MASON CITY – The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board (CGCCB) recently received a $5,000 donation from electric transmission company ITC for a tree-planting project in its county campgrounds. The CGCCB has a plan to start diversifying the tree population in its campgrounds and this donation will help achieve that goal. Knowing that close to 50 percent of the trees in the campgrounds are Ash trees, which are facing a threat from the Emerald Ash Borer, the CGCCB is working to improve the diversity of tree species to protect against the possibility of large scale tree loss in the campgrounds.
Ash trees have been very good trees for campgrounds, as they grew fast, provided shade for campers and were sturdy trees. However, with the threat of Emerald Ash Borer these trees may have a limited life span and replacing them at some point in time will be necessary. To avoid losing half of the trees at one time the CGCCB is starting a replacement and enhancement program now that will benefit the campground and campers in the future.
ITC partnered with the CGCCB with its “Right Tree, Right Place” program. The program helps communicate about the need to keep trees out of the right-of-way for electric power lines and encourages tree-planting in other locations. ITC owns and operates high-voltage electric transmission lines in the area and is currently constructing a new 345 K V electric transmission line through Cerro Gordo County.
“ITC is pleased to partner in this planting and environmental effort,” said ITC Local Government and Community Affairs Manager Lori Broghammer. “We developed the ‘Right Tree, Right Place’ program to partner with communities and organizations to educate people about the value of planting trees, and placing those plantings where they won’t interfere with power lines and other obstacles.”
The $5,000 donation will allow the CGCCB to purchase larger trees, which will provide shade sooner for campground visitors. Providing shade to campers is one of many purposes of a tree, but an important one on a hot summer weekend. The shade provided by the trees not only provides a cooler area for visitors but also helps reduce energy use in the campground by reducing the electrical demand needed by camper air conditioners.
The CGCCB began planting some of the new trees this fall, including five trees each planted at Wilkinson Pioneer Park and Linn Grove Park. Hard Maple, Basswood and Hackberry species were used in the plantings. These species of trees were used as they provide good shade, will increase the diversity of trees in the campgrounds and will grow well where planted. To provide for the proper growth of the new trees a few small to medium sized Ash trees will be removed.
The CGCCB is thankful for the financial assistance it has received from ITC for the campground tree replacement and enhancement project.
