The City of San Diego has been awarded a $10 million five-year urban forestry grant by the USDA Forest Service. The grant is $10 million and named “Ready, Set, Grow San Diego” (view City’s webpage). The project and would plant 5,100 trees and protect over 400 existing trees in six disadvantaged communities (see map). The grant is for $10 million. See application (which is the scope of work), program overview, and signed agreement (which is legal document). Tree San Diego and four other cities (Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, and Vista) were also awarded grants.
What are the City’s steps to plant and care for trees in eligible census tracts, in this RSG project?
- Vacant sites have been identified from the recently-completed street tree inventory .
- City arborist reviews each site, and decides whether it is suitable for a tree.
- City staff canvasses neighborhoods, talking with residents and leaving RSG information.
- Places are identified, to establish new planting spaces in previously paved parkway areas.
- City staff decides the locations where trees will be planted, and contractors plant trees.
- Contractors water the trees for three years (weekly in year 1, bi-weekly in year 2, monthly in year 3). Contractors also mulch, prune the young trees and monitor tree health.
- After three years, trees depend on rain, front-yard irrigation and extra watering by residents.
What factors influence long-term sustainability, community benefits, and project success?
- Community engagement. Work collectively to develop community priorities, confirm tree planting sites, and invest in long-term stewardship. Community organizers are supporting community groups in Linda Vista, Otay Mesa-Nestor, and Skyline-Paradise Hills, and coordinating with Groundwork San Diego Chollas-Creek. Urban Collaborative Project, SD Urban Sustainability Coalition, Bayside Community Center), and others.
- Sustainability. Consider and confirm site criteria, species to plant, and assurance of quality nursery stock, working with community groups, contractors, and local professionals. View standards, codes and requirements for this project, in 21-page document.
- More information about growing trees together.
Contacts for Ready, Set, Grow project are Amy Nonaka, program coordinator, anonaka@sandiego.gov and Karen, outreach coordinator kvaldiznoamp@sandiego.gov. The Ready, Set, Grow program elements are similar to those in the Trees for Communities program, which is funded from the $5 million committed from the APCD settlement ($1 million in FY24). Click on the map to see the priority areas in Southeast San Diego and San Ysidro. Contact program coordinator John Ide, jide@sandiegov or outreach specialist Olivia Mabee, omabee@sandiego.gov.
The Ready, Set, Grow project will contribute to plans already adopted by the City, including the Climate Action Plan (increase tree canopy), Resilient San Diego (sustainable, greener communities), EquityForward (equitable opportunities and investments), Climate Equity (including jobs), and more.
This grant is part of the $1.5 billion allocated in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 for urban forestry projects. Grants were awarded to more than 400 cities and organizations, and all grants are 100% commitments to “Justice 40” areas, identified from the eligible Climate and Economic Justice census tracts that are disadvantaged, marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. National interactive map of funded IRA urban forestry projects.(LINKS have been disabled by Administration)