Urban Forestry Public Hearing B a c k g r o u n d & F r a m i n g Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Michael F. Glavin, OSPCD Executive Director B r a d R a w s o n , D i r e c t o r o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n & I n f r a s t r u c t u r e V a n e s s a B o u k i l i , P h . D / M C A , U r b a n F o r e s t r y & L a n d s c a p e P l a n n e r October 3, 20 18
Urban Forestry is Important to Somerville for Many Diverse Reasons https:/ / w w w .som ervillem a.gov/ urbanforestry 1. Stormwater Management 2. Residential Heating & Cooling 3. Air Pollution Mitigation 4. Traffic Calming 5. Wildlife Habitat 6. Carbon Sequestration 7. Noise Attenuation 8. Visual Privacy 9. Merchant Revenues 10. Property Values 11. Resident Happiness
Our Open Space & Recreation Plan Directs City to Develop Urban Forestry Plan http:/ / ifa.som ervillem a.gov.s3.am azonaw s.com / docum ents/ OSRP_Final-BOOK.pdf
City’s Forestry Program Can Be Compared with Peer Cities Using 2016 DCR Data Note: graph show s m unicipal forestry spending per capita $18.00 $16.00 $14.00 $12.00 $10.00 $18.58 $8.00 $10.33 $6.00 $9.88 $9.82 $4.00 $5.79 $2.00 $5.45 $ ‐ Somerville Cambridge Arlington Neighbors Cities MA Tree City Average (Worcester, Average (Arlington, Lowell, Boston, Framingham) Cambridge, Medford) Source: DCR, Tree City USA, 2016 • Caveat: different spending methodologies in each city. For example, some cities include • volunteer hours, utility pruning as part of overall program cost
Somerville Tree Canopy Can Be Compared with Peer Cities Using 2014 MAPC Data Note: data include all public and private trees 60% 50% Percent Canopy Cover 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% SOMERVILLE Winthrop Everett Chelsea Revere Cambridge Boston Malden Quincy Medford Melrose Braintree Newton Brookline
City Tree Inventory Update Allows Comparison of Our Urban Forest Over Time Note: data include only public street trees Ward 1 (East Somerville) 2009 ‐ 2017 Change in Street Tree Inventory 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Tree Count Tree Count Size 2009 Size 2017 2009 2017 (DBH Inches) (DBH Inches)
Large Capital Projects Have Created Challenges for Net Caliper Change Note: data include only public trees Beacon Street Reconstruction Project, 2016 ‐ 2019 Tree Removal vs. Tree Planting 700 600 Trees Planted 500 Trees Removed (dead) 400 Trees Removed (alive) 300 200 100 0 Count Removed Count Planted Size Removed Size Planted (DBH inches) (caliper inches) Almost three times as many trees are being planting along the street compared to the number of trees removed. The combined caliper inches of the planted trees is over 75% of the diameter of trees that were removed. After just a few years of growth we predict the combined caliper size of these newly planted trees will be greater than the combined size of the removed trees.
City’s Street Tree Planting Program Shows Rapid Improvement Since 2015 Note: new staff arrived late 2016
City’s Street Tree Planting Program Has Improved Quality Control Since 2015 Note: new staff arrived late 2016
City Website Overhaul Has Improved Public Information, Education & Advocacy https:/ / w w w .som ervillem a.gov/ urbanforestry
Fall 2018 Activities Include Community Engagement, Operations & Policy Work 1. Complete citywide public tree inventory Manage consultant data collection for ~6,000 trees 2. Form City Urban Forestry Committee 3. Young Tree Management Inspect 300 trees from 2017 and 2018 planting cycles Enforce warranty for any dead / dying young trees 4. Fall 2018 Street Tree Planting Inspect and mark sites for ~80 trees Manage contractor and supervise plantings Plan and manage volunteer tree plantings for ~50 trees 5. Emerald Ash Borer Management Continue monitoring and public outreach / education 6. Citywide Tree Operations Respond to daily 311 workflow for inspections, pruning, removal and storm response
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