Rhinelander awarded $44,000 DNR Urban Forestry Storm Grant

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has awarded the city $44,000 through its Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant program to help repair and replace trees damaged by the heavy ice and snow March 29-April 1.

The grants, which range from $4,000 to $50,000 and do not require a dollar-for-dollar match, support tree removal, repair or replanting in urban areas hit by a storm for which the governor has declared a state of emergency. 

Rhinelander’s $44,000 award follows Gov. Tony Evers’ April 1 Executive Order 256, issued after the severe winter weather met the statutory criteria under Wis. Stat. 323.10.

In this round of funding, the city of Antigo received the maximum $50,000 award, and Oconto Falls was granted $14,322.

Municipal officials may use the funds to remove hazardous limbs, replace lost canopy and restore urban forestry assets without tapping local dollars.

For details on future Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant opportunities, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/UrbanForests/grants. For additional resources on storm-damaged tree care, see the DNR’s Tree Learning Center at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/UrbanForests/TreeLearningCenter.