HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2020-04-03 Trees for Clean Water Grant
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Friday, April 3, 2020
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Assistant Public Information Officer
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Town of Leesburg Receives Virginia 2020 Trees for Clean
Water Award
The grant will go towards the replacement of trees that were removed
during the Tuscarora Creek mitigation and restoration project.
Leesburg, VA (April 3, 2020) – The Town of Leesburg is pleased to announce that its
Department of Public Works & Capital Projects Department has been awarded a grant in the
amount of $13,500 for the Tuscarora Creek Flood Mitigation and Restoration Project.
Through funds from the USFS Chesapeake Watershed Forestry Program and Virginia Water
Quality Improvement Funds, Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) developed the “Virginia
Trees for Clean Water” program to improve water quality across the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
Grants are awarded through this program to encourage local government and citizen
involvement in creating and supporting long-term and sustained canopy cover through on-the-
ground efforts to plant woody trees and shrubs where they are needed most.
“We decided to apply for the grant and obtain money to transplant existing canopy trees
already established in certain areas of the Town,” said Project Manager Andrew Oster. “These
transplanted trees will provide a better visual for the public as well as instant shade.”
The Tuscarora Creek Mitigation and Restoration project began in spring 2019 to reduce flooding
of the adjoining residential properties on Shenandoah and Harrison streets, near downtown
Leesburg.
The Town has a “no net loss” tree replacement policy for all capital improvement projects. Staff
reviewed the number and size of the trees removed, in regards to the mitigation and
restoration project, to determine how many trees would need to be replaced.
The Tuscarora Creek project includes the installation of storm drains to handle a 100-year storm
event along with the construction of a two- to-four foot high wall. The stream restoration
includes realignment of the stream channel to reduce or eliminate erosion while improving the
overall health of the stream. The entire project is expected to be complete by summer 2020.
# # #