West
Virginia Project CommuniTree (CTree) promotes tree planting and education
on public land through volunteerism in the Potomac Headwaters of
West Virginia (Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson,
Mineral, Morgan, & Pendleton counties). The program also focuses on
enhancing and promoting awareness of watershed and riparian area
needs such as storm water management, water quality issues, buffer
zone planting, and soil erosion. The project is entirely volunteer
based and engages stakeholders in the process of making priority
decisions within their respective communities and offers a strong
educational message along with a physical planting component. CommuniTree is a program of the WV Conservation Agency and the WV
Potomac Tributary Team that is engaged in
on-the-ground actions throughout the Potomac headwaters.
CTree and its partners invite organizations and agencies to apply for CTree kits to organize,
coordinate, and implement urban tree plantings through a competitive
grant process. Twice annually groups can apply for CTree Kits for
spring and fall plantings. CTree Kits include:
Trees in a variety of species and stock sizes for Shade,
Reforestation, etc.
Tree tubes or cages to protect from deer; and
Mulch to foster good root growth
Successful CTree applicants will receive technical assistance from
CTree partners and the WV Division of Forestry. Any interested
group that is dedicated to increasing urban canopy cover in the
Potomac Basin is eligible to apply (with or without prior experience
planting trees). Follow this link
to see a map of priority planting sites.
CTree is designed so any volunteer group or public entities, regardless of
experience, can apply for help from CTree and the WV Division of
Forestry. We want your group to apply and join the growing
number of volunteers who are making their communities more beautiful
and health by planting trees. CTree applications include:
Cover Letter: General information about your group, including
group name & address, project leader & location, etc.
Proposal: More in depth information about their organization
(structure, number of members, past tree planting experience),
details on the proposed project including description of need,
objectives, and an explanation of how the project will be
evaluated.
Site Checklist: Checklist for evaluating a proposed planting
site including hydrology, topography, current vegetation, and
potential conflicts with underground or overhead utilities.
Tree Maintenance Form: Groups must outline a multi-year plan to
maintain the health of the trees through proper watering,
mulching, and care.
Application
Materials. Two options for preparing your application are
available, a writeable PDF with an email button, and a Word file.
You will need to have Adobe Reader software on your computer to use
the PDF form; if you don't already have it,
download Adobe Reader for free.
. Spring 2013 CTree grant applications
are
now
available.
It is the law, call before you dig!
(CTree representatives will help successful applicants with
contacting “Miss Utility” to have the planting site inspected.
Background information on Miss
Utility.)
Eleven Autumn 2012 CTree Grants were
awarded: Leetown Izaak Walton League
(Jefferson County), Jefferson County Parks and Recreation (Jefferson
County), Wildwood Middle School (Jefferson County), South Jefferson
Elementary School (Jefferson County), Musselman High School
(Berkeley County), Opequon Creek Project Team (Berkeley County),
Berkeley Spring Tree Board (Morgan County), Paw Paw K-12 School
(Hampshire County), WV Department of Natural Resources (Hampshire
County), Moorefield Elementary School (Hardy County), and Grant
County Housing Authority (Grant County). See a map of
project sites.
3/30/2012. Below, CI's Tanner Haid sorts trees into "tree
kits" for the Spring CTree planting in the Eastern Panhandle.
The WV Conservation Agency, Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Valley
Conservation District, WV Division of Forestry, Cacapon Institute,
and other WV Potomac Tributary Team partners are prepared to help
your group have a fun and successful volunteer tree planting
experience. Don’t hesitate to contact us to be put in touch with
your local CTree representative.
Website made
possible by funding from The Norcross Wildlife Foundation, the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Virginia Environmental
Endowment, NOAA-BWET, USEPA, The MARPAT Foundation, and our generous
members.