Urban Forest Management Program

Program Overview

On July 6, 2021, the City Council approved by resolution the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) Implementation Strategies and the 2021/2022 Urban Forest Workplan. With a work plan approved, the way was paved for the formal establishment of the Urban Forest Management Program.

The Program will manage and execute the biennial urban forest work plans. This includes providing annual State of the Urban Forest Reports. The Program will work with the City Council to ensure the City's urban forest priorities are being accomplished.

2021/2022 Urban Forest Project Elements

Street-Trees and Parks-Trees Inventory and Analysis

In December 2021, the City contracted Davey Resource Group (DRG) to inventory street trees and certain trees within City Parks. The inventory covers roughly 20,000 trees: 10,000 street trees within the City's rights-of-way, and 10,000 more within the City's parks.

DRG collected attributes at each tree including species, condition, diameter, and a precise GPS location. Tree data were entered into a tree management software. The City will use the database to maintain the tree inventory, analyze the data, and develop maintenance plans.

Updating City Contracts and Specifications

DRG reviewed all of the City's consultant and maintenance contract templates. If needed, they were updated to ensure they included all appropriate arborist care and safety standards.

Tree Board Research and Reporting

City staff conducted research to understand the different forms and roles Tree Boards take in other regional cities. One of the goals of the UFMP is to establish a Citizen Tree Board. This research will present options the City Council may take to create a Sammamish Tree Board or Commission. Research will be synthesized into a report and presented to the City Council.

Tree Permit Health Assessment

Staff is working to update the City's tree removal permits to ensure tree health information is captured prior to tree removal. Updated permits will include questions to identify if the tree was infected with a specific disease or pest. This information will be mapped to identify trends or patterns of tree infections.

State of the Urban Forest Report

The Urban Forest Management Program team developed the first Annual State of the Urban Forest report. The report highlighted the 2021/2022 Workplan Progress and served as a check-in on the upcoming work plan priorities.