LEWISTON – The cities of Lewiston and Auburn will receive a five-year Tree City USA recognition from the Maine Forest Service and the National Arbor Day Foundation Monday at a Maine Arbor Week celebration in Augusta.

The Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board will receive a $10,000 Project Canopy grant for the city of Lewiston to help rehabilitate the Hart Brook Watershed. The grant will pay for planting 38 trees and developing three rain gardens along the impaired stream.

The project will include outreach and education to residential and business landowners in the watershed, with the goal of reducing runoff and improving water quality to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. The plantings will filter runoff and will shade Hart Brook to reduce summer water temperatures.

Other Arbor Week activities:

• The Auburn and Lewiston city councils will read Arbor Week proclamations on Monday and Tuesday.

• The forest board will display photographs of local trees at both city libraries.

• Board members will visit Sherwood Heights School in Auburn to dedicate the Twin Cities’ 12th Reading Tree.

Since it was chartered in 2000, the L-A Community Forest Board has planted 150 street trees. Anyone interested in filling vacancies on the board should contact Doug Beck at Auburn Parks and Recreation, 333-6601, extension 2102, or board Chairman Dave Griswold at 783-4833.