Who

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Shari T. Wilson will join representatives from the Bureau of Mines, Federal Office of Surface Mining, Georges Creek Watershed Association, local coal companies, Maryland Coal Industry, Maryland Land Reclamation Committee, Frostburg State University, in addition to high school students, youth camp members and others to plant trees in commemoration of Arbor Day.

When

**NEW DATE** Wednesday, April 11, 2007, beginning at 9:00 A.M. Speaking program will be held from 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Where

Just West of Klondike along Horner Hill Road on the reclaimed surface mine

What

The goal of this Arbor Day event is to move the reclaimed surface mine site towards becoming a commercially valuable and well managed forest. The event also promotes the goals of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) to: promote the use of high-value hardwood trees on reclaimed coal mine land and method to increase the survival rate and growth rate of trees, and to expedite the establishment of forest habitat through natural succession. The site was reclaimed in the late 1980s using traditional reclamation techniques including heavy grading, soil compaction and establishment of a thick stand of cool season grasses. Natural tree succession has been extremely limited since the time of reclamation. High value hardwoods will be planted using proper tree planting techniques.

Directions

From Main Street

Go south onto Grant Street; Grant Street turns into State Rt 936; Once you go underneath the Interstate 68 overpass, travel 2.1 miles south on Rt. 936 to Klondike Road; Turn right onto Klondike road and travel 1 mile to the second left, Hersick Road; Travel 0.2 miles on Hersick Road to where it turns into a gravel road and becomes Horner Hill Road; Go three quarters of a mile on the gravel road to the tree planting site.

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