ALVA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invited volunteers to help plant native flowers and plants at the W.P. Frankling Lock South Recreation Area on June 24 in honor of National Pollinator Week.

“A few years ago, the Jacksonville District’s Natural Resources Program started brainstorming ideas on how to reduce the operation and maintenance costs of recreation assets such as those at the W.P. Franklin Recreation Area,” said Nelson Colón, Natural Resources Program Manager. “This year’s effort was a continuation of Engineering with Nature initiative of planting native vegetation to reforest what used to be a very large open field, reducing the need for mowing, which in turn reduces the use of fossil fuels and saves taxpayer dollars.”

“Last year on, on Sept. 24, 2022,  National Public Lands Day, 90 volunteers came out and planted nearly 3,000 native trees in the first phase of an effort to reforest a large open grassy field at the W.P. Franklin Recreation Area as part of our Engineering with Nature Project,” said Robert Hill, Natural Resources Specialist.

About 75% of all flowering plant species need animal pollinators for reproduction. As a result, pollinators contribute to ecosystem health and a sustainable food supply. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats are essential to many food crops.