The Tennessee Environmental Council is joining with the MTSU and City of Murfreesboro Stormwater Program to seek volunteers to help plant trees along Garrison Creek in east Murfreesboro.

Cynthia Allen with the MTSU Stormwater Program puts soil around one of dozens of trees planted Nov. 9 along Garrison Creek in Murfreesboro. Allen coordinated a volunteer team of about 40 students for the tree-planting event, which was hosted by the MTSU Stormwater Program in partnership with the Tennessee Environmental Council and the city of Murfreesboro. (MTSU file photos by News and Media Relations)

The event will last from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

Organizers are asking volunteers to devote one, two or three hours to mulching and planting trees, live staking or litter pick-up.

The event is part of a two-day effort by the Environmental Council to plant 10,000 trees at various locations across the Midstate and statewide.

For the Garrison Creek event, the Environmental Council is partnering with the MTSU and City of Murfreesboro Stormwater Program, Stones River Watershed Association and Smyrna High School ROTC.

Volunteers should meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Kroger parking lot at Lascassas Pike and North Rutherford Boulevard. Volunteers should bring waterproof wading boots and a shovel along with gloves and warm clothing.

To register as a volunteer and for more information, visit http://tectn.org.

The Environmental Council is coordinating the project and will again be donating trees for planting along the city stream property. MTSU has assisted with local publicity and with recruiting student and community volunteers, according to Cynthia Allen with the MTSU Stormwater Program.

MTSU student volunteers participate in a November tree planting event along Garrison Creek in east Murfreesboro. Volunteers are needed for another tree planting set for Saturday, Feb. 16.

The city and several partners have begun a long-term project to grow a natural habitat alongside Garrison Creek. Trees were planted in February, October and November 2012, and vegetation has been allowed to grow with little or no mowing since then.

With a very dry early growing season in 2012, many trees planted in February suffered stress and algae mats in the spring, which blocked sunlight from reaching the live stakes.

“Nevertheless, overall we have not been disappointed in the results of last year’s planting,” said the city’s Robert Haley, adding that the Tennessee Environmental Council donated the trees.

According to the council, the project’s overall goal is to develop a stream protection zone to improve the local water quality.

The plants and trees along the stream will filter out “urban pollutants” — such as yard chemicals, oils that leak onto pavement, loose dirt, etc. — that flow into the stream when it rains.

The trees will also cool the water and provide a canopy that improves the home for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Details on the Feb. 16 event follow:

Where:  Kroger, 2050 Lascassas Pike. Volunteers should follow signs to park along the outside edge of the center parking lot.

When:  Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What to Bring:  Volunteers should bring waterproof wading boots and a shovel along with gloves and warm clothing.

Pre-Register Online: Go to http://tectn.org.

For more information, call John McFadden, executive director of the Tennessee Environmental Council, at 615-330-5364 or visit http://tectn.org.

To learn more about MTSU’s Stormwater Program and upcoming activities, visit www.mtsu.edu/stormwater.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)