How three counties used federal grant money for tree removal and replacement
By Linda Langelo
In small, rural communities, tree management is vital for maintaining a healthy tree canopy where shade, beautification, and wind protection are crucial for quality of life. During the hot summer or when cold winter winds lash the surface of anything vertical in eastern Colorado, just two or three trees can make the difference between finding a moment of peace in a country cemetery to remember a friend or loved one, or looking at his or her gravestone from a distance while standing beside a truck.
It can be tough to justify spending public funds on tree planting in these communities with 3,000 to 10,000 residents when other urgent priorities strain local budgets. Most of these communities also lack an ISA-certified arborist. They depend on funding to start or maintain programs that local resources might not cover.
In 2024, a grant became available through the Colorado State Forest Service for communities disproportionately impacted by a successful national grant awarded to the US Forest Service. Carrie Tomlinson, the Urban and Community Forest Manager, shared this opportunity with the CSU Extension in rural Northeast Colorado in May 2024, during a meeting with local community leaders. As a result of that meeting, a series of grants was developed.
Putting Funds To Work
Funding was provided on a reimbursement basis to selected communities. This sometimes required mayors or town managers to allocate funds in their budgets to start the projects and be reimbursed through the grants. Towns could use budgeted funds to trim trees that conflicted with overhead electrical lines in alleys, along streets, or in parks. Towns with an established tree board, such as Wray, Colo., used funding from the parks and recreation department. After removing dead, compromised, or diseased trees, each town had to develop a replanting strategy. The grant included the following criteria: forming a tree board, engaging community volunteers, offering a stipend for a tree steward, and inventorying trees. The CSU Forest Service and Extension helped educate citizens and volunteers on tree planting and long-term care.