Getting to Work for Kentucky’s Public Lands

 

KYBHA got down to business, with volunteers across the state rolling up their sleeves to tackle invasive plant species and improve access to our public lands.

In eastern Kentucky at Buckhorn Lake, KYBHA volunteers partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove invasive autumn olive and Bradford pear. The work helped open up and improve fishing access for anglers while making the area more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. By the end of the day, volunteers had removed an incredible 13 truckloads of brush.

   

 

Meanwhile, in the western part of the state, volunteers from BHA, Murray State University, the Sierra Club, and others teamed up with the Riverlands Alliance for a work-and-learn focused on removing invasive privet. (group photo above)

The group encountered an unexpected challenge: many of the privet plants still had berries. Rather than letting those seeds spread, volunteers adapted their approach and carefully removed the berries and seedlings from each plant before disposal.

These projects were about more than removing invasive plants. They were about taking care of the places we hunt, fish, hike, and explore—and bringing people together to make our public lands better for everyone.

No matter where you are in Kentucky, KYBHA is working to improve our public lands and build a stronger community of people who care about them.