Free Shade Tree Program
The Shade Trees for SoCal Deserts is funded through a USDA Urban and Community Forestry grant administered by CAL FIRE and led locally by Imperial Irrigation District (IID), in partnership with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) and community partners. All Coachella Valley residents are eligible to receive a free tree. You do not need to be an IID customer to participate. Through this effort, thousands of trees will be planted throughout the Coachella Valley to increase shade, reduce the impacts of extreme heat, and expand tree canopy in our desert communities. The program offers residential and public-space tree planting. 3,000 trees are allocated to the Coachella Valley, with half designated for public spaces and half for residential properties.
Registration for the current free shade tree cycle is now closed. Tree planting for selected participants will begin in October 2026.
CVAG and its partner agencies will announce when the next round of applications opens.
All tree species have been reviewed and approved by CAL FIRE as desert-appropriate species with a history of successfully growing in desert communities. Final tree species and planting locations will be determined based on availability, site conditions, and recommendations from the certified arborist.
