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Coulee Dam was recently re designated as a “Tree City USA” by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources after 10 years away from the program, the town announced this week.

To qualify as a Tree City USA community the town was required to meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters:

• maintain a tree board or department,

• have a tree care ordinance in place and

• have a Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per resident, and promote Arbor Day with an observance and proclamation.

The four standards provide the framework and direction for the strategic management of the town’s trees. Annual celebrations of Arbor Day provide the opportunity to educate citizens about the value of tree resources and the importance of sustainable tree management.

The Tree City USA program is a community improvement initiative of the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

Tree City USA status creates a strong working relationship with state forestry agency and other conservation groups in the form of grants, education, and other support.