North Idaho College received a $82,661 grant from the Idaho Department of Lands Urban and Community Forestry Program to restore trees lost during recent windstorms and strengthen the college’s campus tree canopy.
The grant will fund the purchase of 74 trees and planting materials, professional planting services and labor costs for NIC employees involved in the project that will start this fall.
The restoration comes after the loss of 71 trees during two major wind events at the Coeur d’Alene campus. The storms on Dec. 17, 2025, and March 12, 2026, destroyed 65 large Ponderosa pines and six other trees. The losses followed a Jan. 13, 2021, windstorm that destroyed 107 trees on campus.
“We lost a significant part of our campus forest in these storms,” said NIC Arborist J.D. Reeves, who will lead the restoration project. “This grant gives us an opportunity to rebuild that canopy in a thoughtful way. We are not simply replacing trees. We are creating a stronger, more diverse and more resilient urban forest for the next generation of students and the entire community.”
The project includes, but is not limited to, Western White pine, Ponderosa pine, Grand fir, Douglas fir, White fir, Alaskan cedar and European hornbeam. About 50 of the trees will be planted in Cheamkwet Park behind the Edminster Student Union Building, where the majority of the recent tree losses occurred.
Tree selection will emphasize species diversity and site suitability. The goal is to increase the campus canopy while improving its ability to withstand pests, diseases, severe weather and other climate-related changes.
“Species diversity is one of the best tools we have to protect the campus forest,” Reeves said. “When we plant a broader mix of species, we reduce the risk that one pest, disease or environmental stressor can cause widespread damage. We are building resilience into the landscape.”
The new trees also will help create more shade across campus as they mature. That shade will benefit students, employees and visitors who use the campus for classes, recreation and community events.
NIC hosts multiple community events each year, which draw thousands of people to campus. A stronger tree canopy will help make the campus a more comfortable and inviting place for people to gather and enjoy those events for years to come.
“Our campus is more than a place where people take classes,” Reeves said. “It is a gathering place for the entire community. Trees help make that experience better. They provide shade, beauty, wildlife habitat and a sense of place. Rebuilding the canopy means investing in the future of the campus and the people who use it.”
The project also will provide environmental benefits. Trees help manage stormwater runoff, reduce air pollution, conserve energy and cool pavement, sidewalks and buildings. They also provide habitat for wildlife, birds and pollinators and can help reduce noise and stress.
“This is a long-term investment,” Reeves said. “Some of these trees will be here long after all of us are gone. Our job is to make good decisions now so future students, families and community members can enjoy a healthy campus forest.”
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