Montgomery News:
Maintaining the site as open space has been a prime neighborhood goal. To this end Upper Roxborough Civic began to establish stewardship of the site two years ago, clearing some areas of invasive plants and planting natives. This year, utilizing funds from a city activities grant secured with the assistance of 4th District Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., whose office has been very supportive of these efforts, 1400 feet of woods on Summit Ave. from Lare St. to Eva St. were cleared of underbrush so that the tree canopy can expand. Several areas with no trees will be replanted next year. This effort is a textbook example of the potential benefits when we have cooperation between community volunteers, a concerned and expert non-profit (The Schuylkill Center), and local government, The Council Office and Fairmount Park Commission.
Showing posts with label water quality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water quality. Show all posts
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Executive Director of Trees Atlanta warns that cities sometimes overlook value of trees; Atlanta, GA
Cities overlook value of trees ajc.com:
As we move through our day, it is hard to miss the beauty of the fall tree canopy. It is, after all, that time of year when we witness the annual splendor of fall leaves changing from green to gold, orange and auburn, as they dazzle us one last time before the cold weather sets in and trees slip into their winter slumber.
Following a three-year drought where trees struggled to survive, no one could have predicted 2009 would bring 54 inches of rain, or the disastrous flooding in September that claimed lives, ruined property and devastated communities.
Mother Nature is unpredictable. Indeed, the National Weather Service, quoted in the AJC, said some locations recorded 20 inches of rain in 24-hour period beginning Sept. 20, pegging the chances of such a deluge at 1 in 10,000.
As we move through our day, it is hard to miss the beauty of the fall tree canopy. It is, after all, that time of year when we witness the annual splendor of fall leaves changing from green to gold, orange and auburn, as they dazzle us one last time before the cold weather sets in and trees slip into their winter slumber.
Following a three-year drought where trees struggled to survive, no one could have predicted 2009 would bring 54 inches of rain, or the disastrous flooding in September that claimed lives, ruined property and devastated communities.
Mother Nature is unpredictable. Indeed, the National Weather Service, quoted in the AJC, said some locations recorded 20 inches of rain in 24-hour period beginning Sept. 20, pegging the chances of such a deluge at 1 in 10,000.
CA Board of Forestry puts forth new streamside forest buffer rules in bid to bring back salmon; CA
Bid to rejuvenate salmon will protect trees near streams - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento
Little-known Honcut Creek is the one place where imperiled California salmon might be able to make a comeback.
It's also where new logging rules soon will restrict how many trees can be cut on private land along this Feather River tributary, even though there aren't any salmon in its forested reaches.
The goal is to protect potential salmon habitat by preserving shade along the creek – to keep the water cool – and to prevent erosion that could destroy spawning gravels downstream.
The new logging rules were approved last month by the California Board of Forestry in a rare unanimous vote.
Little-known Honcut Creek is the one place where imperiled California salmon might be able to make a comeback.
It's also where new logging rules soon will restrict how many trees can be cut on private land along this Feather River tributary, even though there aren't any salmon in its forested reaches.
The goal is to protect potential salmon habitat by preserving shade along the creek – to keep the water cool – and to prevent erosion that could destroy spawning gravels downstream.
The new logging rules were approved last month by the California Board of Forestry in a rare unanimous vote.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Philadelphia Tree Planting Part of Skyline Initiative - $150,000 federal investment leverages $3.75 million; Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Tree Planting Part of Skyline Initiative -- Environmental Protection:
The planting of 30 trees in a North Philadelphia park and neighborhood is one of many projects planned to make Philadelphia, Pa., a cleaner and greener city through Sustainable Skylines, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to help improve air quality and find solutions for other local environmental issues.
'Our Sustainable Skylines partnership with the city and other concerned organizations has a clear goal in mind – cleaner air in a greener city,' said EPA Acting Regional Administrator William C. Early. 'We commend Philadelphia as a leader in sustainability.' Philadelphia is the third city in the nation chosen to pilot the program.
The planting of 30 trees in a North Philadelphia park and neighborhood is one of many projects planned to make Philadelphia, Pa., a cleaner and greener city through Sustainable Skylines, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to help improve air quality and find solutions for other local environmental issues.
'Our Sustainable Skylines partnership with the city and other concerned organizations has a clear goal in mind – cleaner air in a greener city,' said EPA Acting Regional Administrator William C. Early. 'We commend Philadelphia as a leader in sustainability.' Philadelphia is the third city in the nation chosen to pilot the program.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Shortage of tree cover and stream side forests contribute to Willamette's ill health; Portland, OR
Adding plants would restore Willamette Basin's health, study finds Oregon Environmental News - – OregonLive.com:
The Willamette River basin's miles of arteries and capillaries have just undergone their most thorough check up to date.
Turns out, the patient has some serious health issues:
-Nearly 70 percent of the streams and rivers in the basin are too warm to protect salmon, trout and other sensitive cold-water fish.
-The biological health of more than 80 percent of streams that run through cities and farms is severely compromised, which is bad news for critters from crawdads to insects to clams.
-Almost half the 11,000-plus miles of streams in the basin have a shortage of tree cover and streamside plants, hurting aquatic life by boosting water temperatures, erosion and water pollution.ri
The Willamette River basin's miles of arteries and capillaries have just undergone their most thorough check up to date.
Turns out, the patient has some serious health issues:
-Nearly 70 percent of the streams and rivers in the basin are too warm to protect salmon, trout and other sensitive cold-water fish.
-The biological health of more than 80 percent of streams that run through cities and farms is severely compromised, which is bad news for critters from crawdads to insects to clams.
-Almost half the 11,000-plus miles of streams in the basin have a shortage of tree cover and streamside plants, hurting aquatic life by boosting water temperatures, erosion and water pollution.ri
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Carnegie Mellon professor outlines vision of Green Pittsburgh for next mayor; Pittsburgh, PA
The Next Page: Designs on Pittsburgh -- memos to the next mayor: "The Next Page: Designs on Pittsburgh -- memos to the next mayor
Ahead of the May 19 mayoral primary, three voices from Pittsburgh's architecture and design community focus on ideas central to the city
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The clean-water imperative -- and a better, greener solution
VIVIAN LOFTNESS: Let's lead the nation in landscaping our way out of the storm-sewer crisis -- to become a truly green city.
Between $2 billion and $4 billion in scarce resources will be needed to address the storm-sewer crisis in Pittsburgh. While Pittsburgh's population is half of 100 years ago, our storm runoff is at historic highs due to increased paving for parking lots and roads, and of course climate change.
The uncontrolled runoff during each storm has resulted in sewage overflows right into our rivers, and those of many older cities -- causing EPA to mandate money be spent (in budget-busting amounts). Yet the only solution on the table is a conventional big-pipe solution (actually two big pipes) that will tear up our streets, our sidewalks and street trees -- and leave a city poor and scarred.
We have a strategic opportunity to landscape our way out of the storm-sewer crisis, to create a world-class city and create a new green "export" industry.
Imagine every drop of rain is captured by new gardens and landscaped surfaces. Imagine tree-lined streets, rebuilt porous sidewalks edged by colorful plantings and parking lots defined by green swales and tree canopies. Imagine green roofs and connected parks, watersheds that are micro "waterfalls in the rain" and riverfronts that are ribbons of indigenous plants. Combined with investment in water-conserving fixtures, these investments in greening our city will eliminate storm water runoff, and ensure that our relined sewers can continue to meet the cities demand for generations..."
Ahead of the May 19 mayoral primary, three voices from Pittsburgh's architecture and design community focus on ideas central to the city
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The clean-water imperative -- and a better, greener solution
VIVIAN LOFTNESS: Let's lead the nation in landscaping our way out of the storm-sewer crisis -- to become a truly green city.
Between $2 billion and $4 billion in scarce resources will be needed to address the storm-sewer crisis in Pittsburgh. While Pittsburgh's population is half of 100 years ago, our storm runoff is at historic highs due to increased paving for parking lots and roads, and of course climate change.
The uncontrolled runoff during each storm has resulted in sewage overflows right into our rivers, and those of many older cities -- causing EPA to mandate money be spent (in budget-busting amounts). Yet the only solution on the table is a conventional big-pipe solution (actually two big pipes) that will tear up our streets, our sidewalks and street trees -- and leave a city poor and scarred.
We have a strategic opportunity to landscape our way out of the storm-sewer crisis, to create a world-class city and create a new green "export" industry.
Imagine every drop of rain is captured by new gardens and landscaped surfaces. Imagine tree-lined streets, rebuilt porous sidewalks edged by colorful plantings and parking lots defined by green swales and tree canopies. Imagine green roofs and connected parks, watersheds that are micro "waterfalls in the rain" and riverfronts that are ribbons of indigenous plants. Combined with investment in water-conserving fixtures, these investments in greening our city will eliminate storm water runoff, and ensure that our relined sewers can continue to meet the cities demand for generations..."
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Washington, DC; 12/23/08
Urban Tree Canopy Goals › Key Findings & Data Resources ...Washington, DC is now in the process of setting UTC goals in accordance with the District’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan and a 2003 directive from the Chesapeake Executive Council. The latest air quality plan (SIP) for the Washington, DC airshed includes establishing goals for tree canopy. The UTC framework may also be able to provide an accounting structure for using trees in this carbon trading scheme. By adopting Urban Tree Canopy goals, Washington, DC will join the likes of Baltimore, Annapolis, New York City, and Boston in using innovative technology to track and develop forward-thinking policies for our urban forest.
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