2020-54 - Council Budget Priorities FY2021

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Net gain of trees planted versus trees removed: 2013 net gain 75 trees = 273 planted - 198 removed 2014 net gain 139 trees = 394 planted - 255 removed 2015 net gain 186 trees = 415 planted - 229 removed 2016 net gain 232 trees = 424 planted - 192 removed 2017 net gain 281 trees = 480 planted - 199 removed 2018 net gain 212 trees = 422 planted - 210 removed 2019 net gain 306 trees = 544 planted - 238 removed Total planted 2013 thru 2019 = 2,952 Trees (422 per year) Total removals 2013 thru 2019 = 1,521 Trees (217 per year = 1.6% of total city tree inventory removed annually) Average net gain per year 2013 thru 2019 = 205 trees per year. It is important to note that the satellite imagery utilized that measures the tree canopy cover does not measure or recognize trees that are under 15 feet tall. Small or younger trees are delineated as grass or shrub from the satellite view taken high above and not as tree canopy at this time. Therefore, very few of the 2,952 trees we have planted throughout the city since 2013 will show up as providing any measurable tree canopy cover. Long term, these trees (and future plantings) will deliver to us significant canopy cover increases and more than replace recent losses due the decline of some of our remaining mature tree canopy on public property. The primary concern for Lakewood regarding the data captured by this most recent canopy assessment is the loss of canopy cover on private property. This loss will present to all Lakewood residents the greatest challenge to increase our overall tree canopy cover over time and reach the long-term canopy cover goal of 33.5% by 2035; as set forth within the City of Lakewood Tree Action Plan. Currently, there is not enough replacement planting taking place on private property to grow and replace the recent canopy losses over time due to the loss of many mature trees. Most of the mature tree loss on private property has been due to the significant state of decline and potential hazard conditions associated with the few primary large tree species that were planted throughout Lakewood 80-120 years ago. Also, tree canopy loss as a result of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was directly responsible for approximately 7% (12-13 acers) of the tree canopy loss total. During that single event, 64 trees on city property either came down in that storm or had to be removed due to significant structural defects from storm damage. It is estimated that over 200 trees had to be removed on private property due to that same storm event. Countywide, it appears that most of the canopy loss was not from development and urban sprawl; it was from natural losses such as an increase mature tree mortality rates for certain species across the region and the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation resulting in the rapid decline and removal of most of mature ash trees across the region.