Volunteer Planting at Mosquito Creek Lake in Ohio

Published April 13, 2017

Trumbull County, located in the northeast corner of Ohio, is located in the native range of the American chestnut tree.  Earlier this spring, a great crew from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Ohio Agriculture, and several TACF Ohio Chapter members, collaborated to plant 100 potentially blight resistant (PBR) American chestnut seedlings at Mosquito Creek Lake reservoir. This project aims to continue TACF’s research efforts of  introducing PBR chestnuts back into the county with a small-scale experimental planting. The trees, planted with 2′ tubes and 4′ wire cages were all in the ground within three hours, thanks to such a strong volunteer effort!

Looking forward, volunteers, as approved by ODNR and USACE, will periodically visit the planting site as a means of monitoring and maintaining seedling growth.  Weed control efforts will be engaged to improve survivability. Project sponsors will provide detailed follow-up reporting to TACF’s Ohio Chapter on the success of this planting effort.

(from L-R):  Seedling finds a new home at Mosquito Creek Lake; A hard-working volunteer helps get 100 seedlings planted in only 3 hours; USACE Park Ranger Kat Pavolillo and TACF volunteer Kelly Chopko.  

Sara Fitzsimmons in 2005 with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, Dr Robert Gregg

2005
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, & Dr Robert Gregg

2006, Sara Fitzsimmons pollinates at Stockers

2006
Sara pollinating at Stockers, PA

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood, MD

Sara at the 25th Annual TACF meeting

2008
Sara at the 25th Annual TACF Meeting

Sara and the Graves tree

2009
Sara in the PSU Graves Orchard

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons in the Glenn Swank stump, 2009

2009
Sara in the Glenn Swank stump, PA

Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium, 2012

2012
Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium

Sara in Vermont

2014
Sara with Harmony Dalgleish and the Berlin American chestnut in Vermont

Kendra and Sara in the field

Sara and Kendra Collins working in the field

Sara presenting at the 2022 TACF Spring Meeting

2022
Sara presenting at TACF’s Spring Meeting

Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

2023
Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons

2024
Sara in the Penn State greenhouses