Urban trees and the forestry corps

as our urban trees become more and more stressed, we're we're more prone to trees actually failing, collapsing on power lines.

So a realignment that was proposed is our urban forestry and tree canopy where we do planting and um community advocacy work related to the urban um canopy.

Urban forest strategic plan was adopted in 2018 and that really focuses on investing in the urban tree canopy.

the budget proposes a $150,000 realignment of climate tax funds for parks and recreation's urban forestry, tree planting, and tree trust programs.

the future of natural infrastructure section really speaks to that connectivity between um between our streets and right ofways but also urban tree canopy

specifically the extreme heat component and the street c the street uh trees and the tree can comp uh canopy

The 2021 plan had section 2.38, importance of urban canopy and street trees and streetscapes, committing the city to regulations and programs.

They've been working on protecting trees including how to support them through demolition and construction.

uh forestry strategic plan. All good policies, protecting trees and trying to go net zero.

Urban tree canopy, as another equity measure, and then access or distance to a park as well.

in talking with our forestry team, this storm was certainly significant.

They, are a big part of urban forestry. They do tree planting, all across Boulder County.

They've been working closely with our forestry team to get proper standards and identify best practices

I appreciate that you're actually planning on adding some street trees there on Broadway, even as you're asking for a reduced setback.

all new street trees along there, which none exist today.

there's no existing street trees along this… Property at all today.

when there is an update, for example, in the urban forestry plan

And interesting information about the tree canopy in Boulder, which is good for

there might be a value to have a very healthy tree canopy in the city to, reduce urban heat island

And in particular, their suitability for supporting the required street trees.

So the addition of the detached sidewalk and the street trees and the bulbout was really all that transportation staff were looking for

Including updates to Colorado Avenue, with updates to the multi-use path, the protected bike lane, and new street trees.

it is a public good to ensure that our tree canopy is strong.

aspens um particular Swedish aspens are not on the list um because they aren't resilient to our water conditions.

there's also requirements in there that we've maintained tree uh canopy distances.

Tree canopy, greenways, open spaces all support a network of natural infrastructure that provides multitude of benefits

with mature trees that would not only be cost prohibitive to build on, would also endanger, kind of, the urban forestry of the city of Boulder

Definitely the existing tree canopy, how to preserve the existing canopy and build upon it to create more shade opportunities

This includes the tree canopy that is used for picnicking, shade, or to test your climbing skills

Again, a lot of the research is showing that with mature tree canopies, as an example, you're actually conserving a lot of water.

it's only on trees in the ride of weight

looking at more specific rules on turf, plant and tree specifications

so it alters where the street trees can go

a lot of work with the nature-based climate solutions teams around tree canopy

You know, tree canopy and, like, these things that can be included

In 2018, we passed our Urban Forest Strategic Plan, which set an overarching goal to maintain

Do we have measurable goals or standards for, like, where we're trying to get to, with tree canopy?

who's been helping us with the development of the tree and plant list which I'll talk about.

expanding tree canopy to lower temperatures and mitigate that urban heat island effect

Kathleen is also working on making sure our tree canopy, our urban forestries tree canopy, our urban forest is diverse as well.

working with the forestry team to remove some of the small suckers on the trees that cause real problems for those trees later on

100% of the existing street trees are preserved or replanted for their urban design and environmental benefits.

People value the street trees and want more, and people know Folsom is part of a bigger network

The tree canopy, the shade trees provide like in the pictures on the screen is about 17 to 20% depending on where on Folsom you are.

preserving or replanting 100% of the existing street trees for both urban design and environmental benefits

to keep the street trees in green spaces, and plant more whenever possible.

We did break out urban forestry management just because there is the urban forest strategic plan.

Here are all the forestry trees for that we have the autops, you know.

thinking about our tree canopy, thinking about pollinator gardens and pollinator highways and all these other kinds of things

the commercial tree program was identified in the 2018 urban strategic plan. And this really pertains to funding tree replacement

this basically encompasses a lot of mitigation fees for forestry. So if there is damage done to the trees

if the only things that are trees that are allowed in that area are aspen and crab apples

because they're not aspens or crab apples, which are the only two tree species on the list

they have over 55,000 street trees that they are responsible for throughout the city

reflective asphalt services. A lot of it is around tree canopy

They brought in all of their employees that they have out in the field doing their forestry work

I did have some um issues maybe like things that I think might need to be changed or looked at in regards to our urban tree canopy

as was preserving street trees and other urban design elements

We have an incredible Gis data system for our trees. We have over 50,000 public trees.

what does it mean for the urban forest? And how are we looking at tree selection, and other things

finding the right conditions for street trees to thrive can be a challenge

parks doesn't have enough money to take care of their own urban tree canopy

Paul I think has u a lot of service experience um in neighboring communities and uh just really appreciated his um expertise in uh forestry

We also have a street tree planting program ourselves, so reminding people that if they reach out to us.

but we decided to set our goal at maintaining our urban tree canopy rather than really growing it over the next 20 years

they wanted to see our urban tree canopy grow over time

we've done a survey of the trees, and we're looking into opportunities

We're including a number of street trees along college

And they're getting a a good amount of money from the city from the county in order to facilitate that urban forestry

they are partnering with to support urban forests on private lands and lands owned or controlled by other institutions

you will see targets that are quantitative in the climate action plan having to do with resilience things like tree canopy

So those are trees that our landscape and forestry staff would be removed anyway, regardless of their condition

Let's not get rid of healthy, long lived trees

looked like the urban forestry plan was updated in 2018 and so just kind of my question

to try to figure out what's killing some of the street trees

what would you recommend in terms of helping us keep our street trees alive

80% of our tree canopies on private property. And this benefits everybody.

thinking about the way thinking about our urban tree canopy

the Community Forestry Corps worked on were largely results of cool boulder projects

One is the community forestry core, which is a new program this past year

we're building this collective literacy across all of the departments to understand the value that our tree canopy plays

You can plant a bunch of trees, but we need mature canopy

Our nature based solutions team to your question about the tree canopy work

there was the topic of the existing silver maple. I believe it is tree that is, on city property along the south of the property.

So preserving the tree canopy was a key community priority, and one of the benefits

the street trees that we're redoing the tree wells, or any of that

one of the 4 D's that our forestry team uses to remove public trees with diseased, dying, defective, or dead

That's a tough one, right? Because it's got the retaining wall around trees that are public property.

So I think that we cannot underscore the importance of those significant trees on the site.

Staff would also like to see how the proposal could be adjusted to preserve additional trees on the site.

And so working really closely with Parks, and that is responsible for the irrigation and forestry.

providing good service to the 1.7 is is specifically worked by forestry transportation, 455,000.

we've been able to go through and plant some trees that had some trees that have died forestry department

What's forestry? I guess I'm confused.

the street side ones would be more based on some of our existing Dcs standards of, you know, the spacing of trees along along streets

requirements within the form based code that are related to sidewalk location and street tree location

it's based on the premise that we're gonna be planting trees, we need a plan for how we're gonna take care of them.

You can't change the urban forest condition across an entire city in a short period of time.

So let's look at urban tree canopy. From 2015 to 2021 anything that's tan to brown is lost

We had planning and ecological services which encompassed forestry, natural lands, planning design construction.

We have natural resources which encompasses our forestry and natural lands, which is environmentally sustainable for their Sr. Alignment.

We we just lost about 3 more trees for the spring so about 3 or 4 didn't make it.

I did as well as the proposal for planting in the empty tree wells.

To assess tree canopy improvements and potentially planting more trees

Technically, the trees are still alive. They're really struggling.

we're working closely with the Forestry department to assess tree canopy improvements, potentially planting more trees where possible

we are implementing the urban forest strategic plan steadily trying to really achieve a goal of maintaining 16% canopy cover

that they were no longer going to allow climbing in any parks on any tree.

if it's a tall building that has activity in things happening on the ground floor and there's tree canopy and there's a comfortable walking space

nature-based climate solutions, tree canopy, you know, a highland effect

We're also small thing, but a really important thing, wanting to make sure that we are improving the tree canopy

I'm always going to be curious of what are the implications of um you know wildlife of our Urban um canopy

can you just tell me is there any plans in the work for adding greens space uh Urban canopy to tvap one

doubling down on how we can um Implement tree canopy and cover along streets Scapes

Trees are having a moment in the funding opportunities, and they're ready for it.

So the trees will be planted. So we're very excited about that.

to build and care for an urban forest

so through forestry and water resources and um the and other departments uh the police department will be supporting us

I also wanted to thank the forestry team for their volunteer work that did it fort Logan Cemetery

the highlights include maintenance of parks Urban Tree canopy and natural land to ensure accessibility and safety

But we do have a forestry program that does provide trees and and improvements throughout the city.

So our forestry folks handles all of the the tree. Removal replacement throughout the city.

Then we we can talk to our forestry folks and see they, it's challenging because we've got again.

In response to that we put the street, the trees in our properties on the setback to make sure that at least we have some tree canopy coverage

how do we introduce additional open space, additional landscape and additional tree canopy into this

incorporate more tree canopy and landscape areas to balance higher intensity, development and overall

there's a lack of green public space and tree canopy, so it feels more urban than maybe it should

we want to do is now that we've identified these areas is implement some cooling solutions, namely, being urban forestry.

our urban forestry program lives within our parts of Recreation Department.

So we are in increasing the number of trees that will be planted there

We're also increasing the tree canopy and the Heat Island effect or reducing the Heat Island effect.

So overall we are replacing trees at greater than a 3 to one ratio on site

protecting and the extent and permeability of urban soils in the city's Urban Tree canopy for flood mitigation purposes

we heard the desire for more green public space and tree canopy throughout phase one

the amount of both federal funding and philanthropic funding available for trees is incredible.

we had to remove about three major cottonwoods for this project and we replanted about 10 trees

the design will provide you landscaping and trees on the site consistent with policy. 2.3, 8.

they're planning to add street trees on the 20 Ninth Street side

I'm also interested in the street trees that have made it through a number of years

trying to focus spending on Street trees for heat island issues

using Street trees as a calming effect on traffic patterns

funding for forestry was included in the Infrastructure or the Inflation Reduction Act

is there an opportunity for additional street trees or canopy driven plantings as an aside.

those considerations fall under kind of tree canopy coverage, other spaces nearby for for green space

trees trees sadly have a lifespan and they sometimes take a long time before they provide shade

What the tree canopy is what that looks like in terms of like fall deposits and and all that.

Well, their forestry continues their response to the emerald ash for infestation. This includes removing infested ash trees.

Urban forest is at the tipping point. Our losses from pests, such as the emerald batch for severe storms and other causes are outpacing our gains from tree growth

what about going to a year-round Forestry Crew instead of a nine-month Forestry Crew

developing an approach really designing and expanding our Urban forests and other land-based cooling strategies

how do we create equity centered economic development opportunities around this urban forestry expansion strategy

getting the profile of urban forestry as a heat management strategy elevated

we also initiated review and assessment of a bunch of urban forestry planning tools

we were thinking of new trees for our house, and then we see that's beautiful tree

there are a lot of trees that will be removed, but there's much greater number that will be replaced

publishing our first state of the urban forest.

I would have loved to have had a meeting or a lunch with forestry

we each took a city grouping. and I remember mine was forestry.

I thought there was a mention of potentially expanding this to Forestry equipment

the tree lawn separating pedestrians from the street trees

to tie back to the sustainability framework of improving the fiscal ability to maintain our plantings and increase the resilience of the Urban Tree canopy

looking at urban heat on an effect, and tree canopy and other kinds of things more sort of natural climate systems

transportation, electrification, urban forestry, often probably delayed closely to the open heat

when you were talking about urban forestry, or oh, for you were saying that there were also additional opportunities

any opportunities that we have for introducing, you know. More landscaping with trees is, you know, definitely appropriate.

prioritizing the maintenance of trees over the maintenance of Lawns due to the cooling effects the benefits from a tree canopy

is recognizing that that we can just be one city among many in the U.S that is seeking funding for urban forestry

the first um policy position change that I want to highlight has to do with urban forestry we've spoken about this before

also includes the extension of the urban parks ranger program and some enhanced forestry maintenance operations

we have also identified a plan that will work in coordination with our partners in the forestry and parks and recreation department

we had one tree walk was summoned from the forestry department and it was absolutely fascinating

new streetscapes of course will help to establish trees um and contribute to the urban forest uh street trees

osmp also has a forestry plan and so i think at some point it's helpful to maybe unify

improving our urban tree canopy specifically in those areas

recommended spending on urban forestry based on the urban forestry strategic plan

east boulder has less than five percent canopy today so that's well below our our goals

really didn't have a lot of trees it looked kind of hot

how can we ensure that we have a a good robust urban tree canopy and not

given tree canopy for heat island effect and air quality

the issue of the Emerald ash borer where the parks department is routinely going around and taking down

making our forest healthy everywhere and doing so in our urban environment has all the advantages

to provide significant new funding to expand urban forestry as a climate mitigation resilience and equity-based community development strategy

the second request the federal policy priority request is around urban forestry

restoring maintenance activities again across the city particularly open space and mountain parks transportation parks and the urban forest

relating to increasing the tree canopy and reducing urban heat islands urban forests can both capture significant amounts of carbon

i'm laying the groundwork for trying to launch a whole major community campaign around urban forestry as a climate action

i think our current um urban forest management strategy was like 14 because our urban forester

to 12 or 10 percent because of the um ash borer um do you know roughly where that canopy is

being a home to our urban tree canopy that mitigates heat island effects and promotes carbon sequestration

urban forest strategic plan that council approved where we inventoried over 50 000 of our public trees

the role of urban forests are especially important, and we need to make sure that we're

the connection between urban forests and urban heater are really clear

we were replacing our tree canopy at a rate that was like 20 times less than we were losing our tree canopy

what is the cycle rate of loss and then regrowth of our urban forest canopy

The Urban forests are the management of urban forest is basically a liability every amount of money that we spend for that

up our enhancement of our urban forests particularly along the lines of diversity given the animal ash borer impacts

a comprehensive 20-year plan for our Boulder Urban Tree canopy foliage Urban canopy covered approximately 16 percent

promote a healthy Urban Tree canopy for years to come the tree Titan program educates

I was surprised that the city only has is did you say a 16% citywide tree canopy yep so um our urban forestry plan today has a goal of 16%

another issue that we can look at which contributes to flood mitigation but also air quality and energy use is canopy coverage

our urban forestry and right now we measure that in canopy coverage so urban forest trees goal citywide is a 16% canopy coverage

we could even provide incentives to members of the community who want to replace

to look for surface areas that are less impervious to encourage tree planting and to encourage energy efficiency

CAN YOU FIRST DESCRIBE THE COLOR TO THE DESCRIBED THEM AS FORESTRY INSLEE SAID.

until it actually starts to evidence on someone's property they don't necessarily know what kind of tree they have

even though 12% of our public trees are ash when you look at it on a number basis

I wanted to take just a minute to talk about boulders urban tree canopy

helps to manage the tree op program working with bridge house bringing homeless man into makerspace