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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Oshkosh Street Tree and Urban Tree Canopy reportCity of Oshkosh Street Tree Benefits Trees: • Reduce stormwater runoff • Lower summer air temperatures • Reduce air pollution • Reduce heating and cooling costs • Reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) • Enhance property values • Provide wildlife habitat • Improve health and wellbeing • Improve learning and concentration • Provide aesthetic benefits Oshkosh street trees provide thousands of dollars of environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits to the community. Over their lifetime, street tree benefits exceed the costs of planting and care, representing a 300 percent return on investment. Tree benefits increase over time highlighting the importance of not only planting trees, but of providing ongoing maintenance and protection. These benefits are a reminder of the worthwhile investment in our community forestry program. Annually Oshkosh public street trees provide1… $109,762 Top 5 Street Tree Species Crabapple species 4% 7% 9% 22% 24% PROPERTY VALUE INCREASE $16,332 AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT $92,722 STORMWATER RUNOFF REDUCTION $13,269CO2 REDUCTION $103,183ENERGY SAVINGS Norway Maple Honeylocust Freeman Maple Cultivar Green Ash $335,268 per year TOTAL BENEFITS Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources dnr.wi.gov The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Trees Reduce Stormwater Runoff and Improve Water Quality Trees reduce peak stormwater runoff and associated pollutants entering local water bodies. Trees reduce stormwater volumes by intercepting a portion of rainfall, which evaporates and never reaches the ground. Tree roots also increase rainfall infiltration and storage in the soil. And tree canopies reduce soil erosion by diminishing the impact of raindrops on barren surfaces. Street trees in Oshkosh intercept 3,421,246 gallons of water annually for a savings of $92,722. Trees Reduce Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Trees reduce atmospheric carbon by capturing and storing CO2 as they grow. By reducing demand for heating and cooling, trees indirectly reduce CO2 by avoiding power plant emissions associated with energy production. Street trees in Oshkosh capture 504.5 tons of atmospheric CO2 per year. Annual savings including indirect costs are $13,269. Street trees also store approximately 4,732 tons of atmospheric CO2 for a total savings of $70,979. Trees Improve Air Quality Trees improve air quality by trapping particulates, absorbing gaseous pollutants, and releasing oxygen. By cooling urban heat islands and shading parked cars, trees indirectly reduce ozone levels. The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes tree planting as an ozone reduction measure in state implementation plans. Street trees in Oshkosh remove 234 lbs. of particulate matter, 423 lbs. of ozone, 19 lbs. of sulfur dioxide and 71 lbs. of nitrogen oxides annually. Total annual savings including indirect cost are $16,332. Trees Save Energy Trees reduce the demand for energy to heat and cool buildings by providing shade, lowering summertime temperatures, and reducing windspeeds. Secondary benefits are reduced water consumption and pollutants emissions by local power plants. Street trees in Oshkosh save approximately 484 MWH of electricity and 67,800 Therms of natural gas annually for a savings of $103,183. Trees Improve Property Values and Beautify Our Communities Trees are the single strongest positive influence on scenic quality in our community! They increase the attractiveness of retail business areas. Studies found shoppers are willing to pay up to 11% more for goods and services in a well- landscaped business district. Trees increase property values. People will pay 3-7% more for properties with many trees. Trees foster safer and more sociable neighborhoods. Views of trees ease mental fatigue and stress, help concentration, reduce sickness, and provide settings for recreation and relaxation. Trees also help reduce noise, provide a refuge for wildlife, and help connect residents with their natural environment. Street trees in Oshkosh increase property values annually by $109,762. Diversity Improves Urban Forest Resilience A diverse palette of trees helps guard against catastrophic loss to insects and diseases or environmental stresses. A general guideline for urban forest diversity is no more than 5% of any one species, 10% of any one genus. Ash, maple and crabapple trees are over-represented on Oshkosh’s streets. This jeopardizes $279,075 of the city’s urban forest’s benefits from pests such as emerald ash borer (EAB) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). Enlist the public to help increase Oshkosh’s urban forest resilience by planting less common trees on their own property. 1 Analysis was conducted using iTree Streets. iTree Streets is a street tree management and analysis tool for urban forest managers that uses tree inventory data to quantify the dollar value of annual environmental and aesthetic benefits. The iTree Suite is a free state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service. www.itreetool.org. Tree graphic concept courtesy of City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation. City of Oshkosh Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Analysis What is the Urban Forest and Urban Tree Canopy? The Urban Forest consists of all public and private trees and shrubs in our community. This includes trees in yards, parks, open spaces, along streets and other land where trees are present. One way to understand the value of urban forests is by envisioning the layer of leaves, branches and tree stems when viewed from above. This layer is called Urban Tree Canopy (UTC). Why is Urban Tree Canopy important? While we may not think of city trees as a typical “forest,” these trees provide valuable services and benefits. Trees in our community: • Reduce storm water runoff • Lower summer air temperatures • Reduce air pollution • Reduce heating and cooling costs • Enhance property values • Provide wildlife habitat • Improve health and wellbeing • Improve learning and concentration • Provide aesthetic benefits UTC benefits can be quantified. A single large tree can provide approximately $76 in average annual net benefits, $3,000 in benefits over a 40-year period. An increase in UTC brings an associated increase in benefits. • An existing tree canopy of 18% (3,124 acres) • Trees could potentially cover an additional 49% (8,302 acres) of the city’s land surface. These “Possible UTC” areas include grass, agriculture land, and impervious surfaces (e.g., parking lots, paved playgrounds & ROW). • The remaining 33% (5,732 acres) of the city ’s area is buildings, streets, water and other permanent features and is generally unsuited to UTC improvement. How much Urban Tree Canopy does Oshkosh have? UTC analysis for Oshkosh shows1: Many factors determine where best to plant urban trees. UTC analysis shows where additional trees will have the greatest positive impact. 1 Analysis was conducted using iTree Canopy. iTree Canopy offers a quick and easy way to produce a statistically valid estimate of land cover types (e.g., tree cover) using aerial images available in Google Maps. The iTree Suite is a free state-of-the-art, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service. www.itreetool.org 2 Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, DePere, Green Bay, Hobart, Howard 3 Appleton, Greenville, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, City of Menasha, Town of Menasha, Neenah Tree Canopy Structures, Streets Water Grass & Shrubs Agriculture Impervious POSSIBLE UTC 18% 29% 4% 38% 7% 4% UTC analysis for other metropolitian areas shows: Green Bay Metro Area2: Tree Canopy.................................. 24% Possible UTC ................................. 56% Fox Valley Metro Area3: Tree Canopy.................................. 20% Possible UTC ................................. 55% As urban development expands, it is increasingly important to balance growth with environmental wellbeing. To maximize UTC benefits, communities should set goals to protect, maintain and enhance their entire urban forest. Careful planning and goal setting are necessary to retain as much mature tree canopy as possible in areas with development pressure and to expand and sustain canopy in already urbanized areas. UTC goals can emphasize environmental quality (stormwater, air quality, carbon offsets), livability and economic vitality. Though many communities have adopted land use strategies to mitigate sprawl, few have developed land cover strategies like UTC to mitigate urbanization effects. Effective UTC goal setting requires involvement and commitment by municipal leaders and staff, local business community, neighborhood groups and citizens. The process generally includes four steps: • Assess Current UTC — Can use iTree Canopy Analysis or GIS to arrive at UTC baseline. • Assess Possible UTC — Identify opportunities on both public and private land. • Adopt Goals Based on Assessments — If possible, institutionalize goals in appropriate ordinances, policies, or community master plan. • Develop Implementation Plan — Identify strategies to meet goals based on available resources, political climate and stakeholder needs. Produce timeline and identify parties responsible for each strategy. How to Set UTC Goals • Plant New Trees — Identify and prioritize planting sites community-wide. — Assess species diversity needs. — Identify how trees will be maintained. • Protect & Maintain Existing Trees — Adopt tree protection ordinance and conservation easements. — Produce a tree management plan. — Ensure proper pruning in utility corridors. • Minimize & Restore UTC Lost to Age, Mortality & Land Conversion — Specify strategies within Comprehensive Land Use Plan (e.g. Smart Growth). — Adopt subdivision, zoning, and landscaping ordinances. — Identify impact from EAB and potential management strategies. • Promote Public Education & Awareness — Promote tree benefits (e.g., community website, newsletter, water bill insert) — Promote proper tree planting (e.g., Arbor Day, workshops) — Develop or participate in campaigns (e.g., First Downs for Trees, Taking Root in Oshkosh) Potential Strategies to Implement UTC Goals Additional Resources Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, http://nrs.fs.fed.us/urban/utc/ Watershed Forestry Resource Guide, Urban Tree Canopy, http://www.forestsfor watersheds.org/urban-tree-canopy/ Urban Natural Resources Institute, http://www.unri.org/webcasts/archive/ march-2011a/ Society of Municipal Arborists, Urban Forestry BMPs, http://www.urban-forestry.com/sma-urban-forestry-bmps Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources dnr.wi.gov Why should Oshkosh set goals for UTC? The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.