$2.9M Grant Will Green Up Coachella Valley's Imperial Irrigation District

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — The Imperial Irrigation District, in collaboration with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, has been awarded a $2.9 million grant to plant 6,000 shade trees across the Imperial and Coachella valleys for improved air quality and community resilience, officials announced Wednesday.

The Shade Trees for Southern California's Deserts initiative is a three-year program that will launch later this fall.

The agency has partnered with Alianza Coachella Valley, a nonprofit organization, to sign-up local customers for the tree planting and will work with Desert Recreation District in Indio to identify park sites.

"This grant represents a transformative step forward for our desert communities," IID Vice Chair JB Hamby said. "Together, we're helping our communities adapt to a changing climate while creating cooler, greener places to live and play."

Both organizations will work with local governments and community groups to identify planting areas, provide education on tree care and long-term sustainability.

Funding was provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Cal Fire.

"Planting thousands of shade trees will reduce heat, lower energy costs and create healthier, more livable neighborhoods for our residents," IID Board Chairwoman Gina Young Dockstader said.