Provider
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS)
The program receives funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and corporate sponsors Aqua PA and PECO, as well as substantial in-kind contributions from various partners.
Application Deadline
December 31, 2026
Summary
This program is focused on tree plantings along stream corridors, wetlands, adjacent upland areas, headwaters, and naturalized stormwater basins. Through this program, dozens of watershed restoration projects are conducted throughout the region every year, resulting in well over 100,000 trees planted in sensitive water protection zones. Projects can request a maximum of $25,000 in grant funds and have a total of $50,000 in total project expenses. If your project exceeds either of those amounts, please reach out in advance of submitting your application to discuss. Our budget for all cumulative grants varies from year to year. Past grants (not including grantee match) have averaged around $6,000. Trees for Watersheds will cover up to 75% of the total project costs. The remainder must be covered by other sources (cash, in-kind, volunteer) as part of the required minimum 25% match. Funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s other Growing Greener programs are not eligible to be used as match.
New applicants must complete PHS Tree Tenders Training.
Common Eligible Projects
Streamside and source water protection areas, on public lands or private permanently protected lands. Projects may include stream buffers, wetlands, plantings on adjacent uplands (where stormwater “sheet flow” across the land would drain directly into the stream below) and naturalization of stormwater basins. For additional priority criteria, please consult the grant announcement.
Grant applications should only be submitted for projects that are “shovel ready” (meaning that with sufficient funding, plantings can be completed and billed prior to the reimbursement request deadline, as all associated permits and/or authorizations have already been secured, where necessary). The project should be designed such that all site preparation and planting will take place within the grant period (Spring or Fall 2027). Projects not completed during the grant period will need to apply to the following grant cycle. For larger sites that might constitute multi-year projects, it is best to break the site down into a subsection that can be fully prepped and planted during the grant period, and then apply for the next phase in a future year.
More Information
Already Tree Tender Trained? Follow this link for program information: https://phsonline.org/programs/tree-programs/watersheds-grant-program or contact Delaware County Conservation District's Watershed Specialist: https://www.delcocd.org/district-information/
Interested in the program, but need to complete this training? Follow this link: https://phsonline.formstack.com/forms/tree_tender_class_inquiry
