Forests

people forming a human pyramid and smiling

Welcome to our 2026 Pennsylvania Field Crew!

The Alliance is excited to welcome our newest Watershed Conservation Field Technicians! Join us for some Technician Q&A below to learn more about the team.

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Improving a Nature Preserve for Clean Water

The Alliance worked with JBWS staff to reforest 36 acres of former agricultural fields and plant meadow on an additional 17.5 acres. By establishing new forests and a meadow, the project provides a myriad of benefits to the park, but also, to water quality.

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Hundreds of small bugs on a pile of snow.

What’s Poppin’? Phenological Fun: Snow Fleas

For many of us, the blankets of snow on our landscapes invoke serene images of mother nature in a deep restorative slumber, but it is actually a surprising hotspot for biological activity.

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A beaver swimming through water holding something in it's paws near it's mouth.

Eager Beaver, Busy as a Beaver, or Beaver Fever?!

Are you eager for beavers? Explore the intricasies of these fascinating ecosystem engineers.

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Small plants peaking through snow and ice.

Cold Stratification: Nature’s Chilly Wake-Up Call

In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, many native plants rely on a cool little trick called cold stratification to get their start. But what’s really going on when seeds “chill out” all winter long?

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Witch hazel branch surrounded by other plants.

What’s Poppin’? Phenological Fun: Witch-Hazel

Explore the wonderful world of witch-hazel in winter!

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Reduce Your Stormwater: Urban Trees

Urban trees provide many benefits to our communities. Find all the urban trees resources you need here, including a video about to plant a tree and calculate your Tree Equity Score.

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Students putting temporary flags in a field to designate future tree planting spots.

Updates from Loysville Youth Development Center

Hear from students at the Loysville Youth Development Center (LYDC) who have worked with the Alliance to valuable, real-world skills such as plant propagation, nursery practices, tree establishment, environmental systems, and more!

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What’s Poppin’? Phenological Fun: Nodding Ladies’ Tresses & Hill Holly

Nodding ladies’ tresses, Spiranthes cernua Nodding ladies’ tresses spiral down a staircase in a coordinated step-wise fashion, they outpace their bee suitors in elegant white. It’s no wonder the bees start from the bottom of the staircase to intercept the best of their nectar. The older flowers towards the base of the stem produce more …

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A small snake held in a person's hand.

The Northern Watersnake: A Chesapeake Companion

Are you scared of snakes? They don’t want anything to do with you either! Many people fear our legless friends, but they play an integral role in our ecosystems and try their best to avoid humans.

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