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Landscape Ecology, Urban Forestry & Wetlands

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Woody vegetation in populated places 25% of forest canopy in US

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Increased Property Values Trees as an amenity value Increased privacy A 15% premium

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Decreased Energy Costs Reducing urban heat island effect

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Decreased Energy Costs Reducing urban heat island effect

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Decreased Energy Costs Shading in summer Wind break Site & area benefits

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Decreased Energy Costs 10 degree area differential 50% reduction in wind > 10-12% reduction in heating costs

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Improve air quality Shaded parking reduces hydrocarbon (evaporative) emissions CO2 Reduction In Sacramento, CA 6 million trees contribute to a net reduction in CO2 by 335,000 tons (262,300 of which are sequestered

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Improve air quality

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Ozone and particulate matter Sacramentos trees removed 665 tons of ozone and 748 tons of PM10 Canopy cover and surface roughness inhibits uptake of these pollutants

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Reduce storm water runoff Root system Inhibiting / retarding rainfall (leaves and branches) Reduction of peak flow

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Decrease soil erosion See previous slide Most effective near stream banks

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Improve water quality Reduction in nutrient flow Reduction in sedimentation Temperature regulator (shade)

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Create wildlife habitat Site and area benefits Trees as connectivity

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Increase community pride

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Increase recreational opportunities Passive and active recreation

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Improve health and well-being Secondary impacts of previous benefits

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Reduce noise levels Tree canopy as noise buffer Distinguish between deciduous and evergreen

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Create buffer zones Edges and corridors

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Dot gridImage Tool

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Washington DC

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CITYgreen for ArcGIS

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Town of Boone (exists in UDO) Preserving existing trees Typically historic trees Credits and incentives Determination of tree health Loophole protection of trees only when drip line is outside of proposed building footprint Strict protection of trees unless reduction in project intensity results

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Flood Damage Reduction Shoreline Erosion Control Water Quality Improvement Groundwater Recharge Healthy Fisheries Biodiversity Recreation, Aesthetics, Education, Research

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Avoidance of Impact Minimizing Impact Mitigation and Compensation Impacts are unavoidable Restoration Enhancement Creating from scratch Current Issues Current Issues Boone, and Idaho

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Section 404 Permitting CWA Regulation of dredge and fill into wetlands Activity is permissible if no degradation occurs or no feasible / practicable alternative exists

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Section 404 Permitting Burden of Proof? Steps have been taken to avoid wetlands impacts Minimization of potential impacts Compensation for unavoidable impacts through restoration, enhancement or creation Administered by ACE Currently considering a three-tier ranking of wetlands

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Wetlands Mitigation Banking A market approach for mitigation Satisfies a no net loss of wetlands

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Wetlands Mitigation Banking 1) Identification of degraded wetlands 2) Degraded wetlands are restored by private entity 3) Mitigation credits are applied to restoration 4) Mitigation credits can be sold to offset unavoidable wetlands losses off site 5) ACE determines equity of trade (buyers and sellers, environment)