Ogallala Tree Board Offers Tree Planting Reimbursement to Help Double City’s Canopy (Conversation with Drew Krab)

Derek Beck spoke with Ogallala Tree Board member Drew Krab about the reimbursment program Ogallala is offering for those that plant new trees..

 

Ogallala, NE — In an effort to restore and expand the city’s urban forest, the Ogallala Tree Board has launched a community-wide tree planting reimbursement program, with a long-term goal of doubling Ogallala’s tree canopy over the next decade.

“The Ogallala Tree Board has a goal that over the next 10 years we want to double the canopy in Ogallala,” said Drew Krab, a member of the board. “Historically Ogallala has had a great community forest, and we're trying to build that back.”

The reimbursement program is open to all Ogallala residents and aims to encourage the planting of large, healthy trees across neighborhoods and commercial corridors alike. Krab emphasized that the program is designed to be inclusive and equitable. “We open it up to everyone,” he said. “All of our neighborhoods could stand to have more trees.”

The board has about $5,000 in available funds for the program this year and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The reimbursement is for the lesser of the cost of the tree or $150. To qualify, residents must plant a tree with a minimum trunk caliper of half an inch—roughly six feet tall or more. The application process involves submitting a simple flyer-style form along with a receipt. The tree board then verifies that the tree has been planted before submitting the reimbursement request to the city.

Applications are available at the city offices and at Adams Bank & Trust, where Krab works. “The application is really a flyer,” he explained. “On one side it talks about the program and why we want to do it, and the backside is the actual application with just a few requirements.”

Beyond encouraging new growth, the board is also contending with aging trees—many over 100 years old—that have reached the end of their life cycle and pose safety concerns. “We’ve been trying to find as much money as we can to help with tree removal,” Krab noted. “Unfortunately, these older trees become a danger to the public.”

To date, the Tree Board has focused planting efforts along Ogallala’s main thoroughfares, such as Highway 30 and the city’s one-way streets. “When you see trees there, there’s a decent chance that the Tree Board facilitated that,” Krab said.

The program also receives funding through local donations and initiatives like the Big Give, and Krab said community support is vital to keeping it going.

“If people have questions, they can always give me a call,” Krab added. “I’m happy to share my cell phone number—308-289-0541. Whether it's questions about the program or about trees in general, I’m happy to help. We're very dedicated to this program.”