Did you know rain accounts for two-thirds of our country’s clean water supply? Trees play a critical role in filtering that water. When you purchase select reusable bags, Publix contributes 10 cents of the bag’s purchase price to support sustainability projects in local communities, up to a maximum of $125,000 per year.
Publix recently donated $125,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation. The foundation will use the donation to complete two Florida planting projects to restore deteriorated watersheds this year.
Little Orange Creek Preserve
The Orange Creek Basin is a 600-square-mile portion of the Lower Ocklawaha River Watershed with 27 impaired bodies of water, including Little Orange Creek. This area’s poor water quality is due to the amount of sediment buildup and invasive plants not native to the region.
With Publix’s support, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant approximately 53,000 longleaf pine seedlings on 95 acres. The new trees will allow the water to return to its natural flow and create high-quality wetland habitats.
Withlacoochee River Watershed
This watershed covers more than 2,100 square miles and stretches across eight Florida counties. The Withlacoochee River itself is 160 miles long and originates in the Green Swamp, a delicate ecosystem that has been impacted by road construction, logging, mining and ranching. Without more trees and proper forestry management, this habitat will continue to experience significant plant and wildlife loss.
The Arbor Day Foundation will plant 72,000 trees through our donation. The trees will filter excessive nitrogen and phosphorus out of this freshwater habitat. Not only will this improve water quality, it will also restore the watershed to its original ecosystem that many endangered wildlife — like the gopher tortoise, bald eagle and Florida black bear — call home.
See our efforts come to life by watching Publix News Live below. Find out more about our sustainability practices and achievements and ways you can help make a difference by visiting publix.com/sustainability.
