Massena Celebrates 1,000,000 Trees with the commissioning of the Alcoa Wetlands Habitat and Black Ash Forest
Alcoa’s completion of its One Million Trees program marked the beginning of a new environmental project for Massena Operations in New York. On June 5th, Massena Operations commissioned the Alcoa Wetlands Habitat and Black Ash Forest, a wetland observation area adjacent to Massena’s East Plant. The more than 250 acres of wetland has been enhanced with bluebird and wren houses, bat boxes, duck nests, osprey platforms, 4,000 Black Ash and 3,000 companion species. The planting of the Black Ash forest was part of a cooperation with the nearby St. Regis Mohawk tribe who has, for centuries, used splints from the tree to weave into furniture, baskets and other items. These trees used to grow in abundance in the area but disappeared in the 1970’s; Alcoa has planted 3,800 Black Ash trees in the wetlands habitat.
Massena Operations has been active with the One Million Trees Program from the beginning. Over 20,000 trees have been distributed to Massena Operations employees, planted at the east and west facilities and donated in the community. In addition,
- 4,000 lilacs were given to visitors during Massena Operations 2002 Centennial Open House;
- 7,000 Black Ash and companion species were planted at the wetlands project to enhance the habitat and restore the trees so important for basket making material and medicinal purposes to the Akwesasne Mohawk community;
- 300 trees were planted at the west plant to enhance the natural beauty of the facility, improve drainage and re-vegetate areas where no longer used parking lots and building foundations once stood;
- 200 Red Oak and Serbian Spruce were donated to the Akwesasne Freedom School for use in educational programs;
- Mature trees were donated to the Village of Massena to replace those damaged in the 1998 ice storm, improve Andrews Street Veterans Memorial Park and enhance Forest Place Park, an area originally developed by Alcoa nearly a century ago during the early years of Alcoa’s partnership with the Massena community. Massena has earned National Arbor Day Foundation recognition as a “Tree City USA”.
Prior to the commission of the wetlands, students from the Akwesasne Freedom School performed the Mohawk tribe’s traditional address, thanking the creator for all gifts. At the ceremony, Massena Operations took the first steps towards Alcoa’s new tree-planting goal - 10 million trees by 2020 - by planting the 1,000,001st and 1,000,0002nd trees, butternut trees graciously donated by Les Benedict of Esha Consulting.
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A portion of Massena's newly created wetland area and black ash stand.
Invocation by students from the Akwesasne Freedom School.
Read the traditional Mohawk Thanksgiving Address (prayer), "Words That Come Before All Else," which was recited at Massena's Ten Million Trees and wetlands ceremony.
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Rick Esterline, Remediation Projects Manager; Nelson Dubé, Smelting Operations Manager; Eric Easton, Graduate Assistant for Dr. Bridgen; Dr. Michael Bridgen, Assistant Professor of Forestry - State University of New York Environmental Science and Forest Rangers School; Cassie David, Ehsa Consulting Student Assistant; Erick Lewis, AEP Operations Manager.
Local 450-A USWA President Steve Peets, Smelting Operations Manager Nelson Dubé, Town Supervisor Sandy Cook, Retired Environmental Manager Jim Shaw, SUNY ESF Professor Dr. Michael Bridgen, Black Ash Consultant Cassie David, and SUNY ESF graduate student Eric Easton planted two butternut trees in the Black Ash Forest established in Massena Operations' Wetland Habitat.
More information
Download the program of the day's events.
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