, project goals

9:20 am | Live demonstration: how to stake (and how not to stake)

9:30 am | Volunteer teams form 

9:45 am | Staking begins

12:30 pm | Lunch and community gathering

1:00 pm | Wrap-up

Volunteer Goal

We are seeking at least 15 volunteers.

With approximately:

• 3 minutes per stake
• 20 stakes installed per person per hour with 15 active volunteers
• 50 stakes per person over the course of the event

Our collective goal is to install hundreds of live willow stakes to stabilize this streambank.

 

No prior experience is necessary. Tools and instruction will be provided. Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for working outdoors along a streambank.

🤝 Partners

This project is made possible through collaboration with:

• Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA)
• Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VTFWD)
• The Town of Glover
• Local fire station 
• The Glover school

Why This Matters

The health of our local rivers is directly connected to the health of Lake Memphremagog.

According to the Lake Memphremagog (Basin 17) Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) documents, erosion from unstable stream channels and streambanks contributes approximately 20.5% of the total phosphorus entering the Vermont portion of the lake. When streambanks erode, soil and sediment are carried downstream, transporting harmful nutrients like phosphorus into the lake.

The 2023 Tactical Basin Plan for Basin 17 identifies streambank restoration as a key strategy for improving waer quality in the watershed.

Several rivers in the basin, including the Barton River, experience significant erosion due to channel instability and increased stormwater runoff.

In recent years, more intense rainfall and storm events have accelerated this process, causing streambanks to erode and sending sediment and nutrients into downstream waterways.

To address this, watershed partners like us are implementing nature-based stabilization techniques, including:

• Installing root wads and swoody structures to slow water and protect banks
• Planting live willow stakes and other vegetation to root into the soil and naturally reinforce streambanks
• Restoring riparian vegetation to absorb flood energy and reduce erosion

This volunteer project is part of that broader effort. By planting willow stakes along this tributary of the Barton River, participants will help establish living vegetation that stabilizes soil, reduces erosion, and supports long-term water quality improvements for the entire Lake Memphremagog watershed.​

Register to Volunteer

Spots are limited to ensure quality instruction and safety.

Sign up today to reserve your place 

We look forward to working alongside you on the riverbank!