Colcom Foundation - Montour Woods Greenway

The Colcom Foundation has awarded Hollow Oak a two-year grant of $50,000 to advance the Montour Woods Greenway and other greenway projects. The Montour Woods Greenway will connect by woodland trails the Montour Woods Conservation Area, Moon Park and the Montour Trail. Hollow Oak also seeks to protect and connect a wildlife corridor linking the Meeks Run valley with the Trout Run valley, as the two cleanest tributaries of Montour Run.

Orvis Conservation - Meeks Run

Hollow Oak has been awarded a $3,000 grant from renowned national fly fishing retailer, Orvis, to study and restore Meeks Run in the Montour Woods Conservation Area. The conservation grant was provided by the Orvis Pittsburgh store in Mt. Lebanon, thanks to store manager, Matt Rubino and volunteer Chris Roslonski.

Volunteers will improve habitat, reduce erosion and educate landowners to further improve the stream's water quality, which supports 17 species of fish. The Orvis grant also supports Hollow Oak's participation in Trout in the Classroom (TiC), a unique partnership between Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and the PA Fish and Boat Commission. 

Starting in 2014, Mr. Frank Todd's Moon Area Middle School science class has raised a cohort of 100 brook trout and released them annually as part of a conservation effort to bring the native species back to Meeks Run. Students learn about cold water conservation and ecology. 

May 18, 2015 is the next TiC release date, when students release fingerling brookies, study macroinvetebrates (aquatic insects and other critters), plant trees and, thanks to the Orvis staff and volunteers, they will have the chance to try fly casting on site. For more information: info@hollowoak.org
or (412) 417-5825 

Sprout Fund - North Boros Greenway Map

TreeVitalize

On April 11th, a dozen volunteers joined staff from Hollow Oak, Tree Pittsburgh and Western PA Conservancy to plant 30 saplings along Meeks Run. Two sites were chosen for their infestations of Japanese knotweed, which was quantified with help from Zach and Bonnie Ottaviani. The density and vigor of knotweed will be monitored over time to determine whether reestablishing the tree canopy can help deter this invasive species. Trees are vital for water quality, stabilizing stream banks, shading and cooling the water in summer, and improving the stream's ability to process excess nutrients and pollutants. Thanks to Marah Vecenie of TreeVitalize and Matt Erb of Tree Pittsburgh for technical assistance in planting the yellow buckeye, yellow birch, black gum, hackberry and umbrella magnolia trees! 

PA Game Commission

Thanks to Gary Fujak and PAGC for contributing over 100 tree seedlings to Hollow Oak. Species planted at Montour Woods include red osier dogwood, white pine, flowering dogwood, pin oak and white oak. We receive these trees as a cooperative landowner and, thanks to our successful deer management program, the young trees have a bright future. Deer hunters and the Game Commission are great partners in our work to preserve wildlife habitat.

Hollow Oak has been blessed this spring with the exemplary services of Intern, Mallory Sarver, who just graduated from Robert Morris University with a BS in Environmental Science. Mallory demonstrated her ability to work effectively and independently by
1) compiling over 20 years of biological data into the flora and fauna lists for Hollow Oak conservation areas, including over 300 species at Montour Woods Conservation Area, 2) mapping and monitoring over 100 eastern hemlock trees at Montour Woods, which so far are free of the wooly adelgid scourge, 3) coordinating our Earth Day booth at Robin Hill Park, and 4) planting dozens of trees from TreeVitalize and the PA Game Commission at Montour Woods. Mallory will be missed by Hollow Oak, but will be a great asset to the lucky company that hires her.