Durham’s Water Into Trees Program Makes Donating Easy

DURHAM, N.C. – Tree lovers in Durham now have a new and easy way to support the City of Durham’s efforts to plant more trees…straight from their keyboards.

The City’s “Water Into Trees” program is now offering an online site to make it easy for residents to plant trees in Durham. Through this new online form, residents can elect to make a tax-deductible donation with each residential water bill payment or a one-time contribution. These funds are then used by the City’s Urban Forestry Division to purchase additional trees for streets, parks, and green spaces.

According to Urban Forestry Manager Alexander Johnson, most of Durham’s neighborhood street trees were planted over 70 years ago, and are projected to require removal at an increasing rate over time. “As trees are lost to old age and declining health, their replacement is contingent upon outside funding and active neighborhood participation,” Johnson said. “Residents can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the program online. It’s a great way to ensure our community continues to enjoy the benefits of trees, which provide clean water and air, cooler temperatures, noise buffering, healthy places for outdoor activities and exercise, energy conservation, a greater sense of place and community, and increased property values.”

Donations can now be made at www.DurhamNC.gov/WaterIntoTrees. Making it easy for residents to donate toward tree plantings through this program is an example of how the City is expanding its attention on Durham’s trees. Last year, the City and County launched Trees Across Durham, which is a broad-based partnership dedicated to making Durham a healthier and greener community now and in the future through the planting and protection of trees; the education of tree care-takers and the general public about how to maintain healthy trees; and the measurement and communication of the benefits trees provide to the environment and community. For information about Trees Across Durham, visit http://tinyurl.com/DurhamTrees.

For information about the program or to request a paper donation form, contact Johnson at (919) 560-4197 ext. 21275 or by email at Alexander.Johnson@DurhamNC.gov.