Cypress County applies for tree replacement funding

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on September 7, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Cypress County passed a motion to apply for grant funding via the Green Municipal Fund, for tree re-planting as part of the Dunmore Shelterbelt irrigation system replacement project.

In August, public works staff removed trees that were noted to have low survivability after several years of drought conditions. Approximately 129 trees were removed.

It was noted during regular council meeting Wednesday that GMF tends to prefer larger-scale projects, and it was suggested in conversation that administration consider exploring options to integrate the application into a larger-scale work.

The application aims for the fall 2025 tree-planting session, as it would be “preferable and advantageous to defer this project and apply for grant funding for the new trees and irrigation system combined.”

The grant would cover roughly 50 per cent of cost if received, and if not, the project will proceed as outlined in the 2024 budget, with trees removed as necessary in the future without replacement.

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