TREE CANOPY IN THE EMERALD CITY URBAN TREES make overwhelming contributions to our daily lives reducing heating bills by shading our homes and neighborhoods, cleaning air and stormwater, and increasing our health, happiness, and well-being.
LAND USE / TREE CANOPY Percent of City area per zone
9%
6% 5% 2%
9%
6% 5% 2%
CHAMBERS
Tree canopy over public property
Pa l Re s en iden tia tia l sid Re
C
KLIN
18TH 24TH
30TH
N
ZO Percent of neighborhood’s canopy over right-of-way
City Area
28.1%
Percent Canopy
Percent C
Total City Area
18.6% 18.3%
Gresham, OR
23 square miles
< 10% 10 - 15% 15 - 20% 20 - 30% >30%
Percent canopy per neighborhood
Neighborhoods in the city center have a larger percentage of their canopy over city rights-of-way (streets and sidewalks). In these areas, publiclyowned street trees account for over one third of total tree canopy. These trees intercept and slow rainwater before it hits pavement and capture air pollution from automobiles. Created 3/10/2014
0
Eugene, OR
Pa r
FRAN
29.9%
44 square miles
Neighborhood percent canopy
5,254 acres
HOW DOES EUGENE MEASURE UP? anopy
9% 6% 5% 2%
Residential zoning makes up the vast majority of Eugene’s area. Since these areas are also more conducive to tree growth and development, they make the largest contribution to the City’s canopy
Percent nieghborhood canopy that is over ROW
2,040 acres
Tree canopy over private property
26.6%
79%
RIGHT-OF-WAY CANOPY / TOTAL CANOPY HIGH
13TH
79% 9% 6% 5% 2% Percent of City’s total tree canopy per zone
AMA
This analysis was conducted using tree canopy data derived from satellite imagery (LiDAR) from DOGAMI and GIS data from the City of Eugene and Lane Council of Governments.Trees were considered any vegetation over eight feet tall. An outline of the City’s Neighborhood boundaries was used as the study area.
Created 3/10/2014
7TH
WILLAMETTE
BERTELSEN
6TH
11TH
Land use has a large influence on urban tree canopy. Industrial and commercial areas often have more buildings and pavement, resulting in less suitable places and harsher conditions for trees.
I-105
JEFFERSON
Understanding the spatial distribution of tree canopy and its ownership will allow urban foresters to target efforts to increase tree cover based on land ownership.
k Co ks &C om s & m Pu m Pu m bl e bl er ic rc ic cia l & Laianl & Lan d d In In du d Ag st A ust ric ria gri ria ul l cu l ltu tu r r Ot al O al th he er r
I-5
ROOSEVELT
rk
Pa rk
s& Pa rk
Re
sid
Zoning Residential Parks & Public Land Commercial& Industrial Agricultural Other Not Zoned
HARLOW
5% 2%
Pa r
COBURG
WY DEL TA H
Re sid en en tia tia l l
79%
CAL YOUNG
22%
Pa Pa om rCksom rks m &mP & P er uerb u cia cli bli l & calL& c L In anIn an Ag dusA ddu d ric trgiri str ul alcul ial tu tu O ral O ral th t er her
2%
10%
Pa r s & ks & Pu Pu C C b om om li bli c c m er mer Lan Lan cia ci d d l & al & In du Indu st r stri al Ag A ial ric gri c ul tu ultu O ral O ral th t er her
6% 5%
61%
l
9%
5% 2%
Re s en iden ti a ti a l
79%
22%
id
2%
10%
Re s
6% 5%
s& Pu Co PubC bl liocm m ic m La Ag er A Lamner nd ric cia gri d cia Ot ul Ol & cu l & he tu th In ltu I r ral er du ral ndu st st ria ria l l
9%
79%
BELTLINE HWY
Publicly-owned lands are often fairly well-stocked with trees, either in parks and natural areas, or along city streets. Tree canopy on private property varies dramatically, with more industrial areas of the city having less greenery.
Within Eugene’s city limits, 26% of the land area is covered by tree canopy. This compares favorably with available data from other cities in the region. American Forests, a science-based urban forestry advocacy organization, recommends a general target of 40% tree canopy for US cities.
Re Re sid sid en en tia tia l l
R RIVE
9N
Y9 HW
Eugene’s tree canopy is predominately over private property and located in the south hills. Much of this canopy is the result of the City’s growth into forested slopes, not the intentional planting of trees.
79%
61%
Vancouver, WA 46 square miles
Salem, OR
48 square miles
Portland, OR
145 square miles
1
2
4
Miles
< 10% 10 - 20% 20 - 30% 30 - 40% >40%
South Eugene neighborhoods have the most overall tree canopy since they were built in and around existing forested slopes. Here, most tree canopy is held privately or in parks and public lands. Street trees make up a relatively small percentage of total canopy in these neighborhoods. Created 3/10/2014
Map by Joel R. Grogan | Advanced Cartography, Geog 593 | Professor Jim Meacham | Winter 2014