September 2017 MWCA Events Focus on Drainage and Trees
Throughout September, Magnolia Woods Civic Association (MWCA) has events planned that are intended to improve and enhance the livability and beauty of our neighborhood. MWCA is continuing its ongoing reforestation project with the sixth annual tree giveaway. MWCA is also working with four other civic associations to offer residents an opportunity to meet with city-parish officials regarding drainage issues. The multi-neighborhood drainage meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, at the Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library. In many ways, these two projects are intrinsically linked.
One reason many residents choose to live in Magnolia Woods is the beautiful wooded nature of the neighborhood. Beyond aesthetics, trees provide shade that lowers the temperature in our homes and yards in the hot Louisiana summers, buffer homes from wind and rain year-round, provide a more breathable atmosphere, and – ta da! – reduce drainage problems.
Here are a few facts about trees you may not have heard.
• Trees slow and reduce storm runoff, flooding, and erosion. They also filter that runoff to reduce water pollution.
• One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air every day. Water that isn’t on the ground is water that isn’t causing flood and drainage issues.
• One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for as many as four people.
• A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. By the time the tree is 40 years old, it will have taken one ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
• A healthy tree can increase your property value by 27 percent.
• Homes shaded by trees need less energy for cooling, which can lower utility bills.
Through the tree giveaway, the first 25 neighbors who respond receive their choice from a list of native tree species to plant in their yards. This year’s giveaway began on August 9 and is open until we have 25 recipients. Trees are ordered through the LSU Hilltop Arboretum and will be delivered in October. Recipients are given planting instructions and planting assistance by MWCA volunteers and board members. If you miss this year’s giveaway, look for announcements for future tree offerings either on the Magnolia Woods Nextdoor.com site or on our website at www.mwca.net. You can also contact Board Member Jim Wilkins at wilkinsjg@cox.net or 225-766-5046 for more information.
Meanwhile, if you have drainage issues and would like to hear from your city-parish officials and representatives about what is being done to address those issues, please plan to attend the drainage meeting on September 12.
We found the tree facts listed in this item as well as many others on these websites:
http://www.northlandnemo.org/images/800TreeCityUSABulletin_55.pdf
http://www.parksandpeople.org/files/resources/2577_The%20Value%20of%20Trees.pdf
http://http://www.batonrougegreen.com
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/F5E6FA92-D84F-4716-9176-355A62765838/18167/pub2926NativeTreeGuide.pdf
http://terrecon.com/why-save-trees/#
http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/the-role-of-trees-and-plants-in-bioretention
https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/treesofstrength/treefact.htm
