Wilbanks Smith and Thomas
volunteers accomplish an amazing cleanup of a recently established,
storm-damanged wetland!
When
Wilbanks Smith and Thomas Asset Management, LLC
volunteers for community service, everybody gets
into the act!
The office all but closed on Wednesday, May 26 as 20 of the 27
employees—including the president and IT pro—headed out to Kinder Morgan
Elizabeth River Terminals for some heavy-duty activity.
A December nor'easter left debris ranging from large pilings and pier
parts to pallets, driftwood and smaller items strewn throughout a 6.8
acre newly restored wetland. The young wetland was completed in 2009 by
Elizabeth River Terminals in partnership with the Elizabeth River
Project and represents the largest voluntary wetlands restoration along
the Elizabeth River. The wetland is doing well for its first growing
season and the fact that the heavy debris did not do more damage is a
testament to the amazing efficiency of wetlands to absorb storm surge.
During
the morning, Wilbanks Smith and Thomas employees got a chance to apply
their creativity to some really big challenges—literally—as they filled
a 30-cubic yard roll-off container with debris, some of which took a
whole team to move! Waste
Management donated the container and disposal of debris, which was a
tremendous help!
Elizabeth River Terminals also provided significant assistance with
a chain saw, forklift and front-end loader. Still, the job required lots
of manpower (and womanpower, too!)
Box lunches eaten under a shade tree replenished the group's strength
and determination. Soon, they were back at work in the field....planting
about 700 native grasses and shrubs to further enhance the site. The
group was so enthusiastic about the day spent at the wetland, they are
considering returning in fall to do more clean-up and plantings.
"This was even more fun than the ropes and initiatives course we did
last year!†said one volunteer. Who knows? Maybe wetlands cleanup and
restoration could be the hot, new team-building exercise for businesses,
corporations and organizations along the Elizabeth!
