Talk of the Sourlands

Forest Restoration and Water Quality in the Sourland Region: Managing the Impacts of Deer and Agricultural Land Use History

Presented by Dr. Jay Kelly and Dr. Emilie Stander,  Co-directors of the Raritan Valley Community College Center for Environmental Studies

The Sourland region contains a patchwork of forested areas with different land use histories, including areas that have been forested for 100 years or longer as well as areas that have reforested after agricultural activities ceased in the early to mid 1900s. Each forest type is experiencing major regeneration deficits due to overabundant deer, with post-agricultural forests having much higher abundance of invasive plants and highly altered soil conditions. These issues present major challenges for forest protection and restoration and also have implications for modern day patterns in water quality and stream health across the region. This talk will explore preliminary research conducted by the RVCC Center for Environmental Studies, in partnership with the Sourland Conservancy, to investigate the effects of tree plantings and different methods of deer protection, and impacts of land use history on water quality and stream health in the Sourlands.

Register at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-of-the-sourlands-forest-restoration-and-water-quality-tickets-1617649937509