WUV Woody Buffer Block Grant

Overview

What We Do

Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) is a state-wide network of local groups dedicated to the health of their home watersheds.

WUV's mission is to empower community-based watershed groups in all parts of the state to protect and restore Vermont’s waters.

Watershed Groups are broadly defined as a community-based organization working with individuals and communities in their local watersheds to protect and improve water quality, habitat, and flood resilience and to build social and ecological connections with Vermont’s waters. Watershed organizations work with all watershed constituents and do not represent a specific constituency or interest group.

Woody Buffer Block Grant

The DEC Woody Buffer Project Block Grant is under DEC’s Enhancement Grant Program. Therefore, all projects must meet at least one of the statutory goals of the Enhancement program:

* Protect high quality waters,
* Maintain or improve water quality,
* Restore degraded or stressed waters,
* Create resilient watersheds and communities, or
* Support the public’s use and enjoyment of the State’s waters

For the DEC Woody Buffer Block Grant, WUV will prioritize:

* Projects based in the Connecticut and Hudson basins;
* Projects that best meet the statutory purposes of the Enhancement Grant Program;
* Projects where the DEC WBBG funding leverages matching funds

Eligibility

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Application Details

Watersheds United Vermont (WUV)
2025 Riparian Buffer Planting
Grant Application Guidance Document
Grant Dates:
Site Specific WUV Riparian Buffer Planting Applications are due on October 30, 2024.
Depending on funds remaining, there may be additional grant rounds on a rolling basis. WUV
is currently accepting applications for Spring and Fall 2025 Plantings.
Purpose:
WUV has three sources of funding to subgrant to organizations for high quality riparian buffer
plantings in the 2025 planting season; the three grant opportunities are:
1. WUV’s Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Woody Buffer Block
Grant (WBBG) is for organizations to implement high priority, cost-effective, native riparian
woody buffer plantings. This WBBG will support the implementation of forested woody buffers
along rivers and streams using native vegetation. Projects must have a minimum buffer width of
35 feet and a minimum planting density of at least 300 stems/acre. Additional requirements
described below.
2. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Grant. This grant is a subgrant to WUV from
the Natural Resources Conservation Council to support watershed groups with riparian plantings
in priority areas for habitat improvement, particularly focused on Eastern brook trout, wood
turtle and migratory birds. Similar site requirements exist to the above DEC WBBG.
3. Pur Projet Grant: WUV is in the final year of grant funding from a private company called Pur
Projet. Pur Projet prioritizes projects on agricultural land but is also open to supporting other
projects with interested landowners. Pur Projet projects require one year of post planting
monitoring.
General Buffer Requirements (across all planting funds):
1. Must be at least 35’
2. Need to have at least 300 stems per acre
3. Native woody species appropriate to site location
4. Planting Plan and Landowner Agreement completed before planting
5. Adherence to the USDA NRCS Forest Buffer Standards
Additional Recommendations:
1. Stock from Vermont grown nurseries
2. 3 to 5-foot trees (both this and the above recommendation have been shown to lead to lower
mortality)
3. Wider buffers (50 feet) where appropriate and possible
4. More stems per acre (400) for certain sites

Organizational Requirements
1. Proof of Liability Insurance and all other required insurance
2. W-9
Funding Amounts and Match:
In 2025, WUV has the following funding amounts to subgrant:
1. ~$150,000 to subgrant for DEC WBBG plantings.
2. ~$30,000 to subgrant to NFWF riparian buffer planting projects
3. ~6,000 stems to subgrant (~$36,000) for PUR Projet plantings
WUV will evaluate projects based on how well the project meets the ecological objectives and
eligibility requirements of each funding source as well as the feasibility of project
implementation.
The WUV buffer grant application is primarily designed around the requirements for the DEC
Woody Buffer Grant program. However, as indicated above, WUV has 2 other planting funding
sources that can be matched with DEC Woody Buffer funds or can be utilized individually. The
application is designed to get information that will allow WUV to create a funding structure that
fully supports the planting cost (if eligible and highly ranked) through the use of multiple
funding programs. WUV asks that you complete the budget section of the application for the
total amount of funding you are requesting for a planting site with the knowledge that this
funding may come from two planting sources. This means that some reporting may take longer
to satisfy the deliverables. Please make sure your request matches the amount or work/time it
may take to complete the reporting and planting process.
There is no match requirement for the DEC Woody Buffer Block Grant or PUR Projet funds.
WUV has a 1:1 match for the grant. However, WUV will take responsibility for working with
applicants to ensure match. Because of this, WUV will often pair any awarded NFWF funding
with either DEC WBBG or Pur Projet funding. We will still ask groups to estimate and track
voluntary match.
The Natural Resources Conservation Council also holds the Woody Buffer Block Grant and the
NFWF funding source. WUV recommends that Conservation Districts apply to NRCC for
planting funds. However, all eligible entities can apply through any Funding Program
Administrator if there is a need.

DEC Woody Buffer Block Grant Funding Requirements
The DEC Woody Buffer Project Block Grant is under DEC’s Enhancement Grant Program.
Therefore, all projects must meet at least one of the statutory goals of the Enhancement program:
a. Protect high quality waters,
b. Maintain or improve water quality,
c. Restore degraded or stressed waters,
d. Create resilient watersheds and communities, or
e. Support the public’s use and enjoyment of the State’s waters
For the DEC Woody Buffer Block Grant, WUV will prioritize:
1. Projects based in the Connecticut and Hudson basins;
2. Projects that best meet the statutory purposes of the Enhancement Grant Program;
3. Projects where the DEC WBBG funding leverages matching funds
DEC Approvals for Site Selection
All sites must be part of the applicable Tactical Basin Plan strategies and/or identified in a River
Corridor Plan or otherwise approved by the DEC Watershed Planner. The project will need
approval from the applicable DEC Basin Planner and will need a Watershed Project Database
number. If the planting project was added into the Database as part of a larger plan (River Corridor
Plan), you will need a new Watershed Project Database number that is specific to the planting site.
You will also need to contact your DEC River Scientist for approval of the planting. This
requirement was optional in previous rounds of WUV Woody Buffer funding, but has become a
requirement under the 2023 CWIP Guidance. Please give your River Scientist ample time to
review and approve the project. If you are not able to receive approval before the application
deadline, please still submit your application and let WUV know that approval is pending.
There will be no technical staff approvals for plantings requesting PUR Projet or NFWF funds,
however you will need to make sure that the planting sites fit the requirements of the planting
funds sources.
DEC Eligible Expenses for 2025:
All project work and expenses must meet the eligibility requirements in the Department of
Environmental Conservation’s 2023 Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) Funding Policy -
2023 CWIP Funding Policy.
Tools are now an eligible expense if the tool or equipment is used to assist with implementation
of clean water projects. The parameters for the purchase of tools and equipment is listed under
the ineligible expenses section of the CWIP Funding Policy on pg. 15. All tools must be under
$5,000 and must directly assist in the implementation of the tree planting process. In addition,
all tools must have a useful life over 1 year.
The Site Specific Application has a line item for tools, if you are purchasing tools, you must
explain all purchases in the budget narrative section so WUV can confirm that these are eligible

expenses and meet the above guidelines.
Eligible Examples include:
● Shovels
● Planting Gear (gloves, rain gear, planting boots)
● Saw dust and sorting bags for tree storage
● Wagon or carts to transport trees on large sites
● Stakes or flagging to mark planting area
● Items for tree survival/maintenance
Please note that tool requests must be a minor part of total funding request and must be at an
appropriate scale for the total planting budget for a group.
DEC Project Type Definition, Milestones and Deliverables:
Project Type Definition:
Planting of native woody trees and shrubs within buffer area of rivers/streams, wetlands, and/or
lakes. Planting results in a minimum average buffer width of 35-feet and a minimum density
of 300 stems per acre. Buffer supports restoration of river corridor/floodplain, wetland and/or
lakeshore, filters nutrient and sediment pollution from runoff, and provides habitat benefits.
Includes riparian plantings on agricultural lands. Work includes site identification, planting
plan development, materials sourcing, site preparation, and planting installation. Sites will be
selected for their benefits to water quality and must meet approval of the State (local DEC
River Scientist and Basin Planner). Sites will be stable, proximate to water, and high-priority.
Permit(s), access license(s)/easement(s), and operation and maintenance plan(s) are in place
prior to planting.
Performance Measures:
1) Acres of riparian corridor buffer planted/restored
2) Linear feet of riparian corridor buffer planted/restored

DEC DEC Milestones DEC Deliverables
Project
Type
Riparian Project initiated; proposal/bid solicitations Photo(s) of site(s)
issued and contractor selected (if
Buffer pre-implementation
applicable)
Planting
Signed 10-year
Sites and constraints identified, DEC River (minimum) DEC
Scientist and Basin Planner approval secured Operation and
Maintenance Plan
Developed planting plan (including species
and Agreement,
type, number, and estimated cost) in
including map of
accordance with SGA or River Corridor
location of
Planning recommendations (if available)
planting and final
planting plan
10-year (minimum) DEC Operation and
(species list and
Maintenance (O&M) Plan drafted and
counts).
signed; refer to O&M manual for guidance
Signed 10-year
10-year (minimum) access license or easement
(minimum) access
(if applicable) drafted and signed by
license or
landowner; refer to DEC template for
easement (if
guidance
applicable)
Clean Water Project Sign installed during
Photo(s) of site(s)
construction if the project is considered
post-
publicly visible.
implementation,
Site preparation activities (if applicable) including photo of
Clean Water
Buffer restoration planting completed Project Sign (if
applicable)
Return of Clean Water Project sign to host site
(if applicable) Media
announcement
Project complete
Final Performance
Report or ANR
Online Clean
Water Project -
Project Closeout
Form (once
available)
DEC Enhanced Survivorship Treatment Funding
As part of WUV’s DEC Woody Buffer Block Grant, WUV is able to fund woody buffer
enhanced survivorship treatment activities. Enhanced survivorship treatment activities are
eligible to be performed on sites supported in whole or in part with DEC funds and registered
within the Clean Water Project Explorer as “River – Planting” project type. If this site would
benefit from either site prep or one year follow up maintenance, you can add a budget request
for enhancement activities at that site. This request will allow you to be able to fund the
following activities at the application site throughout 2025 and 2026:

Eligible enhanced survivorship tasks:
1. Visiting planted site in the year of planting and first year post planting to assess if
additional enhanced survivorship activities are needed
2. Non-chemical site preparation activities
3. Post Planting weeding and vine removal around the immediate vicinity of stems to help
new plantings get established above vegetative competition.
4. Re-planting: applicant should contact WUV post planting if re-planting funds are required.
Please see below guidance on site-prep, weeding, and vine removal. Chemical site-prep and
large scale moving to combat knotweed are not currently eligible activities for DEC funding.
Site-prep activities can include:
● Site-prep mowing is if it’s within the same footprint of the planted buffer and is used just
to suppress competing grasses (i.e. not invasive management)
● Tiling and scraping of site area to expose bare ground
Weeding Activities can include:
● Weed whacking in 4’ diameter around planted trees. Planted vegetation should
be identified/flagged prior to weeding.
● Passive weeding such as the use of mulch (can do this preventatively)
Vine Removal Activities can include:
● Removal of vines from stems including Bindweed, Clematis, or Groundnut
● Vines can be manually pulled during maintenance visits, especially after planting or until
trees and shrubs are large enough not to be overtopped.
Enhancement requests must be included in the budget on the application. There is a specific
column for this entry labeled: Site Prep, Monitoring and Maintenance (one year after planting)
Expenses. While there is no limit to the request for enhancement funding, we anticipate costs to
be ~$400-$600/acre of planting. Please do not include re-planting requests in your budget, if
you determine a need to re-plant a site, contact WUV directly at that time.
Note: There is also built in funding support under the Pu Projet source to provide funding for monitoring
for 1 year post planting. There is also the ability to fund advanced survivorship activities under the
NFWF grant for maintenance and monitoring in Year 0 (year of planting) and Year 1.
WUV has the ability through our funding sources to fund a wide array of site prep, maintenance and
monitoring activities and in many cases a baseline level of these activities may be required. We
encourage applicants to provide a budget and explanation for the full suite of site prep, monitoring and
maintenance activities you would like to complete at a planting and WUV will work to fund and confirm
if these are eligible and/or required if the planting is selected for funding.

PUR Projet Grant Funding Requirements
PUR Projet is a company that specialized in the development of agroforestry community
projects and distribution of environmental services. The purpose of the Pur Projet funded
WUV program is to implement tree planting for watershed health and ecosystem services.
WUV has a contract with PUR Projet to subgrant funds to watershed groups and partners to
implement tree planting projects. Funds must be used on private land with engaged
landowners (agricultural properties are preferred)
2025 Available Funding: 6,000 stems (~$36,000)
PUR Projet funds can be paired with DEC Woody Buffer and NFWF Funds; these funds can’t
be paired with funding sources that use the number of stems planted as the performance
metric.
Deliverable Requirements:
1. Subgrantee will plant all trees listed above during the planting year. WUV cannot provide any
funding for trees planted after this year;
2. Subgrantee is responsible for monitoring the sites after one year from planting. Subgrantee will
be responsible for ensuring that the survivorship rate of trees is above 75% and will replant trees
if survivorship falls under that number;
3. Subgrantee will establish and provide a Planting Plan for each site;
4. Subgrantee will sign PUR’s Agreement with farmer/landowner;
5. Subgrantee will complete the planting registry for each site (Excel and GIS) and update after
each monitoring. The registry includes information on the number of trees planted and survival
rates, land history, location, planting model, etc.
6. Subgrantee will provide WUV with detailed information on each landowner participant,
including history, pictures;
7. Subgrantee will provide WUV with at least 2 before and 2 after project photos for each site
(more preferred);
8. Subgrantee will provide at least 1 testimonial to WUV from a landowner with the benefits of
the program;
9. Subgrantee will provide WUV with overview of impact of plantings as WUV needs to provide a
written report on the progress of the program and its environmental impacts;
10. Subgrantee will, where appropriate, encourage the landowner to invite PUR staff for a site visit.
Payment Provisions:
Payment is provided in three installments and is based solely on a per stem price paid. Installment one (is
provided prior to planting, installment 2 is paid after planting and after all deliverables are submitted,
and installment 3 is paid after one year of monitoring. The total payment per stem is $7.25.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Funding Requirements
The WUV NFWF funds are to restore and manage forested riparian buffers in targeted high
priority areas for eastern brook trout to improve and sustain habitat quality over time. The
funding also prioritizes projects that protect and restore healthy forests and rivers that provide
important habitat for wood turtles, freshwater mussels and fish, other native turtles and birds,
and pollinators. The grant focuses on using enhancement techniques to improve survivability of
plantings over time and funds can be used for that purpose (monitoring, weeding, replanting).
These funds are held by the Natural Resource Conservation District with a subgrant to WUV.
Please see the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture webmapper here to identify if Brook Trout are present
at your planting area. Applicants can reach out to Vermont Fish and Wildlife to confirm if planting site
is a good habitat fit for these planting funds.
2025 WUV NFWF Available Funding: $30,000
Match Requirement: 1 to 1 match requirement. PUR Projet and DEC Woody Buffer funds can be used as
match with this funding. However, WUV will take responsibility for working with applicants to ensure
match.
Deliverables include:
Pre-planting Deliverables:
1. Landowner Agreement: Subgrantee must have an agreement with the landowner for the planting
site that allows for:
a. The buffer planting to be maintained and preserved for a minimum of 10 years
b. Subgrantee to access the buffer location to perform monitoring tasks
2. Procurement and Subcontracting: Subgrantee must follow and document their procurement
policy, document the selection of all subcontractors, and maintain all records for three years. Any
subcontractual agreements must include the contracting provisions outlined in Attachment C.
Post-Planting Deliverables:
1. Final Report: Subgrantee will provide WUV with a completed WUV/NFWF Final Report Form.
2. Photos: Subgrantee will provide WUV with at least 2 after project photos for each site (more
preferred), and at least 2 photos of the planting event. Must provide captions with a description of
the activity taking place, species names where possible, and the photographer credit. Photos must
have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
3. Subgrantee will provide a Press Release/Social media post related to the planting.
Post Monitoring Deliverables:
Subgrantee will monitor each site in the year following planting. Subgrantee will provide WUV
with a 2-3 paragraph summary description including the following details:
1. How the site was monitored
2. Observations regarding factors that impacted survivorship
3. A description of activities performed to increase survivorship - note the goal of
survivorship is 75%.
4. 2 photos of the site at the time of monitoring

Payment Provisions:
NFWF Funding is cost reimbursable. Invoices must itemize expenses (e.g trees, contractors, staff
expenses). WUV requires invoices/receipts from any vendors/contractors. All funding is contingent upon
the eventual completion of the planting project and meeting all reporting and deliverable requirements.
Spring planting invoices must be submitted on or before June 14. Final monitoring invoices must be
submitted on or before October 15 of the final monitoring year.