Local & Community
Coachella Valley Residents Can Enter to Get Free Shade Trees
Coachella Valley residents have until Monday to enter for a chance to have a free shade tree planted at their home.
The Shade Trees for Southern California Deserts program, led by the Imperial Irrigation District in partnership with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, plans to plant 6,000 shade trees across the Coachella and Imperial valleys over the next three years.
The program is designed to expand tree canopy, help cool neighborhoods, improve air quality and build community resilience in desert communities.
Half of the trees will be planted at residential properties, while the other half will go into public spaces, with an emphasis on disadvantaged and underserved communities. Residential trees will be planted by certified arborists.
Residents do not have to be IID customers to apply.
One tree will be provided to selected residential participants through a random lottery, while supplies last. The trees are expected to begin being planted next month.
The initiative is funded through a $2.9 million grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection through the Inflation Reduction Act. IID and CVAG developed the project as a three-year effort focused on increasing urban tree canopy in communities experiencing extreme heat and limited access to shade and green space.
Residents interested in applying can sign up through the program's enrollment page before the Monday deadline.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
September 19, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
It’s time for Season 5!! Fuego stopped by the studio today with a message! Coachella Valley Firebirds season opener this Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. — tickets at CVFIREBIRDS.COM
Guess we are not the only ones asking about money in the Desert Recreation District! #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
8 years lated and $30 MILLION higher … Should the state order an independent audit? Drop a 💬 if you want answers! #cvusd #coachellavalley #audit #therogginreport #nbcpalmsprings
Data centers on pause. ✋ Palm Springs City Council unanimously extended it’s moratorium through August 25, 2028, giving the city time to set zoning rules. What do you think of the decision? 🌴
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
About 650,000 ballots and election materials are back with Riverside County election officials after the California Supreme Court ruled their seizure violated state election law. The materials remain under the registrar’s control as officials determine next steps.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Do you get excited or stressed about the upcoming holiday season (or both) ?
BREAKING: Human remains believed to be those of 17-year-old T’neya Tovar have been discovered at a second site in the Salton City area, according to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office. A skull and rib cage were found during a search involving Imperial County investigators and the FBI. Testing is still needed to confirm the remains belong to Tovar. The discovery comes one day after suspect Finebloom pleaded guilty to torture and voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea agreement that could result in a sentence of 13 years to life. More details on NBCPalmSprings.com
NBC Palm Springs went back to Indio Hills today after Dillon Road flooded last night, forcing many residents to leave. One resident told us he is back today, working on repairs—after his home faced extensive damage in the flood. be sure to visit nbcpalmsprings.com for a live look at the area today. #coachellavalley #weather #flood #indiohills #weather
This afternoon in Salton City, the FBI and Imperial County Sheriff’s Department were in the neighborhood of Abraham Feinbloom. Searching just after a plea deal was made to where Feinbloom agreed to show investigators where the remains of T’Neya Tovar are. Feinbloom pled guilty to one count of torture and voluntary manslaughter. Tonight you’ll hear from neighbors who have been following the case from the very beginning, that story will be on nbcpalmsprings.com #nbcpalmsprings #abrahamfeinbloom #fyp #murdercase #missingteenager