Ecological Restoration Collaborative

Ecological Restoration Collaborative Stroubles Creek (Blacksburg, VA) has been designated impaired by the US EPA. Stroubles Creek is a Hokie too, give it your support! Lack of streamside forest
2.

Over 140,000 native trees/shrubs planted in the Stroubles Creek watershed since 2010. Set the mark high, and go higher! Our mission is to improve the water quality of Stroubles Creek to eventually get it removed from the impaired waterway list. Stroubles Creek runs through the town of Blacksburg, Virginia and underneath the campus of Virginia Tech. Since 2002, it has been designated an impaired wa

terway by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and US EPA. Stroubles Creek flows into the New River, which is the source of municipal water for the town of Blacksburg. This project was previously known as 'Save Stroubles' (2014-2015) and also the 'Stroubles Creek Restoration Initiative' (2015-2018). It has been led by VT Forestry/CNRE alumni, Tom Saxton, since 2014. THE PROBLEMS for Stroubles:

1. Livestock access to streams
3. Agricultural runoff
4. Increasing development and peak flows from stormwater runoff
5. Stream channel modifications
6. Sewer overflows
7. Downtown business wastewater disposal
8. Pollutant buildup on impervious surfaces
9. Enforcement of Erosion & Sediment regulations at construction sites
10. Improper disposal of grass clippings and trash

THE SOLUTIONS for Stroubles:

1. Educate and spread awareness of the water quality issues associated with Stroubles Creek
2. Plant native trees and shrubs along the banks of Stroubles Creek to create a riparian buffer zone that absorbs stormwater runoff, improves water quality, lowers water temperature, provides habitat for wildlife, and provides aesthetic benefits for humans. You really can't out-engineer the ecosystem services of a native tree!
3. Fence livestock away from the banks of the river
4. Clean up trash throughout the town of Blacksburg and along the creek banks
5. Raise money to purchase trees and shrubs to plant
6. Gain support from the Hokie Nation and the surrounding Blacksburg community!
7. Engage VT students in the 'living lab' of Stroubles Creek. Get courses involved, get research projects going, utilize Stroubles Creek for the wonderful living lab it is right under our nose

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

1. Give us your support and spread awareness to others! Like this page and share!
2. Fix oil and fluid leaks on your car
3. Dispose of used motor oil at recycling centers
4. Dispose of litter in trash cans and recycling containers
5. Pick up pet waste and depose of it in trash cans or toilets
6. Follow application and storage directions for fertilizers and other chemicals
7. Keep an eye out for those working to clean the creek, and offer a hand! We need the help of all Hokies, please send us a message with any comments or suggestions for improvement. Stroubles Creek is a Hokie too, let's clean it up!!

Over the past 2 days, the New River Conservancy, AmeriCorps NCCC, and ecological restoration independent study students ...
04/30/2026

Over the past 2 days, the New River Conservancy, AmeriCorps NCCC, and ecological restoration independent study students from Virginia Tech have been helping to remove invasive knapweed and thin encroaching, hardy natives from our miyawaki plot. This will help our seedlings have enough sunlight and water throughout the season!

We also have greatly improved our deer fence. Without it, a miyawaki plot is nothing more than a buffet for white-tailed deer. With an effective fence, we get a dense native planting that mimics mid-stage forest succession very early on, and forest that packs big biodiversity into a small area. Great work, volunteers!

We are so grateful to be co-hosting another AmeriCorps NCCC team, Grizzly 7, through our partnership with New River Cons...
04/08/2026

We are so grateful to be co-hosting another AmeriCorps NCCC team, Grizzly 7, through our partnership with New River Conservancy.

They have already played a major role in preparing for and leading our largest volunteer event of the year, The Big Plant, and they will be continuing to help out with our spring planting and ecological restoration efforts. Their hard work helps to majorly improve the quality of the local watersheds, including Stroubles and Toms Creeks, and will leave an impact for many years to come.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a unique program that allows volunteers from 18 to 24 years old to work as a team, travel, and gain a variety of valuable experiences across communities in the US.

Sydney and Celia of ERC/NRC are both alumni of the NCCC program and consider it to be one of the most important things they ever did!

Do you know a young adult 18-24 who would like to join this program? Learn more and apply: https://www.americorps.gov/nccc

Get the scoop on this year's The Big Plant in Blacksburg. We had a great time hosting many awesome volunteers who plante...
04/07/2026

Get the scoop on this year's The Big Plant in Blacksburg.

We had a great time hosting many awesome volunteers who planted over 2000 native trees and shrubs. Many thanks to our partners who help make this event possible each year.

The 2026 Blacksburg Big Plant was a blast–over 2000 trees planted across 2 days thanks to many dedicated volunteers and field leaders! Volunteers and field leaders planting native trees and s…

04/07/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! Saturday, April 11, 9:00 am – noon, Town of Blacksburg Government Arbor Day. They are looking for groups and individuals to help plant trees at Southpoint Park, 3401 S Point Dr, and at the Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Administrative Office Tree Nursery, 615 Patrick Henry Dr. Register yourself or your group with this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448A9A82EA2F5CE9-62880127-arbor #/. Please sign up for one park only. All tools will be provided.

Radford Big Plant 2026Jesse Kelly of Nursery Natives and Feeding Appalachia writes:"With over 250 volunteers contributin...
04/01/2026

Radford Big Plant 2026

Jesse Kelly of Nursery Natives and Feeding Appalachia writes:
"With over 250 volunteers contributing across the 3-day community plant, we were able to plant over 300 native trees and shrubs to help restore the riparian buffer zone along the New River, which sustained major losses during hurricane Helene. These efforts will add biodiversity, food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators, enhance erosion control, increase water absorption, provide cleaner water and air, and beautify the park."

It was a pleasure to be a partnering organization of the 2026 Radford Big Plant. Thanks to all of the help from volunteers and other partners involved.

We are excited to watch as these trees grow and improve Bisset Park for years to come!

📸 by Sydney Haney

See you all this weekend at The Big Plant!Below are the planting maps for our target planting sites. The top map is Smit...
03/27/2026

See you all this weekend at The Big Plant!

Below are the planting maps for our target planting sites. The top map is Smithfield Plantation (Sunday's site) and the bottom map is Heritage Park (Saturday's site). The different color polygons signify different species mixes.

For folks coming out to plant, it could be useful for you to take a screenshot of the maps before you come out!

The Big Plant in Blacksburg is this weekend!For folks that signed up, we will send an email ahead of the event with info...
03/25/2026

The Big Plant in Blacksburg is this weekend!

For folks that signed up, we will send an email ahead of the event with information.

Saturday 3/28:
> Location: Heritage Park, Blacksburg, VA (the first map below)
> Parking: (5 minute walk from parking to Basecamp)
Glade Road entrance of Heritage Park or Rising Silo Brewery. See "P" on maps below. Carpooling encouraged!
> BASECAMP Meeting location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4TeRTS2Z3i8Z8NT7A
> Shifts will begin at 10:00AM and 2:00PM depending on which you signed up for!

Sunday 3/29:
> Location: Smithfield Plantation, Blacksburg, VA (the second map below)
> Parking: (5 minute walk from parking to Basecamp)
The Cage Parking Lot, Duck Pond Commuter Lot, Smithfield Plantation Road, or a short walk from campus. See "P" on maps below.
> BASECAMP Meeting location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rs3cCHh8kqxfNQmT8
> Shifts will begin at 10:00AM and 2:00PM depending on which you signed up for!

Thank you to our partners!
The Big Plant
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
New River Conservancy
Town of Blacksburg Government
Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability
Stream Lab At VT
Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering
AmeriCorps
The Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech
Watershed Restore
VT's Ecological Restoration Field Practicum course

Last week, we hosted over twenty students for Virginia Tech's ecological restoration field practicum. They learned about...
03/20/2026

Last week, we hosted over twenty students for Virginia Tech's ecological restoration field practicum. They learned about a wide variety of restoration principles and techniques, from the value of woody debris in streams to chainsawing and tree planting. Students removed old materials and trash, many plastic-based, from old riparian plantings that dated 10+ years old. Long-term maintenance is critical to the success of restoration projects, and having their help was integral to cleaning up the North Docs Branch stretch of the Stroubles Watershed!

They worked hard and many of them will be bringing their knowledge and passion to support the upcoming Big Plants. Great work, Hokies! Go forth and save the world!

We discovered a sizeable patch of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidu), a native, thermogenic (heat-producing) plant tha...
03/03/2026

We discovered a sizeable patch of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidu), a native, thermogenic (heat-producing) plant that inhabits wetland areas or hillslopes with wet soils.

Many plants have sprung up in an area that was mowed (of fescue) last summer. The mowing helps open up land crowded by non-native plants and allows sunlight and space for natives beyond just the trees that we plant!

Address

23 Berkley Williams Dr
Radford, VA
24141

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