Daily Note
Every day, a photograph, a poem. On Scott’s walk with the dog this morning, the two of them reached the peak of the hill behind us by following a mule deer path. Scott snapped this photo showing the pine trees already green and the deciduous trees just budding out for spring.
As you can see, one street, Ferry Street, has no trees lining the street because new sidewalks took precedent over the more than thirty, tall 90 year old maples, the canopy of which shaded the homes morning to night, cooling residents during the hot summer months. I wrote about that here: Ferry Street Heartbreak and Small Delight.
I have since discovered that the Town of Coulee Dam has an Urban Forest Management Plan from 2018. The mission statement is:
Coulee Dam Urban Forestry Vision Statement
The Town of Coulee Dam recognizing urban forestry as an equal part of the community infrastructure, will create, enhance, maintain, and sustain a vibrant, healthy, and structurally sound community forest resource for the benefit and enjoyment of Coulee Dam residents and visitors.
Urban Forest Management Plan from 2018 page 13[14]
The UFMP for sure set some goals:
Relying on the UFMP for guidance, the city will partner with or engage in the following:
Urban Forest Management Plan from 2018 page 9-10
➢ community members, organizations, and volunteers to encourage tree planting and stewardship
➢ preserve and protect existing trees
➢ promote public safety, tree health, and structure
➢ implement cost-effective and proper arboriculture maintenance of the community trees
➢ increase public education and awareness of the value of community trees
➢ maximize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the community forest for current residents and future generations
Questions
The city was supposed to preserve and protect existing trees. The good thing currently is that the city has found grant moneys to replace the trees, but no one alive today will benefit for the canopy they will create. The bad thing is that they will not choose tall trees, so the benefit will not be as great as the old maples loved by the residents.
As I read through the plan, it seemed like most of it was suggestions, so I guess I have to ask the Town Council what part of the plan was accepted and is being implemented.
Resources
In the UFMP, I found these resources to help citizens and the town council make good decisions to increase our urban forest capacity. If you want resources to help your town increase the forest structure to mitigate some of the problems of climate change, here are a few:
I found these as well:
- Urban Forest Management Plan Toolkit
- Urban Forests and Climate Change
- Tips for Urban Forest Planning [USDA Guides]
- USDA Urban Forests
- Benefits of Trees and Urban Forests
- National Research Plan for Urban Forestry
- Sustaining America’s Urban Trees and Forests
What’s your experience?
If you’re reading this and have experience with developing an urban forest in your community, please share your experience and resources. It would be greatly appreciated.
and a little poem
Poetry
Budding Leaves
East of the rock cliff,
Sheri Edwards
trees line the streets; leaves will soon
cool and refresh us.
03.30.24 090.365.24
Poetry/Photography
I wonder, if I draw a line... 