PHHAT Treatment Days on the Green with Hemlock Restoration Initiative on May 5th and May 25th

Join us on the Upper section of the Green River (class III) on May 5th and/or May 25th and become a member of the Paddlers Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT).

This collaboration between the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, American Whitewater, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper utilizes experienced whitewater paddlers to treat trees along the Green River.  We use a custom protocol to protect hemlock trees from infestation and death by the woolly adelgid (a non-native sap-sucking insect), whilst ensuring the safety and protection of water quality. 

For the Upper Green, plan on meeting at the put-in (Pot Shoals Rd) at 9 AM. We will drop boats and head to the Gallimore lot to set shuttle. We will review the treatment plan at the put-in, including river safety and group coordination on the river. We will scout and set safety for the major rapids on the Upper (Bayless, Wanda, Triple Drop). Expect to be off the river by 4 PM. 

Please bring:

• Your river gear and boat! No river gear will be provided! For special requests, we can provide inflatable kayaks. Dress for the weather and assumption of having to take a dip in chilly water. Please be sure you are qualified to paddle this class III, which is a very remote run. Participants may be asked to provide evidence of their experience level prior to the trip.
• Paddlers will get out of their boats and climb up the river bank to reach the base of the trees where they will perform the treatments. Sometimes repeatedly. The terrain varies from flat to moderately steep.  As such expect to be traversing difficult terrain in paddling gear (we will allow time to remove helmet, lifejacket and spray skirt at each treatment get-out spot).
• Bring plenty of hydration materials and snacks, more than you would for a normal paddling trip. We will be taking extra breaks during the day. 
• Get plenty of rest the day before as these are strenuous days.
• We will provide all the adelgid-destroying equipment in dry bags to load into our boats.

Please RSVP as soon as possible to Thom Green with HRI at info@savehemlocksnc.org and complete the sign-up form. He will be the primary contact for questions and send updates if plans change.

To learn more about the PHHAT team, visit paddlersforhemlocks.com.

Note: Treatments are based on the rigorous science of using imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid, to control woolly adelgid. We use a pelletized formulation of imidacloprid called Coretect™. Every tree is given a prescribed dose based on tree size using a dosage rate shown to only affect adelgids on that tree. The prescribed dose is inserted into the soil surrounding the tree. Surrounding trees and flowering plants are not affected. Utmost care is exercised to protect the applicators (you).