There was no hyped-up host jumping around with a bullhorn when the annual Extreme Stream Makeover kicked off on Monday, but there was still an unmistakable energy in the air.
On the banks of Ivy Creek, a small group of volunteers worked rapidly to plant 35 new trees in just two hours, a pace that surprised even the seasoned water advocates present.
“These folks are just barreling,” said David Sligh, a riverkeeper for the James River Association. “This is going to have a big impact.”
The Extreme Stream Makeover, a brainchild of the James River Association, will have people working across the city all week to repair and rejuvenate the local watershed. Projects include restoring stream banks, building rain gardens and clearing away trash.
The Extreme Stream Makeover, modeled after the reality show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” brings volunteers together for a short but intensive period of work. The location changes every year. Past makeovers took place in Richmond and Colonial Heights.
On Monday, volunteers working along Ivy Creek in Peaks View Park dedicated themselves to the laborious task of planting new trees, some of which weighed up to 50 pounds, along the creek bed. Maintaining a healthy border of foliage next to a waterway helps filter runoff and prevents soil erosion.
Francy Rubin, of Lynchburg, a slight woman who had to use all her might to break a tree free of the plastic bucket it was delivered in, said seeing the long row of freshly planted oaks and maples at the end of the day made all the effort worth it.
“It feels very productive,” she said while surveying the creek bank. “It feels good to be helping.”
Rubin added the opportunity to contribute to Peaks View Park, where her family has spent many an afternoon over the years, was particularly gratifying.
“This is your home,” she said. “To be able to do something local is very special.”
Sligh, who as a riverkeeper is charged with monitoring conditions along the James River, said organizers hope the Extreme Stream Makeover inspires more Virginia residents to get involved with water protection. He added officials had been favorably impressed with the response generated in Lynchburg.
“In some communities, people know the river is there but don’t see it as the resource it is,” he said. “But there’s no question that in Lynchburg it’s a huge part of the area’s heritage and people do value it.”
The Extreme Stream Makeover will continue through Thursday. To learn more or register to volunteer, visit the event tent at the Wards Crossing shopping center in front of Barnes & Noble. Organizers will register volunteers for morning shifts from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Afternoon registration is from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m.
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