Effective restoration and management of riparian areas requires an understanding of riparian functions, knowledge of native riparian vegetation, and site specific information regarding soils, existing vegetation and topography. The students of the 2005 Spruce Creek Keystone Project installed a riparian buffer on a small tract of land along the Weaver Forest Tract of Halfmoon Creek, which is owned by The Pennsylvania State University and managed by the Penn State Forestland Management Office. The primary objective of the Weaver Forest Riparian Buffer project is to provide residents of the Spruce Creek watershed with a model for riparian restoration specific to their watershed, while creating a riparian site that can be used for education and outreach. In addition, the riparian restoration project will increase the biological integrity at the site by improving wildlife habitat and increasing biodiversity both in the stream and riparian area.

Containerized tree and shrub seedlings were provided, free of cost, by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in their Spring 2005 Plant Give-Away. Funding to purchase tree tubes, stakes and hardware, and to rent equipment to prepare the restoration site was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection "Halfmoon Creek Restoration" Growing Greener grant to the Center for Watershed Stewardship. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the Chesapeake Bay. The organization was founded in 1967, with the mission statement "Save the Bay." The riparian plant give-away is a program designed to give non-profit organizations the planting materials necessary to restore degraded riparian areas. The plants distributed in the give-away are grown by Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, located in Kirkwood Pennsylvania. The plant seedlings are containerized in 3"x 3"x 9" plastic containers, and are typically
15"-30" in height. The wholesale value of the seedlings is normally over $3 each.

A total of 900 tree and shrub seedlings were picked up on Wednesday, March 30th, and planting took place two days later on Saturday, April 2. The planting day was advertised throughout the Spruce Creek watershed, with an emphasis along Halfmoon Creek. Despite inclement weather, several watershed residents assisted in planting, along with students from CWS and the Student Chapter Society of Natural Resources (SOSNR) at Penn State. Planting tools were provided by the Penn State Forestland Management Office and the Penn State Institutes of the Environment. Due to large amounts of precipitation on the planting day, spreading of wildflower seeds was postponed until drier conditions occurred.

Students at the Center for Watershed Stewardship drafted a maintenance plan for the Weaver Forest Riparian Buffer. The plan will be implemented by the Penn State Forestland Management Office Department in collaboration with the Center for Watershed Stewardship. The maintenance plan includes control of herbaceous competition using herbicide application for 3 years following buffer installation. A post-emergent herbicide like Oust or Accord will be used to control herbaceous growth around seedlings, which will be protected from the herbicide by plastic tree tubes. In addition, a broad-leaf herbicide like Escort will be used for selective control of invasive species including multiflora rose and burdock. Plans for roadside stabilization have also been created for the gated access road adjacent to the riparian buffer. Plans include stabilization using geotextile fabrics and gravel and shale fill. Road and parking improvements will reduce sediment loading into Halfmoon Creek, and encourage visitor access and use and direct agricultural equipment along a defined travel route to help protect the travel corridor.

The Weaver Forest riparian buffer was designed as a tool that can be used by the community to learn more about the ecological significance and importance of riparian areas. With proper maintenance, this buffer will serve as both an educational resource for the Spruce Creek community, as well as a filter for nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants. In addition, it will provide excellent aquatic and terrestrial habitat for desirable fish and wildlife species.

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