Volunteers in Rhode Island United States, have collected more than 600 discarded Christmas trees in 2026 and are reusing them to restore damaged riverbanks reduce soil erosion and create safe habitats for young trout.
The initiative, known as “Trees for Trout”, is a joint effort by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and the state chapter of Trout Unlimited. Instead of sending used evergreen trees to landfills, residents donated them at collection events held at the Arcadia Management Area in Exeter.
The collected trees are being installed along damaged streams in the Wood River watershed, where powerful storms and severe flooding have increased riverbank erosion. These conditions have widened and shallowed some river channels making the water more vulnerable to rising temperatures.
Volunteers use the trees to create natural barriers called conifer revetments. Secured along eroded banks, the submerged branches slow water flow and help soil particles settle around their bases. As the trees gradually decompose, accumulated sediment helps rebuild and stabilise the riverbanks. The process can also narrow the channel, allowing the main current to flow through a deeper, cooler section.
The restoration work is particularly important for wild brook trout, a native fish species that struggles to tolerate warmer water. The submerged branches provide shelter for young trout aquatic insects and other small organisms, helping them hide from predators and supporting freshwater biodiversity.
Volunteers install the trees using hand tools, waders and heavy gloves, securing them to the streambed with biodegradable stakes or natural cable anchors. These measures help prevent the trees from being swept away during periods of high water.
Organisers require donated Christmas trees to be free of artificial decorations, metal ornaments, lighting wires, tinsel and chemical fire retardants to prevent harmful materials from entering freshwater ecosystems.
The programme relies on community participation, with local families, environmental groups and recreational anglers taking part in seasonal collection drives and stream restoration activities. According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the initiative offers two key benefits: reducing waste sent to municipal disposal systems and providing an affordable source of natural materials for river restoration.
The project also supports efforts to protect wild fish populations that reproduce naturally, helping them survive alongside fish raised and released through stocking programmes.
Volunteers are expected to continue installing the remaining trees along priority streams in the coming months giving damaged riverbanks time to recover naturally before winter weather returns.