Volunteers cleared trails and planted trees with Scouts and Alfred State students
From Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. (IMPACT)
Spring cleaning has begun on the West Almond Trail System! IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. (IMPACT) had a great turnout of volunteers to assist with trail maintenance at Phillips Creek State Forest on the morning of Saturday, April 18. IMPACT was assisted by Scout Pack 1026 from Alfred, Scout Troop 736 from Angelica, the Alfred State College Hiking and Camping Club and various volunteers. Trails 2 and 3 were cleared for spring hiking and summer horseback riding. This was a big task in some areas, requiring IMPACT’s trained chainsaw operators to cut up fallen trees that were blocking the trail.
The Phillips Creek parking area received a spruce up, with Troop 736 Scouts helping IMPACT’s president Glenn Gebhard.
In the afternoon, IMPACT volunteers and Scouts and leaders from Troop 736 planted oak seedlings at the Western New York Land Conservancy’s Black Creek Preserve. Marcus Rosten, the Land Conservancy’s WNY Wildway Director, provided a short course in how to plant a tree prior to hand digging the holes for the new seedlings. Plants and tree protection materials were supplied by the Western NY Land Conservancy through a grant focused on water quality and watershed protection.
The next opportunity to participate in a tree planting party at the Black Creek Preserve is scheduled for May 6, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Volunteers will help plant 75 native trees along the Black Creek to improve wildlife habitat, stabilize streambanks, and protect water quality. All experience levels are welcome. Please bring sturdy boots and work gloves. Registration is required: https://www.wnylc.org/events.
IMPACT is a nonprofit organization assisting with the maintenance, improvement, stewardship, and promotion of our public lands managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This dedicated group raises private funds for capital projects, performs maintenance tasks on trails, provides educational programming, and promotes public use of the State forest through hosting special events.
IMPACT’s upcoming Special Events include:
May 2 I Love My Park Day (a Statewide event organized by Parks & Trails NY) Pre-registration is required.
May 9 Bird walk at Palmer’s Pond, meet at 7 am
August 29 IMPACT’s Signature Event – 5K/10K Walk-Run and 25K Run on the West Almond Trails
Registration has begun for this popular annual event. If you would like to participate as a hiker or runner, visit:
For more information on IMPACT and to sign up for events visit: www.impactfriendsgroup.org or contact impactfriendsgroup@gmail.com.
