PUNXSUTAWNEY - The Punxsutawney Rotary Club volunteered to plant more than 2,000 trees at the Punxsutawney Reservoir Friday.
The tree-planting event was held by the Jefferson County Conservation District and Pennsylvania American Water.
Watershed specialist Grace Presselato said the trees were planted near the stream to help stabilize eroded banks and improve water quality.
"We have a stream that has no trees around it and what happens is it will erode the stream banks and create sediment in the water, which is bad for aquatic life," Presselato said. "It hurts the trout, gets in their gills and they're unable to breathe."
Presselato said the trees will also help filter out pollutants and create homes for animals.
Supervisor with Pennsylvania American Water Dave Drozd said in 1983 the dam was breached and the reservoir was drained.
The land is currently owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
"We have an open field in the middle of forest right now, so it's nice to return it back to forest," Drozd said.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfpcKvxNKtrJqvnprGbr7OrZirsV2YubaujKmjmqakqHpzfI9pZK2qlZrAbq3TZqmeq5Wnw7C10Q%3D%3D