Virginia Trees for Clean Water

The USFS Chesapeake Watershed Forestry Program has approved $108,000 in grant funding to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay by creating and supporting long-term and sustained tree canopy cover.

Citizen groups, educational institutions, private citizens and local governments within the Chesapeake Bay watershed are encouraged to apply for grants under the “Virginia Trees for Clean Water” program. Grants are awarded through this program for planting riparian buffers or trees in neighborhoods and communities. The grant covers projects to be undertaken and completed during the spring and early fall of 2014.

The goal of the program is to plant trees that restore and improve the waters of the Chesapeake Bay for the benefit of current and future citizens of the Commonwealth. Types of eligible projects include riparian buffer tree planting as well as community and neighborhood tree plantings.  Successful proposals will demonstrate “on-the-ground accomplishments” to obtain clean water in the Chesapeake Bay; the merit of the project and how the trees will be maintained in perpetuity. Funding is available on a 50/50 match basis.  In-kind match, including volunteer time, is permissible.

The grant application deadline is Feb. 13, 2014. To learn more about the Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant program, visit the Virginia Department of Forestry website at http://dof.virginia.gov/business/bids.htm.

The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians.  Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide citizen service and public safety protection across the Commonwealth.  VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 103,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide an overall economic output of more than $17 Billion annually.