TreeVitalize Funding Support for

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is pleased to announce the availability of “reimbursement funding” to ALL County Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups (excluding the TreeVitalize Southeast Watershed). Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups that have assisted with riparian buffer installations during the 2010 planting seasons are eligible to request from TreeVitalize $1 per TREE planted!

If you missed the last year’s December reimbursement deadline, don’t sweat it, you can still submit for 2009 reimbursements! We know how busy the holidays can get and maybe you missed the December deadline or maybe your group had additional trees planted and would like to be reimbursed, again, well you can! Reimbursements will continue to be accepted until further notice. Hey, a dollar is a dollar, why not submit for reimbursement!

For each planting, a brief report is required, including:

1. Property owner name(s) and contact information
2. GPS location(s)
3. Watershed(s) involved
4. Number of TREES planted and species mix (shrubs are ineligible for TreeVitalize reimbursement)
5. Date(s) planted
6. Attach planting plan(s)
7. Attach copy of nursery invoice
8. Photos

• At that time requests will be reviewed and honored as funding availability permits.

• Only Conservation Districts and Watershed groups can submit for funding.
• Only one payment will be made to the respected “District“ and/or “Group” for the total number of trees planted per planting season. Reimbursement or compensation to others whose plantings were included in the report would be at the discretion of the conservation district and watershed group.
• Plantings on public lands will be considered higher priority, but projects on private land will also be accepted. Projects funded through CREP and other federal cost share programs are not eligible for reimbursement.

Please submit your TreeVitalize Riparian Buffer Reimbursement Requests to:

Attn: TreeVitalize Metros Program
Christine Ticehurst
DCNR Bureau of Forestry
400 Market Street, 6^th FL,
Harrisburg, PA 17105

*TreeVitalize Southeast Watershed includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. Conservation Districts located within that region are eligible for funding through separate funds available through the PA Horticultural Society. Contact Michael Leff at 215-988-8800 or www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/home/index.html

Benefits of Streamside Tree Plantings (also called “Riparian Buffers”) – Seedling Plantings

Properly planted and maintained streamside tree plantings can:

• reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff into water bodies by up to 50% or more
• reduce sediment deposits into streams by up to 75%
• reduce pathogen (disease causing organisms) deposits into streams by up to 60%
• control erosion of soil by wind and rain
• improve water quality
• improve water infiltration into groundwater
• reduce the likelihood of downstream flooding
• cool stream temperatures
• improve fish habitat

For more information please e-mail us at treevitalize@state.pa.us