GENTRY — Gentry and Springtown will be the beneficiaries of a $15,000 matching grant obtained by the Illinois River Watershed Partnership through the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

The grant award was presented by Delia Haak, IRWP executive director, to representatives of both Gentry and Springtown at council meetings in both cities on Monday and Tuesday nights.

The grant will be used to help - with the assistance of the Visiting Urban Forester program - the cities of Gentry and Springtown complete a tree survey and develop tree management plans, the first step toward being designated as tree cities. The grant will also provide for workshops to help establish a tree care program and to explain the benefits of becoming a Tree City USA community.

“Gentry will also serve as a site for a Jet Stinger Demonstration workshop to plant live willow cuttings,” the grant application states.

The Jet Stinger is a device used to plant woody cuttings for stream-bed restoration.

In addition to improving the cities of Gentry and Springtown, the grant has the goal of protecting and improving the waters of Flint Creek through tree planting and riparian buffers.

“Trees make better water,” Haak said at Monday’s Gentry council meeting. “This is a partnership to protect the water of Flint Creek and the Illinois River Watershed,” Haak explained.

Matching grant funds will be made up largely through in-kind and volunteered services.

News, Pages 1 on 12/09/2009