Encampment and Riverside branch out

Sunday morning, Encampment and Riverside volunteers worked together planting trees along WY Highway 70.

The Encampment/Riverside Tree Beautification project was organized by Lee Ann Stephenson, after she noticed that the trees along Highway 70 had died.

Stephenson who often walks along Highway 70 from Riverside to Encampment enjoys the bluebirds that fly in the area and wanted to improve their habitat and beautify the area along the highway.

Trees had been planted in 1989 for the bicentennial. While the cottonwood trees in front of the Riverside/Encampment Lions Club arena were thriving, the trees east of the arena had died.

Stephenson presented the idea of planting trees to the Riverside Town Council and they gave $1,500 toward the purchase of trees.

They still needed water. Stephenson went to the Encampment Town Council to see if they could help, and they offered to supply the irrigation water and replace the irrigation pipe.

Stephenson's husband Leroy, who serves on the Riverside Town Council, volunteered to be the liaison between the two towns.

"What I think is so great about this, is this is a project that Riverside and Encampment cooperated on," Stephenson said.

Through the winter and spring, Stephenson researched information on trees. She discovered the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) no longer allows cottonwood trees to be planted in their right-of-ways, so she looked for another type of tree. She picked the Canadian Red Chokecherry tree.

Stephenson said she picked the trees because of the blossoms in the spring and the trees only grow to about 20 feet tall.

Volunteers worked to remove the roots of the dead trees, removed the old irrigation pipe, saving the drip nozzles to reuse.

They also saved the metal fence poles and wire and rubber hosing to help stand the trees.

Encampment councilwoman Mary Martin and Riverside councilman Stephenson volunteered along with a small group of others to plant the trees. Bob Berger, who works at Lazy Acres Campground, Lee Ann Stephenson, Sandra Martin and Gus Geisick moved trees dug holes and planted and stabilized the trees.

The trees were purchased from Doggett Greenhouse and Brad Hebig, owner of High Plains Foam Building Systems, volunteered his time and equipment to dig holes for the trees.

With the $1,500 from the town of Riverside, 10 trees were purchased. The other five trees were purchased by people in memory of loved ones.

"One of the trees was purchased in memory of Jeff Goolsby, who worked for the town of Encampment until he lost his battle with cancer," Stephenson said.

WYDOT doesn't allow markers, but people will be able to drive by the trees and remember their loved ones, Stephenson said.