The Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD) serves a landscape that stretches from the Lake Ontario shoreline south through the Genesee River Basin. Based in Rochester, New York, MCSWCD works across urban and rural settings, partnering with landowners and producers, municipalities, and community partners to implement conservation practices that protect soil and improve water quality. In 2024, forestry continued to play an integral role across their programs, from floodplain restoration to invasive species response.

A focal point of last year’s stream work was a complex stabilization project on Black Creek in the Village of Churchville. Years of erosion and land loss prompted MCSWCD to coordinate a multi-partner effort to protect 1,075 feet of streambank, install a floodplain bench, and plant 180 native trees and shrubs along the shoreline.

Due to limited land access, materials were transported and installed by barge. Nearby, a tributary to Irondequoit Creek in Pittsford was also stabilized, with 225 feet of reshaped stream channel and embankment followed by erosion control and the installation of 184 plantings. Read more about this project on pages 13 to 15 in in MCSWCD’s annual report.

Those efforts were complemented by additional riparian buffers installed in East Rochester, Henrietta, and Chili. MCSWCD targeted sites where mowing to the streambank had left soil exposed and eroding. Native plantings were used to rebuild buffers, reduce stormwater impacts, and begin restoring streamside habitat. Project planning emphasized appropriate buffer widths, planting density, and long-term maintenance.

Monroe County has been heavily affected by the spread of emerald ash borer, with canopy loss especially visible in parks and along waterways. In response, MCSWCD launched a long-term reforestation effort in 2017, planting a mix of native species in areas where ash once dominated.

That work expanded in 2022 with funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. By 2024, more than 11,000 trees had been planted at 17 sites across the county, including public parks, state wildlife lands, and community green spaces. Partnerships with groups like the Oatka Creek Watershed Committee and Monroe County Parks were essential to planning and implementation.

Community engagement through forestry remained a strong focus for MCSWCD in 2024. The Conservation Tree and Shrub Program distributed nearly 24,000 seedlings to 589 landowners, with offerings that included native trees and shrubs for erosion control, habitat enhancement, and windbreaks, along with seed mixes, nest boxes, and tree protection materials. Read more about this program on pages eight and nine in MCSWCD’s annual report.

Forestry also featured prominently in the district’s education programming. At events in schools, libraries, and outdoor festivals, staff introduced students and families to stream ecology, tree planting, and land-use impacts. In Honeoye and Irondequoit Creeks, students sampled macroinvertebrates and evaluated stream health, while interactive watershed models helped illustrate how local actions affect water quality downstream.

MCSWCD also continues to play a leadership role in regional watershed efforts. As coordinator of the Genesee River Watershed Coalition, the team oversaw a stabilization project on Oatka Creek in the Town of Wheatland through a grant from the Great Lakes Commission. More than 600 trees, shrubs, and live stakes were planted after construction. Over the next decade, the project is expected to prevent 848 tons of sediment and reduce nutrient runoff entering the Genesee River.

Through this work, MCSWCD offers a valuable example of how forestry can be integrated into broader watershed strategies. From stabilizing streambanks to replanting canopy and engaging the next generation, their efforts highlight how locally led conservation can respond to complex resource challenges. To learn more about MCSWCD’s work and their array of projects please visit, monroecountyswcd.org.