Pomfret — This fall, the Connecticut River ​​Conservancy and project partners planted 5,690 native trees and shrubs along 9,007 feet of riverbank along the Connecticut River and its tributaries in an effort to reduce erosion, improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and increase habits for fish and other wildlife.

The planting took place on seven farms in Haverhill, Pike, Bath and Jefferson, N.H., and in Newbury and Weathersfield, Vt. It covered 11.1 acres of shoreline along the Connecticut River and its tributaries, including the Black and Wells rivers in Vermont and the Israel River and Oliverian Stream in New Hampshire.

“Our local farms need help to implement these water quality projects,” Ron Rhodes, river steward at the conservancy, said in a news release. “The benefits are real: boatable, fishable and swimmable clean water, at a relatively low cost.”

Since Tropical Storm Irene hit the area six years ago, the conservancy has planted more than 23,000 trees and shrubs throughout the Connecticut River watershed. The organization, which aims to protect the watershed of the Connecticut River, works with farmers, towns and landowners who have erosion problems on their property by applying for grants to fund conservation and restoration projects, and providing project management services to the landowner.

Funding for the plantings was provided by grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Block Foundation. Project partners included the seven participating farms and their owners, Beck Pond LLC, the Intervale Conservation Nursery, the NorthWoods Stewardship Center and volunteers.