A cyclist rides past recently planted trees at Lyn Newbry Park in Talent Friday.

Talent is planting a thousand trees to help restore the urban forest canopy devastated by the Almeda Fire. A state grant is paying for the project.

“It’s awesome. Even before the fire, the city needed it,” said Dave Bish with Plant Oregon, which was awarded the contract for the project. “Every town in Oregon and on the West Coast should be doing the same thing.”

Talent was awarded $549,823 by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to plant approximately 1,000 trees at locations within the Almeda burn scar area. Plant Oregon submitted one of two proposals received and was selected by Talent City Council in May to perform the work with costs not to exceed $400,000.

Among criteria in a request for proposals were a tree selection that is diverse, drought-tolerant and aligns with Talent’s Approved Street Tree List. Selection of tree species for the project was made jointly by Plant Oregon and the city’s Urban Forestry Committee.

“The recovery of vegetation has been slow. The fire took out a lot of the canopy,” said Hector Flores, city community engagement director who is overseeing the grant work. “(The program) really gives us a lot of benefit for each individual person and a lot of benefit for the town.”

Bish estimated about one-third of the trees have been planted so far. The partners are holding back on replanting as rebuilding continues so that new construction can have the benefit of trees, as well.

Areas and estimated tree numbers listed in the RFP include the Highway 99 and West Valley View Road corridors, 200; Lyn Newbry Park, 100; Mountain View Estates, 200; Oak Valley, 200; Summer Place Wetlands, 50; Talent Mobile Estates, 250; and the city’s Public Works Yard.

On a bright and sunny Saturday in late October, about 18 volunteers gathered to help with planting of more than 50 trees at Lyn Newbry Park. Many of the trees were planted along the Bear Creek Greenway path. Another volunteer planting will take place next spring at Summer Place Wetlands.

About 50 trees have been planted for homeowners in the Oak Valley subdivision off West Valley View Road, where all residences in the 55-plus community were destroyed. In addition, another 30 trees were planted in common areas in the development. Some residences are still being rebuilt in Oak Valley, so further planting there is anticipated, Bish said.

Trees will also be planted in the Talent Mobile Estates site on Arnos Street, where fire destroyed most of the manufactured homes. The park is in the process of becoming a cooperative housing operation under a state award to CASA of Oregon.

Talent Mobile Estates had the nicest tree canopy in town, said City Councilor Jason Clark, who is liaison to the Urban Forestry Committee. The canopy significantly reduced temperatures in the park during the summer, and the goal is to create one as great for future residents.

Other trees will be planted in Kamerin Springs Park, where the fire burned on the perimeter next to the Totem Pole manufactured home park.

A lot of oak species are being planted, said Bish. Native conifers such as incense cedar and pine are also included, along with other diverse species.

“They are all grown locally right here on our farm on Fern Valey Road and in our other location on Wagner Creek Road,” said Bish. “A lot of them are native, but a lot are quality, hardy species that are common for shade trees and street trees.”

The trees range in diameter from 1.5 to 2.5 inches and are from 5 to 15 feet tall. Some of them could grow to over 100 feet in height, but that will take 50 to 100 years.

“Within five years, we should see some major canopy changes, “said Bish. “The grant goes through 2025, so we have some time. The rebuilding isn’t done, so we are trying to hold off.”

Irrigation is being installed for each tree to insure survival. Most homes have drip irrigation systems, so Plant Oregon is hooking up to those. For trees in public spaces, drip irrigation is also being supplied.

The remaining grant funding will be used by Talent Public Works and Plant Oregon to ensure survival of the trees and for administration of the grant by the city.

People have noticed the trees planted in Oak Valley and at Newbry Park and asked about availability, said Flores. All the trees in the OWEB program are allocated for the specific locations, but there are two programs to assist landowners with getting news trees.

A Promise Tree program provides vouchers worth $50 toward the purchase of a tree at select nurseries. A second program, funded by Pacific Power, provides a limited number of vouchers for trees. Citizens interested in the getting help with trees should contact Flores at hflores@CityofTalent.org.

“The benefits of urban forestry are multifaceted and interrelated, from water quality and reduced flood risk, to economic benefits, improved wildlife habitat and the overall quality of life of our residents,” Clark wrote in an email. “We are increasing our climate resiliency by growing the shade that Talent needs in our warming climate. We are regrowing the urban canopy that was lost and intend to exceed it in the longer term.”