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Home My WebLink About05/15/2024 - NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD - AGENDA - Regular meeting Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING – May 15, 2024 Location: 300 Laporte Ave. and via Zoom - https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/94115567733 6:15 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL 1. AGENDA REVIEW 2. COMMUNITY MEMBER PARTICIPATION 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – APRIL 4. NEW BUSINESS 6:15-7:15 FC Moves – Updates and Connection to NRAB 2024 Workplan Cortney Geary (Active Modes Manager) will provide background on the 15-minute city analysis and related City Council priorities, as well as progress implementing the Active Modes Plan since adoption in 2022. Dashiell Bubar-Hall (Transportation Planner) will seek feedback on an update to the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap and the Shift Your Ride Travel Demand Management Plan. (Discussion) • 15-minute city is a vision of Fort Collins where every resident can walk, bike, or roll within 15 minutes of their home to meet their daily needs. • The Active Modes Plan establishes the ambitious goals of achieving 50% active modes share of all trips and eliminating active modes related fatalities and serious injuries by 2032 in support of the City’s broader Vision Zero goal. • The 2018 Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap (EVRR) is being updated to support current and future EV adoption in our community. • Shift Your Ride Travel Demand Management encourages and supports traveler behavior that makes more efficient use of the transportation network. 7:15-8:00 Urban Forestry Strategic Plan (UFSP) Kendra Boot (City Forester) will provide an overview of a draft UFSP – called Rooted in Community – to seek Board feedback and support for Plan adoption. (Action) • The Forestry Division has been working with Davey Resource Group on the first Urban Forestry Strategic Plan for Fort Collins. City Council will consider adoption of the UFSP on August 20. 5. OTHER BUSINESS / UPDATES • Board Member Reports • Monday, June 10th, 2024 Super Issues Meeting  Location: Lincoln Center Founder's Room  Topics: Tax Program; Strategic Trails Plan and Natural Areas Strategic Framework • Six Month Calendar Review https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php • Revisit action items from previous meetings & preview of next meeting City Websites with Updates: • Natural Resources Advisory Board webpage: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/natural-resources.php • Our Climate Future: https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture 6. ADJOURN Page 1 4/17/2024 – MINUTES Natural Resources Advisory Board REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – 6:00 PM 222 Laporte and Via Zoom 1. CALL TO ORDER: 6:20 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – • Kelly Stewart (Vice Chair) • Lisa Andrews • Teagan Loew • Todd Simmons • Kelen Dowdy • Matt Zoccali b. Board Members Absent – • Dawson Metcalf (Chair) • Barry Noon • Sara LoTemplio c. Staff Members Present – • Honoré Depew, Staff Liaison d. Guest(s) – • Councilmember Kelly Ohlson 3. AGENDA REVIEW Vice Chair Stewart reviewed the agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (February and March) Vice Chair Stewart made a motion, seconded by Andrews, to approve the February and March meeting minutes. The motion was adopted 6-0. Page 2 4/17/2024 – MINUTES 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Welcome New Members and Review 2024 NRAB Work Plan – NRAB Co- Chair, Kelly Stewart, will lead an informal meeting to facilitate current and new member introductions and build Board familiarity. City Council liaison, Kelly Ohlson, will join the Board to discuss the role of the Natural Resources Advisory Board and how its 2024 Work Plan aligns with Council Priorities and the City’s Strategic Plan. A welcome packet with detailed information for members has been published with this agenda. (Discussion) Current members, Zoccali, Andrews, and Stewart introduced themselves and discussed their work history and interest in the NRAB. Depew discussed his history with the City and recent work leading the Our Climate Future framework for action. Dowdy introduced herself and stated she is currently the acting Deputy Director of Water Resources for the City of Greeley. Loew introduced himself and stated he is an ecologist for an environmental consulting firm. Simmons introduced himself and discussed his work history as a community leader and proprietor of a local nonprofit. Depew shared biographical information about absent new member Sara LoTemplio, who is a faculty member in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at CSU. Councilmember Kelly Ohlson introduced himself and discussed his interest in the Board and his background. He commented on the value Board and Commission members bring to the City organization. He noted he helped create the NRAB and the City’s Natural Resources Department in the early 1980’s and also served on the Board for eight years. He discussed his history on Council, as a Larimer County Public Trustee, and as one of the leaders of the Open Space and Natural Areas ballot measures. Councilmember Ohlson stated the Boards are not present to rubber stamp items and do not need to solely stick to Council priorities for their work. He stated he questioned the Code of Conduct requirement, as passion and feeling are not crimes and can be necessary to make positive changes. He encouraged the Board to send memos to Council and noted this Council prefers shorter memos. He also encouraged the Board to provide recommendations prior to Council’s work sessions. Councilmember Ohlson also stated Board and Commission members should advise staff as well. Zoccali noted he previously worked for the City and stated there needs to be some scope and guardrails for Boards. He stated he has been confused as to Page 3 4/17/2024 – MINUTES why the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board discusses Natural Areas rather than the Natural Resources Advisory Board. Councilmember Ohlson replied staff will assist with guardrails and will inform the Board if it is out of bounds from a technical perspective. He encouraged the Board to weigh in on budget items. Depew noted the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board is mandated by the voter-approved Natural Areas tax of 2006 and it advises the Natural Areas Department. The Environmental Services Department is advised by the NRAB and Air Quality Advisory Board. Depew presented the summarized list of Board foci created by Chair Metcalf. Councilmember Ohlson commended the list and encouraged the Board to not be solely limited to it. Councilmember Ohlson commented on the new 2050 tax that will bring in about $5.5 million for climate issues, annually. Depew noted the Board discussed the ‘2024 mini BFO’ in February and provided a summary of the City’s Budgeting for Outcomes process. Vice Chair Stewart asked Councilmember Ohlson if there is anything the Board should focus on in terms of Council priorities or other issues. Councilmember Ohlson expressed disappointment in the movement of the City in the road to zero waste and commented on the 2030 climate goals and on Council’s related priorities. Vice Chair Stewart asked Councilmember Ohlson if joint Board meetings and memos would be helpful. Councilmember Ohlson replied in the affirmative and stated joint memos could be quite helpful for Council. Depew noted Council will be discussing rough outlines of work plans to help advance its priorities on May 14th and suggested the priority related to reducing climate and air pollution with an emphasis on electrification could be of interest to the Board, in addition to the zero waste priority. Councilmember Ohlson noted Council will be discussing building performance standards on Tuesday and asked whether the Board will be providing a memo. Depew noted there was no quorum at the last meeting to do so. Depew provided a summary of the City organizational chart and noted Sustainability Services is the City’s smallest and newest service area, which braids Environmental Services with Economic Health and Social Sustainability departments. Zoccali stated the sustainability group tends to focus on community issues, but does not necessarily always have a connection with things such as the efforts the water treatment plant is undergoing to drive its own sustainability goals. Page 4 4/17/2024 – MINUTES Depew commented on the sustainability role played by environmental planners in the Planning Department and compliance officers in the environmental space in the Community Development and Neighborhood Services department, among others. He also outlined the way Council conducts its business by updating the Strategic Plan every two years and simultaneously identifying Council priorities, which helps to influence staff work. He further discussed the role of Council’s work sessions and outlined Council’s 6-month calendar. Depew reviewed the 2023 annual report for the Board which outlines what topics were discussed and what action, if any, was taken. Andrews asked if the Board has weighed in about land use or occupancy. Depew replied in the negative but noted land use has a close relationship with environmental issues. He noted Council was poised to adopt an updated Land Use Code, scaled down with less controversial changes. 7. OTHER BUSINESS • Board Member Reports  Andrews reported on attending the Boards and Commissions Super Issues meeting at the Lincoln Center. She noted Chair Metcalf met with the AQAB Chair and encouraged members to attend future Super Issues meetings.  Members commented on the overlap between Boards, particularly the NRAB and AQAB.  Depew discussed ongoing conversations between Board chairs to arrange a likely joint meeting later this summer. • 2024 Super Issues Meetings of Fort Collins Boards and Commissions will be held at the Lincoln Center. The dates are as follows:  Monday, June 10 (Founder’s Room)  Monday, September 9 (Founder’s Room) • Six Month Calendar Review https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/planning-calendar.php • Revisit action items from previous meetings & preview of next meeting  FC Moves presentation  Urban Forestry Strategic Plan – “Rooted in Community” – City Forester Kendra Boot  Board elections in May  Move June meeting to the 26th  What month is best for joint meeting with AQAB – June?  Poudre River health assessment – funded by 2050 tax  Council priorities and Work Plan  Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO)  15-Minute Cities  Active Modes Plan – part of FC Moves presentation  Land Use Code updates round two  Water Efficiency Plan update  Shift from PRPA sending electricity to communities to a market system Page 5 4/17/2024 – MINUTES starting in 2026 City Websites with Updates: • Natural Resources Advisory Board webpage: https://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/natural- resources.php • Our Climate Future: https://ourcity.fcgov.com/ourclimatefuture 8. ADJOURNMENT a. 8:18 pm Minutes approved by a vote of the Board on XX/XX/XX Headline Copy Goes Here Active Modes Manager Cortney Geary 15-minute City Council Priority 5/15/2024 1 Headline Copy Goes HereVision & Council Priorities 2 Vision • Fort Collins is a “15-minute city” where every resident can walk, bike, or roll within 15 minutes of their home to their daily needs and services. 2024 – 2026 Council priorities • Advance a 15-minute city by igniting neighborhood centers • Advance a 15-minute city by accelerating our shift to active modes Headline Copy Goes Here 3 15-minute City Analysis - Walking Score Headline Copy Goes Here 4 15-minute City Analysis - Bicycling Score Headline Copy Goes Here 5 Strategies Core themes •Increase housing capacity in areas with strong connectivity •Support mixed-use neighborhoods •Expand the active transportation network Headline Copy Goes HereStrategies 6 Supporting themes •Expand access to nature and parks •Expand transit services •Increase awareness through education and outreach •Improve safety conditions for vulnerable road users Headline Copy Goes Here 7 Strategic Alignment Land Use Land Development Code Update Housing Strategic Plan Parks & Recreation Plan Natural Areas Plan Nature in the City 15- Minute City Transportation Active Modes Plan Pedestrian Needs Assessment Paved Recreational Trail Plan Shift Your Ride Transit Master Plan Vision Zero Action Plan Overarching Strategic Plan City Plan Our Climate Future Council Priorities Headline Copy Goes Here Active Modes Plan 5/15/2024 Cortney Geary Active Modes Manager Headline Copy Goes HereVision & Goals Vision Active transportation is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience. Fort Collins is a place where walking, bicycling, and using other active modes are safe, accessible, convenient, joyful, and desired by people of all ages and abilities. Goals • 50% active modes share of all trips by 2032 • Eliminate active modes fatalities and serious injuries by 2032, in support of Vision Zero Headline Copy Goes Here 10 Policy & Program Recommendations 1. Prioritizing active modes • transportation hierarchy • funding allocation 2. Updating land use policies to support active modes • 15-minute communities • development practices • parking policies 3. Aligning standards with active mode goals • Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards • Multimodal Levels of Service framework • maintenance/asset management 4. Expanding and creating programs that support active modes • Safe Routes to School • Shift Your Ride travel options • Engaging communities authentically around active modes 5. Equitable engagement with historically underserved groups • Open Streets and asphalt art • Increase visibility and importance of walking Headline Copy Goes HereProgram Implementation 11 • Shift Your Ride neighborhood program • City employee walking program • Asphalt art program Headline Copy Goes HerePolicy Implementation 12 • Update street design standards • Operationalize active modes maintenance Headline Copy Goes HereInfrastructure Recommendations 13 • Miles of bike facilities = 144 • Spot improvements = 165 • Total cost estimate = $158.7 million Headline Copy Goes Here 14 Infrastructure Implementation •Laporte Corridor Project • Fishback to Sunset • Sidewalks and raised separated bike lanes • Grants: CDOT TAP, MMOF, and RMS • Construction: 2024 •Laporte Ave. • Fishback to Wood • Buffered bike lanes • Seeking 2050 tax funding • Construction: 2024 •Canyon/Magnolia/Sherwood • Asphalt art curb extensions • Grant: Bloomberg • Construction: 2024 •Centre Ave. • Street Maintenance Program • Centre Dr. to Worthington Cir. •Separated bike lanes •Grant: Safe Streets/Roads for All • Rolland Moore & Spring Creek Trl. •Median refuge islands •Seeking 2050 tax • Construction: 2024 •Zach Elem. crossings Kechter/Jupiter – convert to full signal • Kechter/Cinquefoil – RRFB & median refuge island • Grant: CDOT Safe Routes to School • Construction: ~2024 •William Neal/Ziegler • Pedestrian hybrid beacon • Grant: MPO TAP • Construction: ~2025 •Prospect Rd/Prospect Ln • Pedestrian hybrid beacon • Grant: CDOT HSIP • Construction: ~2025 •CDOT HSIP RRFBs • Laporte/Impala (2024) • Sharp Point/March Ct. (~2025) • Lake St./Aggie Trail (~2025) • Kechter/Old Mill (~2025) •Elizabeth/Overland Trail • Protected roundabout • Grant: RAISE • Construction: ~2025 - 2026 Headline Copy Goes Here Questions? Cortney Geary | Active Modes Manager | cgeary@fcgov.com 15 Electric Vehicles Readiness Roadmap Update 5/15/2024 Dashiell Bubar-Hall Why Electric Vehicles •Electric vehicles are not the highest priority, but they play a role •GHG emission reductions •Sustainability goals •Long-term cost reduction for city fleet and transit vehicles •Electric vehicles are here to stay •Increasing market share •More models and vehicles types available •Increased affordability 2 •EV Readiness Roadmap •Identified 22 strategies/objectives to address barriers and increase EV adoption •Outreach/Education, City Planning/Coordination, Policies, Incentives, Utilities, Leading by Example, Emerging Technologies •Environmental Services, Economic Health, Utilities, Streets, Buildings, Development Review, Parking Services, Operations, Transfort Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap 2018 •EVRR Format •Introduction •Vision and goals •EV overview •Vehicle types •Charger types •EV Market Assessment •Local trends and projections •Readiness Strategies •Methodology overview •Recommended strategies •Added points of emphasis with the update •Equity •Electric transportation options (e-bikes, e- scooters, carshare) 3 Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap 2018 •Strategic planning effort to establish short -, medium-, and long-term objectives to support the use of plug-in electric vehicles •Short -term •Clarify City policy regarding EV charging •Support public charging station installation •Begin electrification of the City’s fleet •Medium-term •Revise building code to require EV infrastructure •Incentivize EV purchases by the public •Install chargers for City fleet and employees •Long-term •Upgrade electricity distribution infrastructure •Encourage EV ride-hailing and car share •Pursue living laboratory projects with partners 4 Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap 2018 5 EV Success at the City •City codes •Local building code amendment accepted April 2022 •Requires EV charging infrastructure at all new developments and redevelopment projects •New residential developments require electrical panels capable of accommodating EV chargers •Code being updated Q2 2024 6 EV Successes at the City •City’s vehicle fleet •All new vehicles must be BEV’s unless substantial justification for ICE is provided •Transfort has funding for their first 11 BEBs •Bus fleet expected to be fully electric in 15-20 years •Supply chain issues currently constrain BEV inventory •Zero Emission Bus Transition and Implementation Plan (2023) •Fleet Charging Master Plan (2024) •Charging infrastructure •Smart charging software 7 •EVRR Update Workplan •Existing Plan, Literature, and Best Practice Review •Community Questionnaire •2/27-4/23 •303 responses •Vision and Goal Refinement •Working on currently •Existing Conditions/Community Context •EV Market Assessment •Charging Demand Analysis •EV and EVSE Equity Analysis •Strategy Development and Implementation Plan •Draft Pla n 8EVRR 2024 Update Race/Ethnicity Census Questionnaire 4/24 Middle Eastern/North African and White 78%74.92% African and African American/Black 1.40%0.34% American Indian/Alaska Native 0.80%0.34% Asian/Asian American 0.80%2.03% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.20%0.34% Hispanic/Latinx/Spanish Origin 12.40%12.20% Prefer to self-identify NA 2.37% Decline to specify NA 7.46% Total Respondents NA 295 9Draft Goal Areas •Mobility -Carshare, rideshare, shared micromobility, transit •Equity -Dedicated outreach and strategies for disproportionally impacted community members •Environmental -Improve air quality and reduce climate pollution •Utility/Infrastructure -Access to charging infrastructure and utility improvement s •Housing -Access to charging infrastructure that serves multi -family and rental units, prioritizing affordable housing stock •Polic y •Update existing policy or add new policy to facilitate increased adoption and access For More Information, Visit THANK YOU! https://www.fcgov.com/fcmoves/ev-readiness-roadmap Dashiell Bubar -Hall dbubar -hall@fcgov.com Headline Copy Goes Here Travel Demand Management Specialist 970-416-8062| jpuckett@fcgov.com Jeff Puckett Shift Your Ride Plan 05-15-2024 Headline Copy Goes HereOverview 2 •What is Transportation Demand Management (TDM)? •Why is TDM Relevant to Fort Collins? •Program Development Process •Core Strategies of the Plan •Looking Ahead Headline Copy Goes HereWhat is Transportation Demand Management? 3 Transportation demand management (TDM) employs strategies that aim to offer competitive alternatives to driving alone, reduce trips, and improve traffic congestion without building more roads. •Adult Education Classes •Safe Routes to School •Events –Open Streets & BTWD Education & Awareness •Fair Free Transit •E-Bike & SPIN subsidies program Subsidies & Incentives •TDM supportive land use regulations •Parking reductions for development Policies & Regulations •Bike lanes •Bus shelters •Pedestrian crossing safety improvements Supportive Infrastructure •SPIN: E-Bike and Scooter Share •Transfort bus services Services Examples of Fort Collins influencing travel behavior Headline Copy Goes HereWhy is TDM Relevant to Fort Collins? 4 Foster Environmental Sustainability •Reduce carbon emissions •Support readiness for EVs •Reduce drive -alone trips Improve Community Health & Safety •Increase active mode trips •Support safer active mode infrastructure •Reduce traffic fatalities and injuries Enhance Mobility and Accessibility •Expand convenient travel options •Improve efficiency and affordability Headline Copy Goes HereStrategy Implementation 5 47 Strategies 11 Short -Term 17 Long-Term 13 Phase Three 6 Alternatives Headline Copy Goes HereStrategy Implementation – Short Term Strategies 6 •Program Marketing & Collateral •Shift Your Ride Webpage for Residents & Businesses •Vanpool Subsidy Program •Regional Ridematching Platform •Schoolpool Platform •Income-Targeted E-Bike Access and Support Program Headline Copy Goes HereStrategy Implementation – Long Term Strategies 7 •Employer Recognition Program •City-Led Downtown TMA Facilitation Initiative •City-Wide Residential E-Bike Subsidy Program •Developer TDM Requirements •Tiered Parking Permits in Downtown Fort Collins •Microtransit Headline Copy Goes HereStrategy Funding 8 •Program Marketing Strategy & Collateral o Communication Material o SYR Brand Development o SYR Webpage Content •Comprehensive Marketing and Communication Plan o TDM Resources to Support Businesses o Residential TDM Roadshow •Regional Ridematching Platform •Vanpool Subsidy Program •Schoolpool Platform •Continued Strategies o Regional Ridematching Platform o Vanpool Subsidy Program o Schoolpool Platform •Travel Survey •Guaranteed Ride Home Program •Car Free, Car Lite Campaign •Income Targeted E-Bike Access Program •Program Collateral Currently Funded 2024 BFO 2025 - 2026 Headline Copy Goes HereProgram Evaluation 9 The final step of program implementation will be to measure the effectiveness of the Program and strategies against the Program’s objectives. Inputs Outreach Events Marketing Efforts Outputs Awareness & Satisfaction Program participation Outcomes Vehicle Trips Reduced Emissions Reduced Headline Copy Goes HereLooking Ahead 10 •Plan aligns with sustainability and climate goals •Aims to change travel habits, enhance air quality •Features dual -phase approach for gradual changes •Short-term: establish identity and groundwork •Long -term: engage community, tailor solutions •Plan is dynamic, adapts for future relevance •Program launch to coincide with SYR website debut and in-person roadshow this summer! Headline Copy Goes Here Headline Copy Goes Here City Forester Forestry Division Kendra Boot URBAN FOREST Strategic Plan 05-15-2024 Headline Copy Goes Here 2 Feedback Sought from the Board •Do Board members support the general direction of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan effort? •What feedback do Board members have regarding the draft Urban Forest Strategic Plan? Headline Copy Goes HereStrategic Planning & Adaptive Management 3 WHY PLAN? The Urban Forest Strategic Plan (UFSP) will serve as a guiding document to: •Summarize the state of the urban forest •Create a 20-year vision for trees in Fort Collins •Set goals •Recommend next steps What do we have? What do we want? How do we get there? How are we doing? Headline Copy Goes Here WHAT DO WE HAVE? 4 Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy Cover 5 CANOPY PERCENT BY BLOCK GROUP ●Citywide: 13.7% ●City + GMA: 12.6% Headline Copy Goes HerePublic Tree Inventory 6 PUBLIC TREES BY SIZE/AGE Young (0-8") Established (9-17") Maturing (18-24") Mature (>24") 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100% Percent of Public Trees 60% 59,144 PUBLIC TREES Headline Copy Goes HereCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Public Sentiment about Trees 7 ●Trees are an integral part of Fort Collins ●People love trees on public property ●The City’s Forestry Division is viewed favorably ●Residents want resources for planting & tree care on private property ●Concerns about development & trees 3 PUBLIC MEETINGS ●October 2023 & March 2024 ●North & South Fort Collins ●160 participants ●8 different community events 1 COMMUNITY SURVEY ●September–December 2023 ●971 respondents ●657 write-in comments Headline Copy Goes HereWhat do we have? 8 SUMMARY ●Forestry Division provides a high level of service. ●The public tree inventory trends young. ●Forestry Division will need to plan for sustainable growth to keep pace with the urban forest. ●Mixed public opinion about regulation of trees on private property. Headline Copy Goes Here WHAT DO WE WANT? 9 Headline Copy Goes Here 10 What do we want? Vision Fort Collins will be home to a healthy and equitably distributed urban forest woven throughout the built environment creating safer and cooler neighborhoods with increased climate resilience. Trees in Fort Collins are recognized as a vital part of city infrastructure that provide health, social, environmental and economic benefits for all present and future people who live, work, and visit Fort Collins. Future Challenges •Equitable distribution of canopy •Insect and Disease •A changing climate •Sixty percent (60%) “young” public urban forest •Development/Redevelopment Headline Copy Goes Here HOW DO WE GET THERE? 11 Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Strategies 12 1.Strategically invest in growing tree canopy where it will promote resilience and quality of life in Fort Collins. 2.Create a tree planting plan. 3.Complete the shift to proactive management of Fort Collins’ public trees. 4.Strengthen City policies to protect trees. Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Strategies 13 5.Collect data to track changes to tree canopy over time and to inform Forestry activities. 6.Sustainably grow the Forestry Division to keep pace with growth of the urban forest. 7.Deepen engagement with the community about tree stewardship. 8.Expand the network of Forestry Division partners. Headline Copy Goes Here 14 UFSP Project Timeline 202 1 202 2 202 22023 SUMMER Project Launch 2024 FALL Focus Group & Community Engagement Operations Review WINTER Develop and Present Draft Recommendations Community Engagement SPRING City Council Engagement Budgeting Board and Commission Engagement SUMMER Develop and Finalize Plan Headline Copy Goes Here 15 Feedback Sought from the Board •Do Board members support the general direction of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan effort? •What feedback do Board members have regarding the draft Urban Forest Strategic Plan? ➢ Feedback needed by May 24, 2024 Headline Copy Goes Here Thank you! 16 Headline Copy Goes Here Following slides are in the Board’s “Fort Collins UFSP Draft 1” document Additional slides Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy Change 2011-2021 18 TREE CANOPY CHANGE 2011 –2021 ●City Limits: +753 acres (+17.3%) ●City + GMA: +936 acres (+17.2%) Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy at Bus Stops 19 TREE CANOPY AT BUS STOPS ●423 bus stops ●Canopy cover (no shelters): 21.2% ●Canopy change: -2.3% Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy in Bike Lanes 20 TREE CANOPY IN BIKE LANES ●267 miles ●Canopy cover: 9.5% ●Canopy change: +0.1% Headline Copy Goes HerePriority Planting Area 21 15,418 POTENTIAL NEW CANOPY ACRES ●Classified from Very Low to Very High priority ➢Social, Health and Environmental ●2,251 acres of High or Very High priority ●Can help City plant trees for outcomes Headline Copy Goes HerePublic Tree Inventory 22 59,144 PUBLIC TREES ●Two-thirds are street trees Street Trees 38,362 Park Trees 9,749 City Facility Golf Course Stormwater Detention Areas Cemetery Median Other Headline Copy Goes HerePublic Tree Diversity 23 11%11% 8% 5%4% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% green ash honeylocust bur oak common hackberry littleleaf linden Pe r c e n t o f P u b l i c T r e e P o p u l a t i o n Fort Collins 10% Rule TOP 5 PUBLIC TREE SPECIES Headline Copy Goes Here 24 Forestry Division Activities PUBLIC TREE ACTIVITIES BY YEAR 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Nu m b e r o f P u b l i c T r e e s Pruned Removed Planted EAB Treated 22.5% of public trees pruned Planting exceeded removals EAB treatments began EAB treatments began Draft, April 26, 2024 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 2 Acknowledgments The Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan was created with funding from the City of Fort Collins. FORESTRY DIVISION PLANNING TEAM Kendra Boot, City Forester Ralph Zentz, Assistant City Forester Ernie Wintergerst, Senior Supervisor, Forestry STEERING COMMITTEE Teddy Parker-Renga, Colorado State Forest Service Max Moss, Mantawba Development in FC Fred Haberecht, Fort Collins resident Daniel Burcham, Colorado State University Katy McLaren, City of Fort Collins Nick Armstrong, Parks and Recreation Board Natalie McNeil, The Davey Tree Expert Company Emily Haukeness, City of Fort Collins Miguel Jimenez, Colorado State University Mike Calhoon, City of Fort Collins Honore Depew, City of Fort Collins Prepared by Davey Resource Group, Inc. for the City of Fort Collins. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................6 Chapter 1: Current State and Future Vision of the Urban Forest ............................................... 31 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 31 Tree Canopy Study ............................................................................................................................................. 35 Tree Canopy Study: Summary of Findings ......................................................................................... 47 Public Tree Inventory .......................................................................................................................................49 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................................. 50 Public Tree Inventory: Summary of Findings ................................................................................... 55 Goals For Fort Collins’ Tree Canopy and Public Trees ................................................................. 56 Chapter 2: Strategies for Resilience and Sustainable Growth .................................................... 56 Public Tree Benefits .......................................................................................................................................... 56 Pest Susceptibility .............................................................................................................................................. 59 Climate Vulnerability ......................................................................................................................................... 61 Priority Planting Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 65 Resilience & Sustainable Growth: Summary of Findings .......................................................... 70 Chapter 3: Operational Efficiency and Resource Management ................................................ 72 Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest ............................................................................................ 72 Operations Review ............................................................................................................................................. 73 Operational Analysis: Summary of Findings ..................................................................................... 85 Chapter 4: Community Engagement and Policy Integration .................................................... 87 Community Feedback .................................................................................................................................... 87 Ordinance Review ............................................................................................................................................. 101 Heritage Tree Protection ............................................................................................................................. 102 City Policies and Plans .................................................................................................................................. 104 Community Engagement & Policy Integration: Summary of Findings ......................... 108 Chapter 5: Recommendations & Implementation ........................................................................... 110 Themes & Outcome Areas ........................................................................................................................... 110 Recommended Strategies & Initiatives ............................................................................................... 110 References ................................................................................................................................................................. 122 Appendix A: Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest .................................................................. 126 Appendix B: Public Survey Responses .................................................................................................... 134 Appendix C: Ordinance Review ..................................................................................................................... 141 FIGURES Figure 1. The adaptive management planning process. ................................................................ 32 Figure 2. Census block groups in order of largest to smallest by tree canopy acres.. . 38 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 4 Figure 3. Tree canopy cover by council district in 2011 and 2021 .............................................. 40 Figure 4. Tree canopy cover and change (2011–2021) at Fort Collins bus stops. ............. 44 Figure 5. Tree canopy cover and canopy change, 2011–2021, in bike lanes ......................... 47 Figure 6. Public trees by location. ................................................................................................................. 50 Figure 7. Inventoried sites, 2018–2023. ....................................................................................................... 50 Figure 8. Top five species of public trees. ................................................................................................. 51 Figure 9. Top five genera of public trees .................................................................................................. 52 Figure 10. Top five taxonomic families of public trees ..................................................................... 52 Figure 11. Condition ratings of public trees. ............................................................................................ 54 Figure 12. Relative age classes of public trees, estimated from trunk diameter. ............ 55 Figure 13. Land surface temperature of Fort Collins ......................................................................... 62 Figure 14. U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index maps for Fort Collins ............................................. 63 Figure 15. Priority planting areas for stormwater management............................................... 67 Figure 16. Priority planting areas for urban heat island mitigation ......................................... 67 Figure 17. Priority planting areas where tree benefits can be placed in proximity to vulnerable resident populations. .................................................................................................................. 68 Figure 18. Priority planting areas where tree canopy can help mitigate asthma, heart disease, and mental health disorders. ....................................................................................................... 68 Figure 19. Priority planting areas that maximize the environmental, social, and human health benefits of trees. ..................................................................................................................... 69 Figure 20. A snapshot from the tree placement analysis. ............................................................. 70 Figure 21. The number of public trees per capita. .............................................................................. 74 Figure 22. Forestry Division tree activities by year, 2019-2023. ................................................... 75 Figure 23. Percentage of public trees pruned by year. ................................................................... 75 Figure 24. Number of public trees planted and removed by year. ......................................... 76 Figure 25. Organizational chart, City forestry staff. ............................................................................ 77 Figure 26. Portion of City forestry staff with ISA credentials ....................................................... 78 Figure 27. Forestry Division annual budget, 2019–2023. ................................................................ 80 Figure 28. Municipal forestry budgets compared to the Forestry Division’s 2023 annual budget. ........................................................................................................................................................ 80 Figure 29. Average annual Forestry Division expenditures by activity, 2019–2023. ........ 81 Figure 30. Predicted tree canopy cover under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios. ............................................................................................................................................. 84 Figure 31. Responses to public survey question, “Trees are an important part of Fort Collins” ........................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Figure 32. Responses to public survey question, “Public trees seem…”. .............................. 88 Figure 33. Responses to public survey question, “Across Fort Collins there are…” ....... 88 Figure 34. Responses to public survey question, “Where is it most important to plant trees?” ............................................................................................................................................................................. 89 Figure 35. Responses to a public survey question, “I support…” ................................................ 89 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 5 Figure 36. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to rank tree benefits in order from most (rank 1) to least (rank 10) important. ............................................ 89 Figure 37. Responses to the open-ended question, “What is your hope for the future of the urban forest in Fort Collins?”. ........................................................................................................... 90 Figure 38. An interactive board from the October 25, 2023, public meeting. ................... 93 MAPS Map 1. Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area, based on 2021 high-resolution aerial imagery. ......................................................................... 36 Map 2. Tree canopy cover within Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area by U.S. census block group. ................................................................................................................... 37 Map 3. Tree canopy change by U.S. census block group, 2011–2021. ....................................... 38 Map 4. Tree canopy cover by city council precinct and district. ................................................ 39 Map 5. Tree canopy change by city council precinct and district, 2011–2021. .................... 39 Map 6. Tree canopy cover within a 30-ft buffer of bus stops and transit stations. ....... 44 Map 7. Tree canopy cover within bike lanes by street segment. ..............................................46 Map 8. Public trees and planting sites as documented in TreeKeeper. ...............................49 TABLES Table 1. Tree canopy cover and change by park. .................................................................................. 41 Table 2. Top five species of public trees. .................................................................................................... 51 Table 3. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy, 2011-2021. ..... 57 Table 4. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ public trees. ....................................... 58 Table 5. Susceptibility of Fort Collins’ public trees to pests and diseases of concern in Colorado. ....................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Table 6. Drought tolerance of the 35 most abundant species in the public tree inventory. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 65 Table 7. Possible tree planting area in Fort Collins, ranked by priority to address environmental, social equity, and/or human health factors. ....................................................... 66 Table 8. Possible tree planting sites, classified by the size of tree that they can accommodate. .......................................................................................................................................................... 70 Table 9. Fort Collins’ urban forestry performance level for 30 indicators of a sustainable urban forest. .................................................................................................................................... 72 Table 10. Forestry Division staffing, 2024. ................................................................................................. 76 Table 11. Contractual pruning expenditures by year, 2019–2023. ................................................ 81 Table 12. Forestry service requests from the public, 2019–2023. ................................................ 82 Table 13. Tree canopy cover, canopy acres, and estimated trees to be planted under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios. ......................................................... 84 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 6 Executive Summary Fort Collins’ urban forest includes trees growing along streets, in public parks and natural areas, and in the yards of homes, schools, and businesses. Together, these trees are a dynamic, living system that provides invaluable environmental, economic, and societal benefits to enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins. TREE CANOPY COVER Within the current city boundaries, Fort Collins has 5,116 acres of tree canopy, equal to 13.7% tree cover. The growth management area includes an additional 1,280 acres of tree canopy, bringing the total tree canopy area for city limits plus the growth management area to 6,396 acres (12.6% cover). Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area, based on 2021 high- resolution aerial imagery. Tree Canopy Cover City Limits ● 13.7% tree cover ● +17.3% since 2011 City + GMA ● 12.6% tree cover ● +17.2% since 2011 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 7 Tree canopy cover within Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area by U.S. census block group. Tree canopy change by U.S. census block group, 2011–2021. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 8 Trees Support Fort Collins’ Strategic Objectives Fort Collins’ 2022 Strategic Plan outlines seven Key Outcome Areas by which the city measures progress toward the vision and goals of its comprehensive plan. Trees relate to each of these seven Outcome Areas through the many social, ecological, and economic benefits that trees provide. 1. Neighborhood Livability & Social Health: Trees improve wellbeing and health outcomes in people by cleaning and cooling the air and reducing stress. 2. Culture & Recreation: Trees add to the beauty of Fort Collins and encourage people to spend more time outdoors. 3. Economic Health: Trees in business districts encourage people to stay longer and pay more for goods and services. Trees also increase property values. 4. Environmental Health: Trees provide habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon and other greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. 5. Safe Community: Well-maintained trees are associated with reductions in crime. 6. Transportation & Mobility: Trees calm traffic and make streets and sidewalks safer and more comfortable for active modes of transportation. 7. High Performing Government: The Forestry Division proactively maintains public trees and responds to hundreds of resident requests each year. 8. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 9 Canopy Cover at Bus Stops Trees an important part of the layered strategies to increase the use of public transit that are outlined in the city’s transportation master plan. Growing tree canopy cover at bus stops supports Fort Collins’ intent to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled by encouraging multimodal transportation (City Plan, 2019). Average tree cover is 18.3% at 22 bus stations and 423 bus stops across Fort Collins. A majority of bus stops have less than 20% tree cover and experienced losses of tree cover since 2011. Tree canopy cover within a 30-ft buffer of bus stops and transit stations. Map inset Canopy Cover at Bus Stops ● 18.3% tree cover ● -3.7% since 2011 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 10 Canopy Cover within Bike Lanes Trees along bike lanes contribute to the City’s goals of building low-stress, high- comfort bicycle facilities that promote a physically active and environmentally sustainable community (City Plan, 2019). Trees not only shade bike lanes; they also contribute to the safety of cyclists by slowing traffic. Over 267 miles of bike lanes across Fort Collins, average tree canopy cover is 9.5%, approximately the same as it was in 2011 (+0.1%). Tree canopy cover within bike lanes by street segment. Canopy Cover in Bike Lanes ● 9.5% tree cover ● +0.1% since 2011 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 11 PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY The Forestry Division inventoried street trees and tree sites within street rights-of-way, parks, and city property from 2018–2023. The inventory effort involved both Forestry staff as well as trained volunteers through the City’s Urban Forest Ambassador program. Two-thirds of public trees are located in street rights-of-way. Public trees by location. Street Trees 66% Park Trees 17% City Facility 5% Golf Course 5% Stormwater Management 4% Cemetery 1% Median 1% Other 1% Public trees and planting sites as documented in TreeKeeper. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 12 BIODIVERSITY The inventory of public trees cataloged 272 unique species of trees that represent 56 genera and 26 families. Biodiversity helps to make the tree population resilient to pests and diseases. Urban forestry industry standards for biodiversity recommend that no single species of tree should exceed 10% of the total inventory. Among inventoried trees, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos and G. triacanthos inermis) exceeded recommended limits for species abundance (11% of public trees each). The abundance of ash is expected to decline over time due to emerald ash borer and implementation of the city’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020), climate change, and city ordinance. The Forestry Division is reducing the planting of honeylocust on public property and is encouraging developers to shift away from planting honeylocust as part of required street tree plantings that are associated with development. Top five species of public trees relative to a recommended 10% Rule for abundance of any single species. 11%11% 8% 5%4% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% green ash honeylocust bur oak common hackberry littleleaf linden Pe r c e n t o f P o p u l a t i o n Fort Collins 10% Rule Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 13 Condition of Public Trees More than half of public trees (55%) are rated to be in Good or Fair-Plus condition, and an additional one-third (34%) are rated to be in Fair condition. Size-Age Classes of Public Trees In Fort Collins, public trees were classified into four categories based on their trunk diameter at standard height (DSH). Urban forestry industry standards recommend a mixed-age tree population to balance maintenance needs of the tree population over time. Sixty percent of public trees in Fort Collins are in the young size class, reflecting sustained tree planting efforts within the city, including tree planting that occurs through new development as the city has grown. Care of young trees during the establishment period, as well as proactive maintenance of older age classes, will help increase the proportion of older trees to balance age classes over time. As young trees grow into larger size classes, per-tree maintenance costs will increase over time. Relative age classes of public trees, estimated from trunk diameter. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Young (0-8") Established (9-17") Maturing (18-24") Mature (>24") Pe r c e n t o f I n v e n t o r i e d T r e e s Relative Age (Diameter Size Class) 1% Dead 2% Poor8% Fair Minus 34% Fair 27% Fair Plus 28% Good 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 Condition Nu m b e r o f I n v e n t o r i e d T r e e s Condition ratings of public trees. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 14 THE BENEFITS OF FORT COLLINS’ TREES Fort Collins’ tree canopy provides ecosystem benefits valued at more than $2.8 million per year in savings to residents and businesses. Annual savings have increased more than $430,000 since 2011 with growth of tree canopy across the city. Of these benefits, public trees account for more than $69,000 in benefits each year and have an estimated replacement value of more than $112 million. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy and its public trees. ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS ALL TREE CANOPY PUBLIC TREES QUANTITY VALUE 2011–2021 CHANGE QUANTITY VALUE Annual benefits Air quality: pollution removal (lb) 856,580 $1,801,865 $276,488 21,320 $32,038 CO removal 4,660 $3,254 $503 199 $139 NO2 removal 106,940 $15,020 $2,312 790 $111 O3 removal 525,920 $310,072 $47,697 15,336 $9,042 SO2 removal 22,440 $513 $79 445 $10 PM10 removal 183,680 $602,936 $133,133 4,421 $14,512 PM2.5 removal 12,940 $870,070 $92,764 122 $8,225 Carbon sequestration (tons) 21,320 $990,896 $151,790 276 $47,013 Stormwater: avoided runoff (gal) 2,318,837 $20,721 Total Annual Benefits $2,805,181+ $430,167+ $69,374 Structural Value Carbon storage (tons) 831,670 $38,684,151 $5,952,195 18,616 $3,175,046 Replacement Value $112,489,358 Pest Susceptibility of Public Trees Because tree pests and diseases often have preferred hosts, the susceptibility of an urban forest to a pest or disease can be predicted based on its species and genus diversity. Of the pests and diseases of concern in Colorado, oak wilt threatens the greatest number of public trees in Fort Collins (15%). Emerald ash borer poses the greatest threat to public trees based on replacement value, with predicted economic impacts of up to $22 million. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 15 Susceptibility of Fort Collins’ public trees to the most potentially impactful pests and diseases of concern in Colorado. PEST NAME NUMBER OF SUSCEPTIBLE TREES PERCENT OF PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY TREE REPLACEMENT VALUE ($) Oak wilt 8,706 15% $7,553,465 Spotted lanternfly 8,628 15% $13,100,340 Emerald ash borer 7,388 13% $22,038,024 Honeylocust spider mite 6,284 11% $10,104,137 Thyronectria & Nectria cankers 6,284 11% $10,104,137 Red turpentine beetle 4,878 8% $10,827,409 Climate Vulnerability Due to Extreme Weather Events There are several mid-century climate factors that can affect tree growth and survival in Fort Collins. Predicted future climate includes an increase in the number of consecutive dry days (+0.6 days compared to 1975–2005) and an increase in the number of days per year with an air temperature of >90°F (+16–21 days), which due to urban heat island effect will feel hotter within highly built areas of the city. Drought Tolerance of Public Trees ● At least 7,222 public trees in Fort Collins have LOW drought tolerance. ● The tree inventory is gradually adding information about irrigation status. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 16 Priority Planting Areas The tree cover analysis of Fort Collins identified 15,418 acres of possible tree planting space within the city and growth management area. This space comprises areas on both public and private land that do not have existing tree canopy. Possible planting area that is prioritized as High or Very High: ● Stormwater Runoff: 1,802 acres ● Urban Heat Island Mitigation: 3,167 acres ● Social Equity: 2,287 acres ● Human Health: 3,342 acres ● Composite (All) Priorities: 2,250 acres Priority planting areas that maximize the environmental, social, and human health benefits of trees. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 17 Public Tree Activities by Year The Forestry Division pruned 8,832 trees per year, on average, in the years from 2019– 2023. In 2022, the Division pruned 22.4% of the public tree inventory, which meets the standard for a five-year pruning cycle. Industry standards recommend a regular pruning cycle of 5–10 years. Only approximately one-half of U.S. cities proactively prune their trees on a regular cycle of any duration. Beginning in 2021, public tree planting exceeded tree removals. In this year, the Forestry Division also began prophylactic treatments of public ash trees for emerald ash borer. Forestry Division tree activities by year, 2019-2023. Percentage of public trees pruned by year. Public trees less than 18 inches DSH (light green) and trees 18 inches DSH or larger (dark green) are shown relative to the percentage necessary for a 5-year pruning cycle. 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Nu m b e r o f P u b l i c T r e e s Pruned Removed Planted EAB Treated 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Pe r c e n t a g e o f T r e e s Year 18+ in DSH <18 in DSH 5-Year Pruning Rotation Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 18 Budget & Funding The Forestry Division is supported by the City’s General Fund, which is the main operating fund for the City of Fort Collins. From 2019–2023, the Forestry Division annual budget ranged from $2.34 million–$3.35 million. As a percentage of the total city budget, Fort Collins is on par with the average for 463 cities that provided budgetary information to a 2014 municipal forestry census. Municipal forestry budgets as a percentage of total municipal budgets for 463 U.S. cities (adjusted for inflation from 2014 values) compared to the Forestry Division’s 2023 annual budget. The Forestry Division’s budget supports tree activities that are completed by both in- house staff and contractors. The largest annual expenditures relate to pruning. As the inventory grows, it will be necessary to scale Forestry Division operations and capacity to keep pace. Additional capacity will be particularly needed if Fort Collins wants to increase its rate of canopy growth over time. 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.5% All Cities West Region Pop. 100,000- 249,999 Fort Collins Pe r c e n t o f Ci t y A n n u a l B u d g e t 15.7% Predicted tree canopy cover by 2040 if current canopy trends continue Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 19 Average annual Forestry Division expenditures by activity, 2019–2023. Tree canopy cover, canopy acres, and estimated trees to be planted under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios. CANOPY COVER 2021: 6,396 ACRES (12.6%) CANOPY ACRES 2040 CANOPY COVER 2040 TREE CANOPY CHANGE, ACRES (2024–2040) ESTIMATED TREES TO BE PLANTED/ PRESERVED PER YEAR, WITH MORTALITY* ESTIMATED ANNUAL PLANTING COSTS, PUBLIC + PRIVATE** Current Planting 7,988 15.7% 1,592 538 $263,916 Scenario 1: 17% by 2040 8,643 17.0% 2,246 2,623 $1,286,701 Scenario 2: 18% by 2040 9,151 18.0% 2,755 4,661 $2,286,248 Scenario 3: 20% by 2040 10,168 20.0% 3,772 8,736 $4,285,342 * assumes 66 trees per acre ** based on average Forestry expenditure per tree planted, 2019–2023 ($490.55/tree) $0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 Pruning Planting Removal Emergency Response Pest/Disease Response Other Av e r a g e A n n u a l E x p e n d i t u r e 20 1 9 -20 2 3 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 20 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Public Survey The Urban Forest Strategic Plan planning team released a public survey in fall 2023. Of the 971 respondents who took the survey, ● 99% of them agreed or strongly agreed that trees are an important part of Fort Collins ● 95% agreed that public trees are well cared for or somewhat well cared for ● Respondents favor public land for tree planting, including parks, streets, schools, and trails, over private property Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to answer the question, “Where is it most important to plant trees?”, with the option to select multiple choices. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase, “Public trees seem…” with one of five response options. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Parks Streets Schools Businesses Trails Private property Re s p o n s e s Where is it most important to plant trees? 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Well cared for Somewhat cared for Poorly cared for Neglected No opinion Re s p o n s e s Public trees seem... Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 21 Responses to public survey question that asked participants to rate their agreement with the phrase, “Trees are an important part of Fort Collins” using a five-point Likert scale. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Re s p o n s e s Trees are an important part of Fort Collins. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 22 RECOMMENDATIONS Urban Forestry Strategic Plan Themes Three overarching themes were identified during development of the strategic plan that summarize the Forestry Division’s vision for the urban forest over the next 20 years: 1. Build resilience & wellbeing of people and trees 2. Sustainably grow the Forestry program 3. Expand the community’s appreciation for trees Recommended Strategies & Initiatives Eight urban forestry strategic recommendations are presented to guide Fort Collins’ forestry initiatives over the next 20 years. Each recommendation includes two levels of suggested actions or initiatives: ● Foundational Initiatives represent those that may be simpler to implement, or more urgent, or strategies that must be completed before some or all of the Transformational Initiatives can be tackled. ● Transformational Initiatives may be more complicated or difficult to implement, or they may represent standalone strategies that are complex or on a long implementation horizon; on the other hand, they may provide more value to the forestry program and the City’s larger civic goals and Outcome Areas. RECOMMENDATION 1. STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN GROWING TREE CANOPY WHERE IT WILL PROMOTE RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN FORT COLLINS Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Culture & Recreation, Transportation & Mobility While tree canopy is growing in Fort Collins, it is not evenly distributed across the city. Targeted investment in planting and maintenance where trees provide the most value can help Forestry support multiple civic goals. Foundational Initiatives ● Prioritize planting and maintenance within areas of greatest tree canopy loss that correspond to priority areas for health and social factors and combined human/environmental wellbeing (see the Priority Planting Analysis). Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 23 ● Implement a parks planting plan to identify and strategically fill vacant planting sites (e.g., Living Tribute Trees) as well as rebuild canopy within new parks. Transformational Initiatives ● Prioritize planting and maintenance along bicycle routes and around bus stops. ● Coordinate with other city departments to integrate trees into a complete streets framework, an urban planning design concept that aims to make streets comfortable and safe for all users. ● Plant along walking/cycling/public transportation corridors to build tree connectivity to parks. Encourage citywide adoption of existing metrics such as the 10-Minute Walk, an initiative that aims to place all city residents within a 10-minute walk of quality parks and nature. ● Plant trees along other transportation corridors, such as Safe Routes to Schools. ● Utilize third-party metrics for social equity such as the Tree Equity Score from American Forests to guide planting and maintenance investments and communicate about equity with the public. ● Develop and set canopy goals for different geographies. For example, set goals that differ by land use type, factoring in variability in potential tree canopy among differing land uses; alternatively, create separate goals by district. RECOMMENDATION 2. CREATE A TREE PLANTING PLAN Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Sustainable Growth Outcome Area: Environmental Health A planting plan can guide tree planting efforts to reach desired levels of planting and more equitably distribute tree canopy across the city. Planning over longer periods of time allows for species selection, sourcing of trees, and spreads out the maintenance needs of tree cohorts over time. Foundational Initiatives ● Scale annual tree planting efforts to replace public tree losses due to tree removals and natural mortality. ● Create a planting plan to fill vacant planting spaces over 10 years. ● Incorporate new species that are recommended for future climate conditions, making considerations for drought tolerance, warmer and more extreme temperatures, and pest/disease tolerance. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 24 ● Work with water efficiency experts to create species guidance by irrigation zones. ● Grow the Community Canopy Program to supply more trees to residents for planting on private property. Transformational Initiatives ● Shift species composition of the urban forest toward more drought-tolerant species. ● Build species-level biodiversity of the public tree inventory. Track the use of cultivars and varieties. ● Explore a citywide tree canopy goal that can inform planting and protection objectives for private property. ● Provide species guidance for tree giveaways and private planting. RECOMMENDATION 3. COMPLETE THE SHIFT TO PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FORT COLLIN’S PUBLIC TREES Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Economic Health, Safe Community The Forestry Division strives for a 5-year pruning rotation to improve the health of public trees and create safe public spaces in the community. Additional resources will be needed to continue a 5-year pruning cycle, which reduces the costs of storm and emergency response and helps maintain the health of public trees. An urban forest management plan can provide operational direction for Forestry and the city for the next 5–10 years. Foundational Initiatives ● Implement a 5-year routine pruning cycle. ● Plan to scale up pruning activities as additional trees are added to the inventory. ● Use the existing tree inventory to inform management decisions based on species and size. ● Create an urban forest management plan that details Forestry operations over the next 5–10 years. ● Incorporate the storm response plan, City Plan, Parks Master Plan, Our Climate Future plan, and other city management plans. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 25 Transformational Initiatives ● Use enhanced inventory data to guide management based on risk rating, recommended maintenance, and/or related metrics. ● Project tree benefits under different management scenarios. ● Integrate natural areas inventory data into natural areas management plans. RECOMMENDATION 4. STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Environmental Health Tree protection in Fort Collins currently focuses on the stewardship of public trees, with less policy development around private tree protection. Because a majority of the city’s trees are found on private land, additional opportunities to protect trees on private land—whether through policy or incentives—will help curb canopy losses in parts of the city and help protect community tree benefits for all residents. Foundational Initiatives ● Reference existing supplemental policy documents for Forestry, including the Tree Management Standards and BMPs document, in city code. ● Adopt a citywide land use code that improves tree preservation and protection while balancing other priorities and needs of the community. ● Draft a heritage tree program that allows for the elective enrollment of trees that have cultural, historic, or ecological value. ● Create policy summaries or tip sheets that clarify the responsibility for tree maintenance within alleyways. ● Plan for education and outreach that will guide policy development about tree protection for development scenarios on private land. ● Encode existing good practices—best management practices, certified arborist requirements, wood utilization program—in city ordinance. ● Build upon the Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan (2020) to create a more generalized insect/disease control plan to address existing and future threats. Reference the plan within city ordinance. Transformational Initiatives ● Draft a heritage tree policy that protects trees greater than a certain size on private property. Require a permit for, or prohibit, pruning or removal of heritage trees. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 26 o For reference, 6% of public trees are >24 in DSH and 2% of public trees are >36 in DSH. o Connect policy to stormwater and water efficiency public benefits of large trees. o Exclude invasive species and those that are prohibited by existing ordinance. ● Clarify the legal responsibility for trees within vacant and boundary areas (land without ownership) to encourage the protection and growth of tree canopy within these spaces. ● Plan for tree preservation and tree canopy expansion within areas in the Growth Management Area that are to remain as future green space as identified by the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. ● Expand tree protection policies within the Land Use Code to apply to non- development scenarios. ● Develop additional policy for tree protection on private land—for example, protecting trees during residential property development scenarios. Educate and engage with the public about policy scenarios to gauge public support. ● Require landfill diversion for wood waste from private land. RECOMMENDATION 5. COLLECT DATA TO TRACK CHANGES TO TREE CANOPY OVER TIME AND TO INFORM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Area: High-Performing Government Accurate, up-to-date data can inform sound decision making. Planning for future urban tree canopy assessments and tree inventory updates will provide information that can help the Forestry Division evaluate progress and refine management strategies. Foundational Initiatives ● Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 5 years using 2026 data (2027– 2028 BFO cycle) to measure canopy change. o Measure five-class land cover: tree canopy, vegetation, impervious surface, bare soil, open water. o Evaluate urban tree canopy within street rights-of-way. o Calculate how tree benefits have changed with tree canopy over time. ● Map existing public trees under threat from pests and/or drought using inventory data; look for trends that may inform tree activities. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 27 ● Complete data fields for all public trees about irrigation status and EAB treatment priority. ● Complete a sample inventory of natural areas. Transformational Initiatives ● Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 2 years to capture early canopy changes due to emerald ash borer. o Advance mapping options include canopy health, broadleaf/evergreen distribution, tree canopy cover and change within additional geographies—e.g., riparian and ditch areas, alleyways, land uses, private/public land—to guide and measure the effects of policy changes ● Update the public tree inventory on a 5-year cycle. ● Utilize certified arborists to capture tree inventory data about risk and recommended maintenance, to inform proactive maintenance. RECOMMENDATION 6. SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY DIVISION TO KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH OF THE URBAN FOREST Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Economic Health, High-Performing Government The public tree inventory reflects the city’s sustained commitment to planting. With 60 percent of the public tree inventory consisting of young trees, and new trees being planted every year, it will be necessary to plan for growth of the Forestry program. Additional capacity and a sustainable funding stream will be needed to keep pace with growth of the public tree inventory. Additional metrics about tree activities will be helpful for internal planning, budgeting, and reporting to both city council and the community. Foundational Initiatives ● Internally track public requests that are submitted via phone and email. ● Regularly report on budget expenditures by tree activity. ● Create work plans to make efficient use of personnel and budget. ● Acquire additional staff for tree planting/preparation and pruning. ● Add capacity for grant writing and reporting. ● Pursue grants and other limited funding opportunities. ● Contribute to local initiatives to expand the green workforce. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 28 Transformational Initiatives ● Use resource management software to track public requests. ● Create an urban forestry planner position. ● Annually or biannually report to the public on tree activities. ● Link tree activities to health, social, and environmental data, and to civic data (transit ridership, cycling/pedestrian stats, city Outcome Areas) as available. ● Add at least one additional, fully equipped Forestry crew. ● Implement a staff rotation schedule. Regularly rotate Forestry staff to different teams to provide rest from physical labor and build knowledge across the team. ● Increase the space that is available to Forestry for operations, equipment, and wood waste. Locate space where it can maximize efficiency of fuel use and time. ● Increase the budget for tree maintenance over time as young trees grow. ● Create new sources of sustained funding, such as a Tree Fund, and align with City Give. RECOMMENDATION 7. DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TREE STEWARDSHIP Themes: Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Environmental Health There is a great amount of support for trees and urban forestry in Fort Collins from the public, officials, and the surrounding region. This public support can help facilitate conversations about difficult decisions and expand engagement to new community sectors. Foundational Initiatives ● Continue to support the wood waste program and grow the network of urban woodworkers and wood utilization partners. ● Engage the public in policy updates that protect trees on private property. ● Continue and grow the Urban Forest Ambassador program. ● Provide educational resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation. Transformational Initiatives ● Engage in cross-sector coalition-building around trees: Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 29 o Integrate forestry activities with implementation of the Active Modes Plan. Engage with Active Modes stakeholders including the cycling community. o Expand engagement and volunteer opportunities into communities with health and social vulnerabilities. o Align wood utilization efforts with larger Zero Waste initiatives. o Engage with parks advocates; see Nature in the City and 15-Minute Walk campaigns. o Engage with the business sector to promote trees for economic development, e.g., Holiday Lights. o Enlist community organizations to engage with their networks on topics including tree benefits, tree responsibilities, policy development, and volunteer opportunities. ● Create resources on wood utilization best management practices for the general public. ● Provide financial resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation. ● Expand volunteer opportunities to assist with activities such as young tree pruning, watering assistance during drought, or community education. ● Create tip sheets that explain city ordinances and policies in plain language. ● Create a municipal Urban Forestry Commission with resident appointments. RECOMMENDATION 8. EXPAND THE NETWORK OF FORESTRY DIVISION PARTNERS Themes: Sustainable Growth, Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Safe Community, High-Performing Government Technical partnerships within urban forestry are abundant across the Front Range— see for example the Colorado Tree Coalition, the Front Range Urban Forestry Council, and the Emerging Pests in Colorado (EPIC) Committee. Increasing Fort Collins’ presence and role within these collectives can promote greater knowledge sharing and adaptability for the city while building staff technical skills. Involvement can also promote adoption of the latest guidance and standards. Foundational Initiatives ● Continue regional work with nursery growers to secure the quantity and types of climate- and pest-adapted trees that will be needed to meet planting goals. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 30 ● Share urban forestry resources and knowledge with neighboring communities. ● Expand staff involvement in regional urban forestry networks; provide additional opportunities for staff that contribute to career development. Transformational Initiatives ● Encourage large corporate and institutional campuses to develop tree plans. ● Continue engagement with partners about management of public trees. ● Contribute expertise about trees and urban forestry in regional planning efforts that relate to climate resilience, complete & green streets, human health, wood utilization, etc. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION & METRICS Content to come. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 31 Chapter 1: Current State and Future Vision of the Urban Forest INTRODUCTION When viewed from above, the green tree canopy of Fort Collins stands out against the surrounding steppe, shrubland, and grassland of the Front Range. Trees that have been planted over the past 160 years have grown to become one of the hallmarks of the city, enhancing the natural beauty and hospitability of the Cache la Poudre River valley. The city of Fort Collins is in a period of growth—the city is expected to add 70,000 new residents by 2040 (City Plan, 2019). The shade, cooling effects, and carbon absorption of trees will make tree canopy a key component in regional approaches to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience as the city grows. Trees make streets and sidewalks safer and more comfortable for cycling, walking, and public transit. Trees cool the air, helping residents to save on energy costs and reducing the incidence of heat-related illness. Trees also capture stormwater and help to conserve irrigation water by cooling the ground and air. In recent years, the city’s Forestry Division, founded in 1977, has been moving toward a more proactive approach to managing public trees. This Urban Forest Strategic Plan summarizes the state of Fort Collins’ urban forest, the near-term outlook for its public trees, the forestry program, public sentiment, and the City’s planning and policy framework. Then it proposes eight recommendations with tiered actions that the City can take to ensure that its urban forest remains healthy and vibrant into the future. The Urban Forest Strategic Plan An urban forest strategic plan (“UFSP” or “Plan”) is a comprehensive plan for the management, protection, and improvement of the urban forest. It analyzes the existing condition, value, and resources of the urban forest and outlines a vision for the future, guided by input from the community. The Plan provides a roadmap for implementation by prioritizing initiatives and actions to improve the urban forest over time. The development of a UFSP is an important step in ensuring the long- term sustainability and resilience of the urban forest. In 2023, the Forestry Division partnered with Davey Resource Group, Inc. to develop the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan. The plan uses the principles of adaptive Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 32 management to establish a 20-year vision for managing the urban forest (figure 1). Adaptive management is commonly used for resource planning and management and provides a conceptual framework for managing the urban forest. It seeks to develop an effective plan by answering a series of questions about Fort Collins’ present and future: Adaptive Management Process 1. What do we have? We looked at Fort Collins’ existing urban forest, its current management, and public perception about trees. We put this into context by examining climate and social factors and the City’s policy and planning framework. 2. What do we want? We engaged with City staff, partners, and the public and incorporated existing planning documents and urban forestry industry tools to identify priorities for the urban forest and the desired outcomes for the Forestry program. 3. How do we get there? We looked for gaps, opportunities, challenges, and desires for future canopy growth, social equity, staffing, and alignment with Fort Collins' future plans. This guided the creation of goals, initiatives, and actions that will be needed to achieve the desired outcomes. 4. How are we doing? We developed methods to create responsibility and accountability for the plan through audits and evaluations. Resulting metrics and information will feed back into the future adaptive management approach by providing an updated perspective on “What do we have?”. What do we have? What do we want? How do we get there? How are we doing? Adaptive Management Approach Figure 1. The adaptive management planning process used to create the Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 33 History of Trees and Forestry in Fort Collins Pre-1865: In the Cache la Poudre River valley, trees are sparse and short. Prescribed burns by native peoples help maintain the valley as a grassland. • A succession of nomadic tribes including Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute as well as the Kiowa, Comanche, Sioux, Pawnee, and possibly Shoshone used the area for hunting, fishing, and transient settlements • Culturally important trees included chokecherry (food, weapons), box elder (fuel, tools, medicine), willow (furniture, medicine), and cottonwood (structures, fuel, dyes) Mid-1800s: The “Council Tree”, a large and gnarled cottonwood, acts as a recognizable landmark for meetings led by Arapaho leader Warshinun (aka Friday) and others 1915: Department of Forestry formed at CSU 1918: Three bur oaks are planted at Library Park to honor WWI soldiers 1964: City Council allocates $1,500 for forestry 1970: City Council authorizes $24,000 for a tree sanitation program, including $8,000 for Dutch Elm Disease prevention 1972: Dutch Elm Disease is first detected 1977: The first full-time City Arborist is hired and the Forestry Division established • Fort Collins is recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation 1980: A City Code change places maintenance of street trees in the Forestry Division 1986: The Forestry Division begins its annual Arbor Day program that involves visiting all elementary schools in Fort Collins, presenting an educational slide show, and distributing seedlings to students 1988: The Forestry Division conducts the first city-wide inventory of public trees • Spongy moth is detected 1990: A circular planting of ash trees in Lee Martinez Park referred to as ‘Tree-henge’ is completed 1991: Spongy moth is eradicated via a Forestry-led biological control program 1992: City Park is designated as the City Arboretum 1995: A heavy September snowstorm causes more tree damage than ever seen in the city 2002: Severe drought conditions on the Front Range prompt discussion about alternative means of providing water. Staff begins to install domestic water to its major parks and golf courses. 2008: The Forestry Division begins a large-diameter wood recycling program. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 34 • The Mountain Pine Beetle is detected 2009: Forestry staff organize and host the Northern Colorado Pest Group to share information about managing tree pests 2010: The Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices manual is approved by the City Manager • Forestry receives a $25,000 grant to provide wood chips to residents and divert wood from the landfill 2015: City Council adopts updated climate action goals to reduce emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, 80% below by 2030, and to be carbon neutral by 2050 2016: Forestry completes an urban forest ecosystem analysis 2019: The city updates its comprehensive plan, City Plan, as well as its Transportation and Transit Plans 2022: For the first time, the Forestry Division prunes >20% of public trees, setting it on a course for a 5-year pruning cycle (proactive maintenance) • CSU is accredited as a Level III arboretum Painting of Fort Collins, 1865 by Unknown. Credit: Colorado State University Historic Photograph Collection Sources: Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (n.d.); Fort Collins History Connection (n.d.); Tresner, 1977; Burris, 2006; Helburg, 2009; National Weather Service, 2021. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 35 TREE CANOPY STUDY Fort Collins’ urban forest includes trees growing along streets, in public parks and natural areas, and in the yards of homes, schools, and businesses. Together, these trees are a dynamic, living system that provides invaluable environmental, economic, and societal benefits to enhance the quality of life in Fort Collins. An urban tree canopy assessment was conducted by Davey Resource Group, Inc. in collaboration with the City of Fort Collins to better understand the city’s urban tree canopy—where it is, how it’s changing, the benefits it provides to residents, and where potential tree planting opportunities exist. The urban tree canopy assessment uses aerial imagery to measure the amount of tree canopy on both public and private property as viewed from above. The urban tree canopy assessment analyzed 2021 high-resolution aerial imagery of Fort Collins to determine: ● tree canopy cover by land use and geography: land area that is shaded by trees when viewed from above, summarized by social and political boundaries ● change in tree canopy cover from 2011–2021 by land use and geography: how tree canopy cover has changed within social and political boundaries over the past decade ● ecosystem benefits analysis: estimates the benefits provided by the city’s entire tree canopy ● priority planting analysis: prioritizes possible tree planting locations by stormwater, urban heat island, social equity, and human health benefits ● tree placement analysis: characterizes potential planting areas based on their suitability for large-, medium-, and small-stature trees The information derived from the urban tree canopy assessment: 1. Establishes a baseline of tree canopy cover for future analysis 2. Estimates the rate of change in tree canopy over the past decade 3. Estimates the public benefits that are provided by existing tree canopy 4. Can help inform decision making about urban forest management, tree preservation, and future planting Tree Canopy Cover and Change, City Limits & Growth Management Area The urban tree canopy assessment measured tree canopy cover within current city limits. To provide a baseline for growth over the next 20 years, the assessment also measured tree cover across city limits plus the growth management area. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 36 Within the current city boundaries, Fort Collins has 5,116 acres of tree canopy, equal to 13.7% tree cover (map 1). The growth management area includes an additional 1,280 acres of tree canopy, bringing the total tree canopy area for city limits plus the growth management area to 6,396 acres (12.6% cover). Tree canopy cover derived from 2021 aerial imagery was compared to a 2011 tree cover analysis that was conducted by PlanIt Geo to examine how tree canopy has changed across Fort Collins in the prior decade. During this period, Fort Collins experienced a net gain of 753 acres within city limits and a total gain of 936 acres of tree canopy across city limits plus the growth management area (equivalent to 708 football fields), a net increase of 17.2% since 2011. Map 1. Tree canopy cover in Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area, based on 2021 high-resolution aerial imagery. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 37 Tree Canopy Cover and Canopy Change by U.S. Census Block Group U.S. Census block groups are federally defined geographic areas that are variable in size and typically contain between 600–3,000 residents. Block groups make for useful study areas due to the wide variety of sources that use census boundaries to report social and economic data. In Fort Collins during the 2020 U.S. Census, there were 137 block groups ranging in size from 2–3,025 acres. Among Fort Collins’ block groups, tree cover ranges from <0.1% to 41% (map 2). From 2011–2021, 69% of block groups experienced tree canopy growth (maximum growth: +378% tree cover), while 30% of block groups lost tree canopy (maximum loss: -53% tree cover; map 3; figure 2). Map 2. Tree canopy cover within Fort Collins city limits and the growth management area by U.S. census block group. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 38 Map 3. Tree canopy change by U.S. census block group, 2011–2021. Figure 2. Census block groups in order of largest to smallest by tree canopy acres. Change in tree canopy acres from 2011-2021 is represented by green bars (net gain) and orange bars (net loss). 0 50 100 150 200 250 Tr e e C a n o p y A c r e s Block Groups 2021 Tree Cover Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 39 Canopy Cover and Canopy Change by City Council District & Precinct Among the six city council districts, tree canopy cover ranges from 8.9% to 25.1% (map 5). From 2011–2021, council districts 1–5 experienced net growth in tree cover (range: +6.1% in District 5 to +110% in District 3), while District 6 experienced a slight net loss of tree cover (-0.6%; map 5, figure 3). Map 4. Tree canopy cover by city council precinct and district. Map 5. Tree canopy change by city council precinct and district, 2011–2021. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 40 Figure 3. Tree canopy cover by council district in 2011 and 2021. Labels indicate net change in tree cover from 2011-2021. Canopy Cover and Canopy Change within Parks Trees add to the natural beauty of parks and enhance the value of green space for many types of recreational uses. Trees within parks and natural areas also serve as important habitat for urban wildlife. For these reasons, planting, maintaining, and preserving canopy trees, with a focus on native species, are priority actions that are named in Fort Collins’ Recreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan (2021). Among Fort Collins’ 60 parks, cemeteries, and golf courses, average tree cover is 18.9% over 1,379 total park acres (table 1), greater than the city average of 13.7% tree cover. Tree cover ranges from no measurable tree canopy (Richards Lake Park) to up +7% +9% +110%+30% +6% -0.6% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tr e e C o v e r ( % ) Council District Trees Support Fort Collins’ Strategic Objectives Fort Collins’ 2022 Strategic Plan outlines seven Key Outcome Areas by which the city measures progress toward the vision and goals of its comprehensive plan: 1. Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 2. Culture & Recreation 3. Economic Health 4. Environmental Health 5. Safe Community 6. Transportation & Mobility 7. High Performing Government Trees relate to each of these seven Outcome Areas through the many social, ecological, and economic benefits that trees provide. Tree benefits and their relationships to the City’s Key Outcome Areas are detailed throughout this plan—look for the tree icon. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 41 to 62% cover at Indian Hills Park. In the study period from 2011–2021, there was a net gain of 47.7 acres (1.7%) of tree canopy across the studied parks. Six future park sites provide a potential for up to 102 acres of new tree canopy area. Table 1. Tree canopy cover and change by park. Possible tree canopy includes grassy and vegetated areas where trees could potentially be planted. Maximum tree canopy is the sum of existing and possible canopy. PARK ACRES TREE CANOPY CHANGE 2011-2021 POSSIBLE CANOPY MAXIMUM CANOPY Alta Vista Park 0.6 41% 2% 15% 56% Archery Range 54 34% 14% 50% 84% Avery Park 6 45% 8% 36% 81% Beattie Park 7 23% 5% 17% 40% Blevins Park 6 33% 23% 59% 93% Buckingham Park 5 15% 1% 46% 62% City Park 76 29% 9% 29% 58% City Park Nine Golf Course 55 28% 5% 1% 29% Civic Center Park 2 24% -6% 44% 69% Collindale Golf Course 157 16% 12% 1% 16% Cottonwood Glen Park 12 12% 119% 60% 72% Creekside Park 3 29% 37% 39% 68% Crescent Park 7 0.1% 100% 78% 78% Eastside Park 2 31% 28% 53% 84% Edora Community Park 42 25% 34% 40% 65% English Ranch Park 12 26% 143% 38% 63% Fossil Creek Community Park 96 4% 241% 51% 54% Freedom Square Park 0.5 25% -28% 22% 47% Golden Meadows Park 11 22% 39% 43% 65% Grandview Cemetery 43 39% 1% 0% 40% Greenbriar Park 22 17% 75% 49% 67% Harmony Park 10 11% >600% 64% 75% Homestead Park 6 16% >600% 73% 89% Indian Hills Park 2 62% 3% 36% 99% Landings Park 8 22% 30% 36% 59% Lee Martinez Community Park 90 33% -2% 47% 80% Legacy Park 9 16% -21% 75% 91% Leisure Park 0.9 54% 14% 27% 80% Library Park 5 51% 9% 21% 72% Lilac Park 0.7 18% 51% 59% 77% Miramont Park 10 12% 269% 66% 78% Oak St Plaza Park 0.3 55% -9% 0% 55% Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 42 PARK ACRES TREE CANOPY CHANGE 2011-2021 POSSIBLE CANOPY MAXIMUM CANOPY Old Fort Collins Heritage Park 14 22% 38% 38% 60% Overland Park 16 15% 56% 48% 62% Poudre River Whitewater Park 11 15% -43% 47% 63% Rabbit Brush Park 2 18% 155% 55% 73% Radiant Park 9 3% 100% 71% 73% Registry Park 5 2% 363% 78% 80% Richards Lake Park 6 0% 0% 100% 100% Ridgeview Park 11 11% 167% 67% 77% Rogers Park 8 32% 69% 55% 88% Rolland Moore Community Park 71 22% 27% 36% 58% Romero Park 0.2 37% 28% 35% 72% Roselawn Cemetery 28 20% 2% 46% 66% Rossborough Park 16 26% 45% 69% 95% Soft Gold Park 17 14% 192% 64% 78% Southridge Golf Course 127 12% 73% 7% 19% Spencer Park 0.4 45% -1% 45% 90% Spring Canyon Community Park 116 14% 77% 64% 77% Spring Park 16 32% 16% 42% 74% Stewart Case Park 14 6% 129% 67% 73% Sugar Beet Park 6 8% 74% 71% 79% Traverse Park 5 7% 0% 80% 87% Troutman Park 15 22% 68% 48% 69% Twin Silo Community Park 54 2% -15% 51% 53% Warren Park 25 21% 13% 37% 58% Washington Park 0.7 56% 15% 42% 98% Water's Way Park 8 1% >600% 80% 81% Westfield Park 15 9% 511% 63% 72% Woodwest Park 3 36% 1% 60% 96% Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 43 Canopy Cover at Bus Stops Trees an important part of the layered strategies to increase the use of public transit that are outlined in the city’s transportation master plan. Shaded bus stops make public transit safer for riders, particularly during hot summer months. Growing tree canopy cover at bus stops supports Fort Collins’ intent to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled by encouraging multimodal transportation (City Plan, 2019). The urban tree canopy analysis quantified tree cover within 30-ft buffers of bus stops and bus stations to characterize tree canopy within areas that support the City’s goals for encouraging multimodal transportation. Average tree cover is 18.3% at 22 bus stations and 423 bus stops across Fort Collins (map 6). Among 263 bus stops that did not have a built-in shelter, average tree cover is 21.2%, a loss of 2.3% tree cover since 2011. A majority of bus stops have less than 20% tree cover and experienced losses of tree cover since 2011 (figure 4). Trees Enhance Culture & Recreation Trees enhance urban parks and green space by providing shade, beauty, and by contributing to the ecological function of green islands within the built environment. Trees along transit corridors build connectivity to parks and green space that eases the passage of both humans and wildlife. According to Trust For Public Land’s ParkServe mapping tool, 73% of Fort Collins residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, which is above average for all U.S. cities and towns (55%) and on par with the 100 most populous U.S. cities (74%). Increasing tree canopy within and around these parks is one way that urban forestry can support the Culture and Recreation. Trees are not compatible with all recreational uses, however. For example, trees are undesirable within ballfields, skate parks, and amphitheaters. Recreation centers and pavilions can limit the area where trees can be planted. Lastly, many of Fort Collins’ natural areas are intended to protect native habitat including grassland and shrubland; in such places, contiguous tree canopy is not desirable. Sources: Trust For Public Land; Fort Collins’ ReCreate: Parks & Recreation Master Plan, 2021; Nature in the City, 2015; Natural Areas Master Plan, 2014. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 44 Map 6. Tree canopy cover within a 30-ft buffer of bus stops and transit stations. Figure 4. Tree canopy cover and change (2011–2021) at Fort Collins bus stops. Map inset 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 0-20%20-40%40-60%60-80%80-100% Nu m b e r o f B u s S t o p s Tree Canopy Cover >50% loss 0-50% loss 0-50% gain 50-100% gain >100% gain Tree Canopy Change, 2011-2021 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 45 Canopy Cover within Bike Lanes Trees along bike lanes contribute to the City’s goals of building low-stress, high- comfort bicycle facilities that promote a physically active and environmentally sustainable community (City Plan, 2019). Trees not only shade bike lanes; they also contribute to the safety of cyclists by slowing traffic. Over 267 miles of bike lanes across Fort Collins, average tree canopy cover is 9.5% (map 7), approximately the same as it was in 2011 (+0.1%). Among street segments with bike lanes, 82% of segments have less than 20% tree cover; tree canopy change within these spaces has been variable in the period from 2011–2021 (figure 5). Trees Benefits for Transportation & Mobility Over the past several years, Fort Collins has experienced substantial growth in transit ridership and bicycling. Encouraging individuals to shift their short vehicle trips to active transportation modes (e.g. biking, walking) is one of the most effective ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled, a goal of both the City’s transportation master plan and its Our Climate Future plan (2021). Trees contribute to Fort Collins’ goals of increasing multimodal transportation use. Trees growing in street rights-of-way help to slow traffic, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Shade and evapotranspiration cooling provided by street tree canopy allow for more comfortable walking, biking, and use of public transit and increase the appeal of cycling routes. Trees and other vegetative buffers can also reduce the exposure of cyclists and pedestrians to air pollution. For these and other reasons, residents are three times more likely to be physically active when they live in areas with high levels of trees and vegetation. Sources: Ellaway et al., 2005; Ozdemir, 2019; Eisenman et al., 2021; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 46 Map 7. Tree canopy cover within bike lanes by street segment. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 47 Figure 5. Tree canopy cover and canopy change, 2011–2021, in bike lanes by street segment. TREE CANOPY STUDY: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The results of the urban tree canopy assessment, which was based on an analysis of 2021 aerial imagery and compared to a prior analysis of 2011 imagery, show that tree canopy cover varies widely across Fort Collins and the growth management area, ranging from almost no trees in some parts of the city to over 40% tree cover. In general, tree cover tends to be highest within the oldest parts of the city, where residents have been planting trees since the nineteenth century. Citywide tree cover is 13.7%; including the growth management area, average tree cover is 12.6%. From 2011–2021, the city and the growth management area experienced an overall increase in tree canopy cover of 17.2%. The largest gains in tree canopy cover took place within low-canopy areas around the periphery of the city, while canopy losses tended to take place within the more densely developed urban core where tree cover is highest. Tree canopy cover within parks, bus stops, and bike lanes was analyzed as part of an effort to evaluate tree canopy in relation to multiple city priorities. Publicly owned trees in these areas provide benefits that enhance quality of life and contribute to climate change mitigation. Future investments in the planting and maintenance of trees in parks and along streets rights-of-way is a dual investment in Key Outcome Areas including Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Culture & Recreation, and Transportation & Mobility. >50% loss 0-50% loss 0-50% gain 50-100% gain >100% gain Tree Canopy Change, 2011-2021 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 0-20%20-40%40-60%>60% Nu m b e r o f S t r e e t S e g m e n t s Tree Canopy Cover Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 48 Trees and Economic Health Cost Savings. Trees save energy by providing shade and blocking wind, which reduce the need for heating and cooling and lower energy costs for homes and businesses. Properly placing three trees around a home can reduce energy costs for the average household by $100 to $250 per year. Trees that shade air conditioning units can help them run up to 10% more efficiently. Trees also help residents save money on health care costs. Trees reduce the incidences of medical complications due to asthma, heart disease, and heat-related illnesses. Economic Development. Trees and green spaces have a positive impact on the local economy by increasing property values, attracting tourism, and supporting local businesses. Mature, healthy trees can increase property values for both residential and commercial properties by 3%–7% or more, as well as increase values of neighboring properties. In business districts, trees attract customers. Shoppers spend more time and money in retail areas with mature, healthy tree canopies and are willing to spend 11% more for products, services, and parking at businesses with trees in front of them. Sources: McPherson et al., 2005; Wolf, 2005; Vargas, 2007; Siriwardena et al., 2016; Hughes, 2013. Vargas et al., 2007; U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.); Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 49 PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY The Forestry Division inventoried street trees and tree sites within street rights-of- way, parks, and city property from 2018–2023 (map 8). The inventory effort involved both Forestry staff as well as trained volunteers through the City’s Urban Forest Ambassador program. In total, more than 49 people documented tree and site attributes including species, size, condition, location, and the presence of vacant planting sites. Data were recorded in TreeKeeper resource management software; some of these data are shared with the public via the Forestry Division’s website (map 8). As the rolling inventory continues over time, the Forestry Division is including additional attributes such as irrigation status, emerald ash borer treatment priority, and risk assessment. Map 8. Public trees and planting sites as documented in TreeKeeper. 61,388 Inventoried Sites Nearly two-thirds of all inventoried sites were street trees (figure 6). Together, vacant planting sites and stumps comprise 3,397 potential planting sites where additional trees can be planted over time (figure 7). Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 50 Figure 6. Public trees by location. Figure 7. Inventoried sites, 2018–2023. BIODIVERSITY The inventory of public trees cataloged 272 unique species of trees that represent 56 genera and 26 families. Biodiversity helps to make the tree population resilient to pests and diseases. Urban forestry industry standards for biodiversity recommend that no single species of tree should exceed 10% of the total inventory; no one genus Street Trees 66% Park Trees 17% City Facility 5% Golf Course 5% Stormwater Management 4% Cemetery 1% Median 1% Other 1% 57,991 2,668 729 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 Trees Vacant Planting Sites Stumps Nu m b e r o f S i t e s Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 51 should exceed 20%; and no one family of tree should exceed 30% of the total tree inventory (the “10-20-30 Rule” for species abundance). Top 5 Species of Public Trees Relative to the 10% Rule for Species Abundance Among inventoried trees, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos and G. triacanthos inermis) exceeded recommended limits for species abundance (11% of public trees each; figure 8, table 2). The abundance of ash is expected to decline over time due to emerald ash borer and implementation of the city’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020), climate change, and city ordinance. The Forestry Division is reducing the planting of honeylocust on public property and is encouraging developers to shift away from planting honeylocust as part of required street tree plantings that are associated with development. Figure 8. Top five species of public trees relative to a recommended 10% Rule for abundance of any single species. Table 2. Top five species of public trees. COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME NUMBER OF PUBLIC TREES green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica 6,478 honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos* 6,286 bur oak Quercus macrocarpa 4,749 common hackberry Celtis occidentalis 2,864 littleleaf linden Tilia cordata 2,527 * includes var. inermis 11%11% 8% 5%4% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% green ash honeylocust bur oak common hackberry littleleaf linden Pe r c e n t o f P o p u l a t i o n Fort Collins 10% Rule Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 52 Top 5 Genera of Public Trees Relative to the 20% Rule for Genus Abundance At the level of genus, which groups similar species of trees, oaks are the most abundant trees in Fort Collins (15% of inventoried trees; figure 9). All genera remain below the recommended threshold of 20% abundance. Figure 9. Top five genera of public trees relative to the 20% Rule for genus abundance. Top 5 Families of Public Trees Relative to the 30% Rule for Family Abundance Families are larger groupings of similar trees, containing similar species and genera. All tree families that are represented in Fort Collins’ inventory are well below recommended limits of 30% of the total public tree population (figure 10). Figure 10. Top five taxonomic families of public trees relative to the 30% Rule for family abundance. 15% 13% 11%10% 8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% oak ash honeylocust linden pine Pe r c e n t o f P o p u l a t i o n Fort Collins 20% Rule 16%14%13%13% 10% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% beech legume olive pine mallow Pe r c e n t o f P o p u l a t i o n Fort Collins 30% Rule Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 53 Trees and Environmental Health Trees provide innumerable ecological benefits that improve urban environments. Trees Cool Our Cities. High temperatures in urbanized areas contribute to urban heat island, in which impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and sidewalks trap and hold heat. Urban heat island can raise air temperature in cities up to 7°F higher during the day and 5°F higher at night compared to neighboring rural areas. Urban heat island raises higher energy costs and power plant emissions and increases heat-related illnesses, which cause more deaths in the United States each year than any other natural disaster. Large, healthy trees lower temperatures through both shading and evapotranspiration. Trees reduce peak summer temperatures by 2-9°F and prevent an average of 1,200 heat-related deaths each year in the U.S, making them a critical tool to combat the negative health impacts of high temperatures. Trees Clean the Air. Trees act as natural air filters, removing pollutants from the air and reducing their negative impacts on humans and the environment. Through the removal of air pollutants, trees save over 850 lives and prevent 670,000 incidents of acute respiratory symptoms in the U.S. each year. Trees are also an important carbon sink for climate change mitigation through the removal of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses from the air. One large, healthy oak tree growing in Fort Collins can remove over 30 pounds of pollutants from the air over 20 years. Trees Absorb and Conserve Water. Trees absorb and retain stormwater, reducing runoff and water pollutants by 20%–60%, thereby reduce flooding, erosion, and the level of sediment and pollutants that enter local waterways. A mature deciduous tree can intercept 700 gallons of stormwater per year, and a mature evergreen tree can intercept 4,000 gallons of water per year. Underground, tree roots and decomposition help to increase the amount of water that soil can hold, allowing for more efficient use of irrigated water. In addition, the cooling effects of trees during summer months helps to reduce the amount of moisture that is lost through evaporation. Through both processes, trees can retain water in the soil and reduce irrigation quantity and frequency. Trees Provide Food & Habitat for Wildlife. Trees provide habitat and food for a wide variety of wildlife species, supporting biodiversity and maintaining the health of local ecosystems. Oaks can support over 500 species of pollinators and other beneficial insects. In the Colorado Front Range, broadleaf deciduous forests are relatively new to the region. The tree canopy of Fort Collins provides migratory birds with an important stopover point. At the same time, trees can provide refuge for species such as hawks and corvids that hunt or outcompete native grassland birds and mammals. For these reasons, tree canopy in natural areas must be thoughtfully placed. In backyards and along streets, however, tree canopy acts as an important buffer for wildlife within the built environment. Sources: Michigan Audubon, n.d.; USDA Forest Service, n.d.; US Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.; McPherson et al., 2002; Cappiella et al., 2005; VerCauteren & Gillihan, 2007; Nowak et al. 2014; Johnson et al., 2017; National Weather Service, 2021; McDonald et al., 2020; Shah et al., 2022; Breidt et al. 2022. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 54 Condition of Public Trees In the tree inventory, more than half of public trees (55%) are rated to be in Good or Fair-Plus condition, and an additional one-third (34%) are rated to be in Fair condition (figure 11). Structural integrity, overall tree health, and form is often improved through proper pruning. Routine pruning, young tree training, and other proactive maintenance can help keep trees within Fair, Fair Plus, and Good categories over time. Though it is difficult to move a significant number of trees from a lower to a better condition category, structural and routine pruning on a five-year rotation will help maintain a majority of trees within Fair to Good tree condition ratings over time. Size-Age Classes of Public Trees The relative age of trees can be estimated from trunk diameter. In Fort Collins, public trees were classified into four categories based on their trunk diameter at standard height (DSH): young (0–8 inches DSH), established (9–17 in), maturing (18–24 in), and mature (>24 in) trees. Urban forestry industry standards recommend a mixed-age tree population to balance maintenance needs of the tree population over time. Sixty percent of public trees in Fort Collins are in the young size class, reflecting sustained tree planting efforts within the city, including tree planting that occurs through new development as the city has grown (figure 12). Care of young trees during the establishment period, as well as proactive maintenance of older age classes, will help increase the proportion of older trees to balance age classes over time. 1% Dead 2% Poor8% Fair Minus 34% Fair 27% Fair Plus 28% Good 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 Condition Nu m b e r o f I n v e n t o r i e d T r e e s Figure 11. Condition ratings of public trees. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 55 Figure 12. Relative age classes of public trees, estimated from trunk diameter. PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The inventory of 61,388 public trees and planting sites in Fort Collins revealed that the biodiversity of public trees is at a level that will help the urban forest remain resilient to pests and diseases. The importance of such measures is currently reflected in the City’s response to emerald ash borer, which threatens 11% of its public tree inventory. Reductions to ash and honeylocust over time, paired with species-level diversification of future tree plantings, will help increase biodiversity over time. The condition of public trees reflects significant investments in routine maintenance as the Forestry Division moves toward its goal of a five-year pruning cycle and away from reactive maintenance, which is comparably more costly. Shifting toward proactive maintenance can reduce per-tree maintenance costs by as much as 50% compared with maintenance that relies heavily on storm and emergency response (AECOM, 2013). Fort Collins’ public trees skew young, reflecting an uptick in more recent tree plantings that are associated with city activities and increased development. Future maintenance needs are expected to increase over time as trees grow into larger size classes, which will require additional budget and capacity for the Forestry Division to keep pace. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Young (0-8") Established (9-17") Maturing (18-24") Mature (>24") Pe r c e n t o f I n v e n t o r i e d T r e e s Relative Age (Diameter Size Class) Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 56 GOALS FOR FORT COLLINS’ TREE CANOPY AND PUBLIC TREES The findings of the urban tree canopy assessment and public tree inventory suggest potential goals for Fort Collins’ urban forest that can guide Forestry Division activities and priorities over the next 20 years. ● Tree canopy in Fort Collins will grow and become more evenly distributed over time. ● Tree canopy losses will be mitigated on public and private property. ● Tree canopy will be preserved and expanded at bus stops and along bike routes to encourage multi-modal transportation. ● Tree canopy will be expanded within and around parks to support compatible recreational uses, conservation goals, and to build connectivity to green space that is accessible to all residents. ● Tree biodiversity will be protected and enhanced. ● Establishment of young trees, and proactive maintenance of older trees, will maintain the general condition and even the age distribution of public trees over time. ● Future collection of inventory data will be expanded to include information about risk, irrigation status, and EAB treatment priority that can inform management decisions. Chapter 2: Strategies for Resilience and Sustainable Growth Urban tree canopy and public tree inventory data were further analyzed to characterize the benefits that are provided by existing trees; evaluate the potential resilience of the urban forest to future threats from pests, diseases, and climate change; and to identify priority locations for tree canopy growth to address environmental, social, and human health needs. PUBLIC TREE BENEFITS Two benefits analyses were conducted to quantify the annual benefits and carbon storage of public trees using i-Tree Eco software from the U.S. Forest Service and partners. i-Tree Eco models (estimates) the benefits that trees provide based on data Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 57 inputs about the location and quantity of tree canopy cover and the species, size, condition, and location of inventoried public trees. The resulting benefits calculations reflect the benefits that are provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy, as well as the benefits provided by public trees. Benefits Provided by Fort Collins’ Tree Canopy Ecosystem benefits including air pollution removal, carbon sequestration and storage, and stormwater runoff reduction were estimated from urban tree canopy assessment data. The resulting model estimates reflect the benefits that are provided by all of Fort Collins’ trees, including trees on both public and private tree canopy, across city limits and the growth management area (table 3). In addition, the change in tree canopy benefits was estimated from the prior 2011 urban tree canopy assessment to quantify the change in tree benefits from 2011–2021. Fort Collins’ tree canopy provides ecosystem benefits valued at more than $2.8 million per year in savings to residents and businesses. Annual savings have increased more than $430,000 since 2011 with growth of tree canopy across the city. Of these benefits, public trees account for more than $69,000 in benefits each year and have an estimated replacement value of more than $112 million. Table 3. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ total tree canopy, 2011-2021. ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS OF TREE CANOPY 2011 2021 2011–2021 CHANGE IN VALUE QUANTITY VALUE QUANTITY VALUE Annual benefits Air quality: pollution removal (lb) 724,800 $1,525,377 856,580 $1,801,865 $276,488 CO removal 3,940 $2,751 4,660 $3,254 $503 NO2 removal 90,480 $12,708 106,940 $15,020 $2,312 O3 removal 445,020 $262,375 525,920 $310,072 $47,697 SO2 removal 18,980 $434 22,440 $513 $79 PM10 removal 155,420 $510,172 183,680 $602,936 $133,133 PM2.5 removal 10,960 $736,937 12,940 $870,070 $92,764 Carbon sequestration (tons) 4,920 $839,106 21,320 $990,896 $151,790 Stormwater: avoided runoff (gal) Total Annual Benefits $2,375,013+ $2,805,181+ $430,167+ Structural Value Carbon storage (tons) 191,920 $32,731,956 831,670 $38,684,151 $5,952,195 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 58 Benefits Provided by Fort Collins’ Public Trees i-Tree Eco modeling software was also used to estimate the benefits of public trees using data from the tree inventory, including the species, size, and condition of public trees (table 4). Table 4. Ecosystem benefits provided by Fort Collins’ public trees. ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS OF PUBLIC TREES QUANTITY VALUE Annual benefits Air quality: pollution removal (lb) 21,320 $32,038 CO removal 199 $139 NO2 removal 790 $111 O3 removal 15,336 $9,042 SO2 removal 445 $10 PM10 removal 4,421 $14,512 PM2.5 removal 122 $8,225 Carbon sequestration (tons) 276 $47,013 Stormwater: avoided runoff (gal) 2,318,837 $20,721 Total Annual Benefits $69,374 Structural Value Carbon storage (tons) 18,616 $3,175,046 Total Replacement Value $112,489,358 Air Pollution Reduction Trees improve air quality by intercepting and filtering particulate matter from the air, including dust, ash, pollen, and smoke. Leaves absorb harmful gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide and reduce ozone formation by shading surfaces and reducing air temperatures. The air cleaning benefits of trees is important for improving human health outcomes. In total, the tree canopy of Fort Collins removes 428 tons of air pollutants each year, a service valued at $1.8 million. Tree canopy growth from 2011–2021 has resulted in an additional 66 tons of pollutants being removed from the air each year. Of total air quality benefits, public trees account for the removal of 11 tons of air pollutants each year, valued at $32,038. Stormwater Runoff Reduction Trees play a significant role in local hydrology and water cycling, helping to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that is generated during rain events. The value of reduced stormwater runoff is calculated based on avoided water treatment costs; not reflected in this value are also costs related to erosion and flooding. Public trees in Fort Collins absorb 2.3 million gallons of stormwater each year, valued at $20,721. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 59 Sequestering and Storing Carbon Trees are carbon sinks, which means they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. As they grow, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves during photosynthesis and store it in their tissue. Fort Collins’ tree canopy stores an estimated 831,670 tons of carbon in tree trunks, branches, and roots, valued at $38 million. Each year, all of the city’s trees sequester (absorb and store) an additional 21,320 tons of carbon. Of this, public trees store 18,616 tons of carbon and sequester an additional 276 tons each year. PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY Tree pests and diseases often have preferred hosts. The susceptibility of an urban forest to a pest or disease can be predicted based on its species and genus diversity. Early identification of tree pests and diseases can reduce the impact of infestations on the urban forest. Of the pests and diseases of concern in Colorado, oak wilt threatens the greatest number of public trees in Fort Collins (15%; table 5). Emerald ash borer poses the greatest threat to public trees based on replacement value, with predicted economic impacts of up to $22 million. Table 5. Susceptibility of Fort Collins’ public trees to pests and diseases of concern in Colorado. PEST NAME NUMBER OF SUSCEPTIBLE TREES PERCENT OF PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY TREE REPLACEMENT VALUE ($) Oak wilt 8,706 15% $7,553,465 Spotted lanternfly 8,628 15% $13,100,340 Emerald ash borer 7,388 13% $22,038,024 Honeylocust spider mite 6,284 11% $10,104,137 Thyronectria & Nectria cankers 6,284 11% $10,104,137 Red turpentine beetle 4,878 8% $10,827,409 Western spruce budworm 3,689 6% $12,940,510 Large aspen tortrix 2,582 4% $946,085 Spruce beetle 2,398 4% $10,078,587 Mountain pine beetle 2,126 4% $3,940,686 Spruce ips 2,046 4% $9,102,307 Drippy blight 1,153 2% $922,703 Aspen leaf miner 624 1% $1,757,006 Fir engraver 103 <1% $205,077 Aspen running canker 82 <1% $53,658 Douglas-fir beetle 77 <1% $155,075 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 60 Other pests and diseases not listed here may affect the tree population in Fort Collins, and many more trees, including those on private property, may be susceptible to these invasive pests. EAB Response Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first confirmed in Fort Collins in May 2020. The City’s response is detailed in the Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan (2020). There are 7,388 ash trees in the Fort Collins tree inventory— 13% of the total inventoried tree population. Citywide, it is estimated that ash trees comprise 33% of total tree canopy. Forestry staff began to identify ash trees that are good candidates for prophylactic treatment against emerald ash borer in 2016. Treatment of public trees began in 2021; to date, 2,054 trees have been treated. The tree inventory categorizes trees into priority rankings for treatment and removal and identifies trees that have been treated by the adjacent property owner. Of these, 4,578 ash trees have been categorized; however, a plurality of ash trees (2,649; 37%) have not been categorized into treatment or removal priorities, and their treatment status remains unknown. Ash trees should be routinely inspected to monitor for EAB infestations and symptom progression due to the rapidity of decline caused by EAB infestation and the safety implications of dead and dying trees in the right of way. A tier of inspection priority is recommended. Priority 1 should be ash trees with an unknown treatment status, so that these 2,649 trees can be assigned to a treatment group or a removal schedule. The 76 trees being treated by the adjacent property owner should also be inspected regularly. Treatment is required every 2-3 years (depending on intensity and insecticide used) for the remainder of the tree’s life; as property ownership changes, trees may fall out of regular treatment schedules. It is important that Fort Collins maintains the treatment record for these trees so that if adjacent property owners are no longer able to manage the insecticide treatment, the City is able to efficiently incorporate trees into their prioritization workflow. Pest & Disease Resilience Strategies Monitor trees for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases on a regular basis. This can be done as part of the tree inventory process and during other routine maintenance activities such as pruning. When a pest or disease is suspected, act quickly to confirm the identification and begin management. Pay special attention to tree species that are preferred host plants for pests and diseases, and proactively remove specimens of invasive, exotic host species. For example, spotted lanternfly can infest many tree genera but prefers tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Tree of Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 61 heaven is currently rare in the state of Colorado; no specimens are currently noted in Fort Collins’ public tree inventory. Using the City’s EAB Management and Response Plan as a model, prepare an invasive species management plan to guide the response to future pest or disease infestations. Use preventative pesticide treatments on high-value or historic trees that are susceptible to problematic pests and/or diseases. Lastly, when planting trees, select pest- and disease-resistant species or cultivars whenever possible. CLIMATE VULNERABILITY Land Surface Temperature Land surface temperature was measured and averaged across two summer dates to classify urban heat island effect in Fort Collins (figure 13). The analysis used satellite data that were collected during the late afternoon on August 10, 2022 and July 3, 2023. On both dates, high air temperatures of 93–95 degrees were recorded, which are close to the average high temperature of 89 degrees. Areas with higher tree canopy cover show up on the map as having lower surface temperature. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 62 Figure 13. Land surface temperature of Fort Collins, averaged from recorded Landsat 8 satellite data across two summer dates in 2022 and 2023. Climate Vulnerability and Risk Indices The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index is a web tool that quantifies future climate vulnerability based on a combination of social, economic, infrastructure, and climate factors. It compares U.S. census tracts and counties and provides a percentile score that summarizes each location’s climate vulnerability relative to other census tracts and counties. In this index, the national vulnerability percentile is the number of Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 63 other census tracts or counties that score better than Fort Collins for a given indicator—a higher score indicates greater levels of vulnerability. Climate vulnerability of Larimer County ranks in the 13th percentile nationally, which means that only 13% of other U.S. counties are more vulnerable to climate change overall. This is LOW overall climate vulnerability. However, at the level of census tract, Fort Collins has highly variable overall climate vulnerability, suggesting inequality in the resilience of the city to future climate impacts (figure 13, left). In addition, Fort Collins ranks HIGH nationally in climate vulnerability that is related to two sets of factors: climate impacts due to the built environment (figure 13, middle), and the future impacts of extreme weather events (figure 13, right). Climate vulnerability factors that relate to the built environment in Fort Collins and Larimer County compared to other U.S. areas include high levels of impervious surfaces, toxic air pollutants, vehicle traffic, agricultural pesticides, and a large number of facilities with existing EPA enforcement or violations that serve as pollution sources. Notably, low forested land cover relative to other U.S. counties and census tracts (95th percentile) is included as one factor that raises Fort Collins’ environmental vulnerability. U.S. Climate Mapping and Resilience Assessment provides more detailed information about climate projections for Fort Collins. It projects future climate risks based on two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. A lower-emissions scenario projects the climate effects if humans were to eliminate global fossil fuel combustion, resulting in no further greenhouse gas emissions, by 2040. The higher- emissions scenario projects the climate effects if the date of this achievement were not to occur until the year 2100. Figure 14. U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index maps for Fort Collins census tracts showing overall climate vulnerability (left), vulnerability that relates to the built environment (middle), and vulnerability related to the likelihood of extreme weather events (right). Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 64 Climate Vulnerability Due to Extreme Weather Events There are several mid-century climate factors that can affect tree growth and survival in Fort Collins. The national vulnerability percentile from the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index is listed below. For select extreme weather events listed below where there is additional information, the projections from the U.S. Climate Mapping and Resilience Assessment are given for lower and higher emissions scenarios (compared to the reference period from 1975–2005). ● Consecutive dry days: 94th percentile. The maximum number of consecutive dry days is predicted to be 18 days by mid-century, a change of +0.6 days compared to 1975–2005. ● Daily maximum temperature: 93rd percentile. The number of days per year with a high of >95°F will increase by 5-8 days by mid-century. ● Urban heat island extreme heat days: 82nd percentile. The number of days per year with an air temperature of >90°F will increase by 16–21 days, which due to urban heat island effect will feel hotter within highly built areas of the city. ● Cold waves: 73rd percentile. Overall, the number of days that remain below 32°F will be reduced by 11-14 days per year, but the threat posed by cold waves will remain relatively high compared to other parts of the U.S. ● Frost days: 77th percentile. Temperature extremes are predicted to become more erratic, leading to potentially more early and late frost days that can damage trees. Drought Tolerance of the Public Tree Inventory The public tree inventory has begun adding information about the irrigation status of trees; at present, irrigation status is known for 16,665 trees. Of these, 14,754 trees have access to irrigation. The irrigation status of trees is important for evaluating the risk of the tree inventory to drought and planning emergency response including hand watering during periods of extreme drought. An analysis examined drought tolerance within the top 35 species of trees in the public tree inventory, which comprise 86% of public trees (50,021 trees), based on species information from the USDA Plants database (table 6). ● 7,222 public trees in Fort Collins have LOW drought tolerance ● 23,906 public trees have MEDIUM drought tolerance ● 18,893 public trees have HIGH drought tolerance Together with information about projected climate impacts, including growth in the number of extreme heat days and consecutive dry days, the city can increase the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 65 resilience of its public tree inventory by planting more drought-tolerant species over time. Table 6. Drought tolerance of the 35 most abundant species in the public tree inventory. DROUGHT TOLERANCE LOW MEDIUM HIGH Acer ginnala Acer grandidentatum Acer platanoides Acer saccharinum Fraxinus americana* Populus angustifolia* Pyrus calleryana Pyrus spp. Tilia americana Tilia spp. Acer saccharum Catalpa speciosa Fraxinus pennsylvanica* Gymnocladus dioicus Malus domestica Malus spp. Picea pungens Pinus nigra Pinus sylvestris Populus spp.* Quercus robur Tilia cordata Ulmus americana Ulmus davidiana Acer negundo* Celtis occidentalis Gleditsia triacanthos Juniperus scopulorum Picea glauca Pinus edulis Pinus ponderosa Quercus macrocarpa Quercus muelenbergii Quercus shumardii Ulmus pumila* * Planting these species is prohibited by city ordinance PRIORITY PLANTING ANALYSIS The tree cover analysis of Fort Collins identified 15,418 acres of possible tree planting space within the city and growth management area. This space comprises areas on both public and private land that do not have existing tree canopy. It excludes areas including agricultural fields, recreational fields, major utility corridors, and airports where tree canopy would conflict with existing land uses. The priority planting analysis ranked possible tree planting area on a five-point scale from Very Low to Very High based on the potential for tree benefits to positively impact environmental, human health, and social factors (table 7). Priority Planting Factors ● Environmental: Priority areas for stormwater management were identified based on proximity to hardscape, proximity to tree canopy, floodplain proximity, soil permeability, slope, and soil erosion factor. Areas of higher potential for runoff and erosion were considered higher priority due to their ability to diminish water quality within urban areas. Priority areas for urban heat island mitigation were based on land surface temperature calculations (see figure 13, above). Higher surface temperatures were considered higher priority due to the adverse effects of elevated microclimates within urban areas. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 66 o The priority planting analysis identified 1,802 acres of possible planting area that rank High or Very High in the ability to mitigate stormwater runoff (figure 15). o The analysis identified 3,167 acres of possible planting area that rank High or Very High for urban heat island mitigation (figure 16). ● Social Equity: The priority planting analysis incorporated social equity factors that correlate with vulnerabilities that can be partially mitigated by tree benefits based on scientific research. The analysis used U.S. Census data of income, population density, racial and ethnic minority percent, and home renter percent. Priority areas for social equity are places where additional tree canopy would benefit vulnerable populations. o The priority planting analysis identified 2,287 acres of possible planting area that rank High or Very High for proximity to residents that have increased vulnerability to environmental and climate concerns that can be mitigated by trees (figure 17). ● Human Health: The priority planting analysis also incorporated three human health concerns that are prevalent in Fort Collins and most impacted by tree benefits: asthma, heart disease, and mental health disorders (see box, “Trees Contribute to Neighborhood Livability & Social Health”). Priority areas for human health are areas where these concerns are most prevalent. o The priority planting analysis identified 3,342 acres of possible planting area that rank High or Very High for proximity to residents that have health concerns that can be mitigated by trees (figure 18). ● Composite (All) Priorities: This analysis overlays each of the factors above to identify priority planting areas where trees can address all issues. o The priority planting analysis identified 2,250 acres of possible planting area that rank High or Very High for the combined effects of all the factors listed above (figure 19). Table 7. Possible tree planting area in Fort Collins, ranked by priority to address environmental, social equity, and/or human health factors. PRIORITY PLANTING ACRES PRIORITY STORMWATER HEAT ISLAND SOCIAL EQUITY HEALTH ALL Very Low 10,472 2,007 6,165 5,353 8,218 Low 1,989 3,723 3,565 4,418 3,337 Moderate 1,155 6,521 3,401 2,305 1,613 High 936 2,841 1,153 556 1,206 Very High 867 326 1,135 2,787 1,044 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 67 Figure 15. Priority planting areas for stormwater management, based on a combination of environmental factors that contribute to increased stormwater runoff. Figure 16. Priority planting areas for urban heat island mitigation based on land surface temperatures. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 68 Figure 17. Priority planting areas where tree benefits can be placed in proximity to vulnerable resident populations. Figure 18. Priority planting areas where tree canopy can help mitigate asthma, heart disease, and mental health disorders. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 69 Figure 19. Priority planting areas that maximize the environmental, social, and human health benefits of trees. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 70 Tree Placement A tree placement analysis identified 465,507 possible tree planting sites across Fort Collins, including on both public and private land (table 8). Sites were classified as being suitable for trees based on small, medium, or large crown size. Large trees were placed first, as they provide the greatest benefit; then, the remaining planting area was populated with small- and medium- statured trees. The analysis produced a GIS data file with all planting sites and accompanying information about priority planting metrics for environmental, social, and human health factors (figure 20). Data are provided to the City of Fort Collins as a standalone GIS tool. Figure 20. A snapshot taken from the tree placement analysis showing possible planting locations for small-, medium-, and large-stature trees along a street right-of-way. RESILIENCE & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Trees provide innumerable benefits to the people of Fort Collins. Select tree benefits can be assigned a monetary value that is based on avoided costs, including air pollution reduction, stormwater runoff mitigation, and carbon sequestration and storage. Based on these benefits alone, Fort Collins’ trees produce at least $2.8 million in ecosystem services each year. This amount has increased in the past decade with tree canopy growth—today, trees provide an additional $430,000 in services per year than they did in 2011. These benefits can be used to explain TREE CROWN SIZE NUMBER OF PLANTING SPACES Large 207,695 Medium 56,139 Small 201,673 Total Sites 465,507 Table 8. Possible tree planting sites, classified by the size of tree that they can accommodate. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 71 expenditures for tree planting and maintenance activities to taxpayers and city leadership. These benefits also form the basis for efforts to preserve and expand tree canopy as part of climate resilience strategies and to more equitably distribute tree canopy across the city. It is important to preserve the function and survival of trees in the face of future threats from pests, diseases, and climate change. Ash comprises a large portion of the city’s tree canopy, making emerald ash borer a significant threat into the foreseeable future. Oak wilt may present a concern for public trees in the future. The city’s EAB response can serve as a model for expanded pest and disease planning and management. Future climate predictions include increases in periods of extreme heat, drought, and early/late freezes, all of which can be challenging conditions for trees. New species are coming to Fort Collins in the future that present additional options for drought tolerance and urban resilience. Species recommendations, such as the trees and shrubs that are recommended by Plant Select, have few specimens in the existing public tree inventory, demonstrating a potential for expanded planting. Collaborative partnerships with local growers will be needed for the continued management of pests and to secure desired climate-resilient nursery stock. Comparing maps of canopy change (for example, see map 3) to priority planting maps for social and human health benefits show that many areas of greatest tree canopy loss have occurred where tree canopy is most needed to build social equity. The priority planting and tree placement analyses can be used to guide future planting efforts on both public and private land where trees can have the greatest impact. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 72 Chapter 3: Operational Efficiency and Resource Management INDICATORS OF A SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST To better understand and evaluate the level of urban forest care, management, and engagement in Fort Collins, the city’s forestry program was assessed on 30 sustainable urban forest indicators (table 9). The Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest is a program assessment tool that uses industry standards and best management practices to assess the city’s urban forest, its management, and the community and stakeholders that influence it. The full assessment of Fort Collins’ performance level with an explanation of criteria for each Indicator can be found in Appendix A. Fort Collins’ performance level for 30 Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest was assessed as: ● LOW on 3 indicators (10%) ● LOW-MODERATE on 1 indicators (3%) ● MODERATE on 15 indicators (50%) ● MODERATE-HIGH on 5 indicators (17%) ● HIGH on 6 indicators (20%) Summarized by each of the three categories of indicators, Fort Collins’ performance level was: ● The Trees: MODERATE ● The Community & Stakeholders: MODERATE ● The Management Program: MODERATE-HIGH Table 9. Fort Collins’ urban forestry performance level for 30 indicators of a sustainable urban forest. INDICATORS OF A SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST ASSESSED PERFORMANCE LEVEL LOW MODERATE HIGH The Trees Urban Tree Canopy X Equitable Distribution X Size/Age Distribution X Condition of Public Trees - Streets, Parks X X Condition of Public Trees - Natural Areas X Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 73 Trees on Private Property X Species Diversity X X Suitability X The Players Neighborhood Action X Large Private & Institutional Landholder Involvement X Green Industry Involvement X City Department/Agency Cooperation X Funder Engagement X Utility Engagement X Developer Engagement X Public Awareness X X Regional Collaboration X The Management Approach Tree Inventory X Canopy Assessment X Management Plan X Risk Management Program X Maintenance of Publicly-Owned Trees X Maintenance of Publicly-Owned Natural Areas X X Planting Program X Tree Protection Policy X X City Staffing and Equipment X Funding X X Disaster Preparedness & Response X Communications X X OPERATIONS REVIEW An operations review of the Forestry Division was conducted via surveys, staff interviews, and review of written policies and data. Select metrics lend themselves to comparison with findings from a 2014 municipal urban forestry census, which provides benchmarks for forestry programs among U.S. cities by region and population size (Hauer & Peterson, 2016). Number of Public Trees per Capita Fort Collins’ public tree inventory of 57,991 trees is 0.34 public trees per capita (figure 26). While this is lower than the average for U.S. cities, it is also reflective of Fort Collins’ native shrubland and grassland ecosystems. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 74 Figure 21. The number of public trees per capita for 330 U.S. cities who provided data to a 2014 municipal forestry census, compared to figures for cities with populations from 100,000-249,999, cities in the West region of the U.S., and Fort Collins. Public Tree Activities by Year The Forestry Division pruned 8,832 trees per year, on average, in the years from 2019– 2023 (figure 22). This marks a gradual increase in pruning activities over prior years as part of efforts to achieve a five-year pruning rotation for all public trees (figure 23). In 2022, the Division pruned 10,877 trees or 22.4% of the public tree inventory, which meets the standard for a five-year pruning cycle. Industry standards recommend a regular pruning cycle of 5–10 years. Only approximately one-half of U.S. cities proactively prune their trees on a regular cycle of any duration (Hauer & Peterson, 2016). Beginning in 2021, public tree planting exceeded tree removals (figure 24). In this year, the Forestry Division also began prophylactic treatments of public ash trees for emerald ash borer. 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 All Cities Pop. 100,000- 249,999 West Region Fort Collins Pu b l i c T r e e s p e r C a p i t a Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 75 Figure 22. Forestry Division tree activities by year, 2019-2023. Figure 23. Percentage of public trees pruned by year. Public trees less than 18 inches DSH (light green) and trees 18 inches DSH or larger (dark green) are shown relative to the percentage necessary for a 5- year pruning cycle. 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Nu m b e r o f P u b l i c T r e e s Pruned Removed Planted EAB Treated 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Pe r c e n t a g e o f T r e e s Year 18+ in DSH <18 in DSH 5-Year Pruning Rotation Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 76 Figure 24. Number of public trees planted and removed by year. Staffing The Forestry Division currently employs 17 full-time staff, 5 hourly staff, and receives part-time assistance from one office assistant (table 10, figure 22). One additional full- time staff is housed within the Zoning Department; city council added this position in 2023 to support forestry needs related to development. Table 10. Forestry Division staffing, 2024. STAFF TITLE NUMBER OF STAFF NUMBER OF VACANCIES City Forester 1 0 Assistant City Forester 1 0 Senior Specialist, Forestry 3 0 Forestry Zoning Inspector (Zoning Dept.) 1 0 Senior Supervisor, Forestry 1 0 Crew Chief, Forestry 3 0 Technician II, Forestry 6 0 Technician I, Forestry 2 0 Hourly Staff 5 0 Office Assistant 0.25 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Nu m b e r o f T r e e s Year Removed Planted Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 77 Figure 25. Organizational chart, City forestry staff. Needed Capacity Additional capacity needs have been identified for grant writing, development plan review, and for operations including pruning, removal, planting, stump grinding, potholing, infrastructure conflicts, and contract management. Grant writing capacity can assist the Division with securing external funding sources to support expanded planning, policy development, and operations. In plan review, additional capacity would help the Division manage a growing number of requests for tree plan and permit review as staff members are increasingly working with developers to ensure that tree standards are met. Operations needs can be summarized as one additional crew that will facilitate staff rotations to ease physical demands, reduce injuries, and provide opportunities for cross-training staff in various tree activities. Credentials and Training Among 17 existing staff members, fifteen hold Certified Arborist credentials from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA; figure 23). The Forestry Division was compared to 655 U.S. cities that reported on forestry staff credentials in a national municipal urban forestry census (Hauer & Peterson, 2016). The portion of Forestry Division staff that have advanced training in arboriculture is similar to, or higher than, the average among all U.S. cities for ISA Certified Arborist and Municipal Specialist credentials but slightly lower than the average for cities that are similarly sized to Fort Collins. Zoning Forestry Inspector PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT // ZONING SERVICES PARKS // FORESTRY DIVISION City Forester Assistant City Forester Senior Supervisor, Forestry Forestry Crew Chief (4) Forestry Technician II (1) Senior Forestry Specialist (3) Forestry Technician II (5) Forestry Technician I (2) Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 78 Figure 26. Portion of City forestry staff with ISA credentials compared to forestry staff in 655 U.S. cities of all sizes (blue dashed line) and a subset of cities with a population between 100,000 and 249,999 (red solid line). Interviews of Forestry Division staff reported that city government is generally supportive of training opportunities as budget allows. The Division is highly participatory in regional working groups and discussions that relate to wood waste diversion and utilization, pest and disease management, and other forestry topics, providing team members with advanced regional learning opportunities. The Division also hosts trainings for external arborists and has Tree Worker Certified Proctors on staff who assist with annual tests. Interviews supported a need for a more formal, consistent, and organized training process, as well as written policy and processes for training that can be referenced. There is also an opportunity for the Forestry Division to provide wage increases for advanced certification so that compensation rates keep pace with the labor market. Facilities The Forestry Division has two office locations. Staff are divided between the two offices. Building, wood yard, and mulch space is approaching maximum capacity. Equipment TYPE OF EQUIPMENT QUANTITY CONDITION RATING Aerial lift 3 2 Fair, 1 Good Chip truck 3 Fair Chipper 3 Fair Grapple truck 2 Good 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Certified Arborist Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Tree Worker Board Certified Master Arborist Municipal Specialist Fort Collins All U.S. Cities Pop. 100,000-249,999 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 79 Stump grinder 2 1 Fair, 1 Good Dump truck 3 Fair Pickup trucks 8 2 Good, 6 Fair Electric vehicle 1 Fair Traffic attenuator 1 Fair Front loader 1 Fair Electronic message & arrow board 1 Good Utility trailer 5 Good Staff noted equipment needs including replacements for equipment that is frequently used and currently in Fair condition: a grapple, utility lift, and large aerial lift. Staff also noted needs for additional equipment including a water truck, a small bucket truck, a traffic attenuator, and trucks that are able to haul a skid steer and/or stump grinder. If an additional operations crew were to be added to the Division, there would be equipment needs related to outfitting that crew. Budget & Funding The Forestry Division is supported by the City’s General Fund, which is the main operating fund for the City of Fort Collins. The Division also has a revenue account that captures restitution and payment-in-lieu monies from development activities. From 2019–2023, the Forestry Division annual budget ranged from $2.34 million– $3.35 million (figure 27). As a percentage of the total city budget, Fort Collins is on par with the average for 463 cities that provided budgetary information to a 2014 municipal forestry census (figure 28). A significant snowstorm in March 2021 that brought up to 27 inches of snow resulted in extensive tree damage, which led to an additional allocation of $273,837 to the Forestry Division for storm response that funded storm cleanup and additional pruning activities in 2021–2022. In addition, the Division received two private donations of $50,000 each in 2022 and 2023, designated for tree planting. Of the cities that provided budgetary information, only one-half (53%) reported that their annual budget was adequate to meet their city’s forestry needs. Their average budget shortfall was 45%. Among cities that were similarly sized to Fort Collins, the percentage who said their annual budget was adequate to meet their forestry needs dropped to 39%. In these cities, the average budget shortfall was approximately 36%. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 80 Figure 27. Forestry Division annual budget, 2019–2023. Figure 28. Municipal forestry budgets as a percentage of total municipal budgets for 463 U.S. cities (adjusted for inflation from 2014 values) compared to the Forestry Division’s 2023 annual budget. The Forestry Division’s budget supports tree activities that are completed by both in- house staff and contractors. The largest annual expenditures relate to pruning (figure 29). From 2019–2023, average expenditures for contractual pruning were $224,000 per year (table 11). In 2023, the Forestry budget allotted $300,000 for contractual pruning. $0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Fo r e s t r y D i v i s i o n An n u a l B u d g e t Year 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.5% All Cities West Region Pop. 100,000- 249,999 Fort Collins Pe r c e n t o f Ci t y A n n u a l B u d g e t Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 81 Figure 29. Average annual Forestry Division expenditures by activity, 2019–2023. Table 11. Contractual pruning expenditures by year, 2019–2023. YEAR CONTRACTUAL PRUNING 2019 $200,000 2020 $200,000 2021 $200,000 2022 $219,384 2023 $300,000 AVERAGE $223,877 Forestry Plans, Policies, and Documents The following written plans, policies, and documents are maintained by the City or the Forestry Division regarding tree care: Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices Manual (2010): Written standards for arborist licensing, pruning, removal, pesticide application, and tree protection. The Forestry Division would like to update this manual. Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan (2020): Details a three-year treatment plan for the city’s ash trees; procedures for detection, management, and tree replacement; and projected impacts. Approved Street Trees List: Species guidance for street trees that are planted by property owners, developers, and landscapers in the public right-of-way. $0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 Pruning Planting Removal Emergency Response Pest/Disease Response Other Av e r a g e A n n u a l E x p e n d i t u r e 20 1 9 -20 2 3 Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 82 Parks Department Storm Damage to Urban Forest Rating Policy: Describes how storm damage is assessed by city quadrant and prioritized. The Forestry Division would like to update this policy. Forestry does not yet have the following plans or programs: ● Urban Forest Management Plan ● Risk Management Program ● Public Tree Maintenance Program ● Tree Planting Plan Forestry Service Requests The Forestry Division received an average of 131 requests per year from 2019–2023 via Access Fort Collins, the city’s online service request portal (table 11). An additional 1,453 requests per year were sent via the Division’s email address. The Forestry Division also responds to service requests that are sent via phone and email to individual staff members; these requests have not been historically tracked. Table 12. Forestry service requests from the public, 2019–2023. YEAR ACCESS FC INCLUDING COUNCIL SARS FORESTRY@FCGOV.COM EMAIL 2019 71 2020 124 2021 209 Trees Help Build a Safe Community Trees enhance neighborhoods by providing a sense of community and safety. This is not just perception; a 10% increase in neighborhood tree canopy cover has been associated with a 12%–15% reduction in violent and property crimes. Along streets, trees help to slow traffic, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Trees also cool streets and sidewalks, creating more comfortable conditions for walking, biking, and public transit. In communities with high incidences of crime, trees and shrubs can reduce sight lines. In such communities, poorly maintained trees can also contribute to a perceived lack of care, which can have negative effects on mental health. An equitable approach to urban forestry cover seeks to increase the benefits that trees provide while mindfully addressing real concerns that residents may have about tree canopy in their neighborhood, such as by ensuring proper maintenance. Sources: Swift et al., 1997; Kuo, 2003; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009; O’Neil-Dunn, 2012; Gilstad-Hayden et al., 2015; USDA Forest Service, 2018. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 83 2022 121 1,475 2023 131 1,430 Requests via all channels of contact are routed to specific staff members based on topic. The most common requests relate to tree planting, insect and disease, maintenance, private tree issues, and arborist licensing. Pruning and removal requests are sent to Crew Chiefs, who specialize in specific topics. Emergency requests are typically routed directly to the City Forester, Assistant City Forester, or Senior Forestry Supervisor. The typical response time for requests is within one year; a small number of larger projects and tree replacement requests are completed within two years. With a move toward a five-year pruning rotation, Forestry has been increasingly responding to pruning requests with education about the city’s pruning rotation, attempting to defer individual requests until an entire neighborhood can be scheduled and pruned at once. Challenges of the existing system include multiple avenues of contact, which can create duplicate requests if residents reach out via more than one channel with their request. Wood Waste Program The Forestry Division has worked to be zero waste since 2009 by diverting all wood waste material from landfills. The Division works with local wood workers to repurpose quality wood waste from the public tree inventory into value-added products. Other wood waste is provided as mulch to the general public at two locations. Residents can recycle private tree materials at city and county drop-off points and privately managed waste facilities. The City of Fort Collins is a member of the Urban Wood Network, a national network of urban wood professionals and stakeholders. Future Tree Canopy Growth Tree canopy cover is projected for Fort Collins to the year 2040 under current tree planting practices, and tree planting is estimated for three possible tree canopy scenarios (table 13). By projecting 2011–2021 tree canopy trends and planting efforts into the future, Fort Collins is on a path to achieve 15.7% tree cover by 2040. Tree planting and preservation would need to significantly scale up to achieve 17%, 18%, or 20% canopy cover by 2040, involving the planting or preservation of 2,623–8,736 additional trees per year across public and private land. This would entail additional Forestry Division support for tree planting as well as strong community involvement to increase tree planting on privately owned land. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 84 Based on Forestry expenditures from 2019–2023 of $490.55 per tree planted, annual planting budgets for each canopy scenario are estimated to be between $1.3 million– $4.3 million per year. Because growing citywide tree canopy involves both public and private tree planting, these costs would be borne by both city government and the private sector. Preservation of existing trees, such as through enhanced tree protection policies for private land, may be a more cost-effective way to achieve a higher canopy goal. Table 13. Tree canopy cover, canopy acres, and estimated trees to be planted under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios. CANOPY COVER 2021: 6,396 ACRES (12.6%) CANOPY ACRES 2040 CANOPY COVER 2040 TREE CANOPY CHANGE, ACRES (2024–2040) ESTIMATED TREES TO BE PLANTED/ PRESERVED PER YEAR, WITH MORTALITY* ESTIMATED ANNUAL PLANTING COSTS, PUBLIC + PRIVATE** Current Planting 7,988 15.7% 1,592 538 $263,916 Scenario 1: 17% by 2040 8,643 17.0% 2,246 2,623 $1,286,701 Scenario 2: 18% by 2040 9,151 18.0% 2,755 4,661 $2,286,248 Scenario 3: 20% by 2040 10,168 20.0% 3,772 8,736 $4,285,342 * assumes 66 trees per acre ** based on average Forestry expenditure per tree planted, 2019–2023 ($490.55/tree) Figure 30. Predicted tree canopy cover under current levels of public tree planting and three scenarios. 20% 18% 17% 15.7% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% 22% 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038 2040 Ca n o p y C o v e r ( % ) Year Scenario 3: 20% by 2040 Scenario 2: 18% by 2040 Scenario 1: 17% by 2040 Current Planting Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 85 OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Fort Collins’ Forestry Division provides a high level of service in the management of its public tree inventory. The city recently achieved the first year of a five-year pruning cycle, aided by an additional one-year budget allocation for storm response in 2021–2022 that supported additional pruning activities. This puts Fort Collins within a minority of U.S. cities that proactively manage their public tree inventory per urban forestry industry recommendations of a 5–10 year routine pruning cycle. The Division also recently achieved a level of planting that exceeds removals in 2022, aided by $100,000 in private donations for tree planting. As the inventory grows, it will be necessary to scale Forestry Division operations and capacity to keep pace. As noted in the public tree inventory, public trees skew to younger size classes (see figure 12). As these trees grow into larger size classes, per- tree maintenance costs will increase over time. Additional capacity will be particularly needed if Fort Collins wants to increase its rate of canopy growth over time. The City is on a path to achieve 15.7% tree cover by 2040, if the previous decade’s trend continues. To increase canopy cover to 17%–20% would require the additional planting of or preservation of 2,623–8,736 trees per year across public and private lands. The costs of such an endeavor vary but, using Forestry’s per-tree expenditure from 2019–2023 as a benchmark, costs are estimated to be $1.3 million–$4.3 million per year. Enhanced tree protection and preservation provides an alternative to tree planting to achieve the City’s canopy goal. The Forestry Division is currently fully staffed and has identified needed capacity in grant writing, plan review, and operations. Additional staff capacity in plan and permit review will become especially necessary with any future adoption of an expanded land use code and any additional policy changes for tree preservation and protection. To maintain a five-year pruning cycle as the urban forest grows, it will be necessary to add an additional operations crew and associated equipment. Additional operations capacity will help existing staff develop new skills and remain healthy in physically demanding positions by allowing for crew rotations among different tree activities. The Forestry Division could benefit from closer tracking of resident requests and budget expenditure by tree activity. Such tracking expands the opportunities for reporting about tree activities relative to the City’s Key Outcome Areas. It also provides opportunities to more closely track staff time and expenditures related to resident requests. Detailed work plans are another method to make efficient use of personnel and budget. Enhanced data collection for the tree inventory to include maintenance needs and risk can help inform planning for the routine pruning cycle and reduce resident requests. Inventory data about vacant planting sites, combined with the Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 86 priority planting and tree placement analyses, can be used to create annual planting plans to plant trees where they are most needed. High-Performing Government: Forestry Division Fort Collins’ Forestry Division, housed within the Parks Department, provides a high level of service in the management of public trees. Proactive Maintenance. The Division is among a minority of U.S. cities that maintain public trees on a routine pruning cycle. Routine maintenance is a safer and more cost effective alternative than reactive pruning that takes place in response to storm damage, emergencies, and public requests, saving the City up to 50% in pruning costs. The Division currently maintains public trees on a 5–7 year pruning cycle, with the goal of attaining a five-year pruning cycle. Data-Driven Management. The urban tree canopy assessment, inventory data, and other information that is presented in this Urban Forest Strategic Plan will be regularly updated to assist Forestry with informed decision making. The information in this Plan can also be used to inform policy updates for the strategic growth and protection of the urban forest. Resident Involvement. Urban Forest Ambassadors are trained volunteers that assist the Forestry Division with inventory data collection. This program provides residents with an opportunity to learn more about their urban forest and contribute to its upkeep. Residents are also able to make requests related to public trees through Access Fort Collins. And more than 900 residents contributed their ideas to the creation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan through participation in the planning process. Integration with City Plans and Priorities. Trees and tree benefits are integrated into many City plans, including the City’s strategic plan, and there are future opportunities to increase Forestry involvement in planning efforts. Implementation of this Urban Forest Strategic Plan will enhance the ways that urban forestry can be related to city Outcome Areas. Sources: AECOM, 2013; Fort Collins 2022 Strategic Plan. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 87 Chapter 4: Community Engagement and Policy Integration COMMUNITY FEEDBACK Public engagement took place throughout the planning process to gather community input and feedback about Fort Collins’ trees. Public engagement included a public survey and three public meetings. Forestry partnering entities were also invited to provide feedback in structured focus group meetings. Public Survey The Urban Forest Strategic Plan planning team released a public survey in fall 2023. Of the 971 respondents who took the survey, 99% of them agreed or strongly agreed that trees are an important part of Fort Collins (Figure 31), while 95% agreed that public trees are well cared for or somewhat well cared for (Figure 32). There was mixed agreement about whether Fort Collins has the right number of trees or too few (Figure 33). In general, respondents favor public land for tree planting, including parks, streets, schools, and trails, over private property (Figure 34). When asked about their support for various private tree protection mechanisms, including tree removal permits, tree replacement or payment-in-lieu, and increased education about tree protection standards during construction, most respondents (75%) supported increased education (Figure 37), while approximately 40% of respondents supported stronger tree protection mechanisms. Twenty percent of respondents did not support stronger private tree protection policies. Participants ranked the top three tree benefits as shade, urban heat island mitigation, and air quality improvements (Figure 35). In an open-ended question about their hopes for the future of Fort Collins’ urban forest, the most common response themes included hopes for a healthy urban forest, opinions about species selection, and a desire for more trees (Figure 37). Refer to Appendix B for a full list of survey questions and responses. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 88 Figure 31. Responses to public survey question that asked participants to rate their agreement with the phrase, “Trees are an important part of Fort Collins” using a five-point Likert scale. Figure 32. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase, “Public trees seem…” with one of five response options. Figure 33. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase, “Across Fort Collins there are…” with one of three response options. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Re s p o n s e s Trees are an important part of Fort Collins. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Well cared for Somewhat cared for Poorly cared for Neglected No opinion Re s p o n s e s Public trees seem... 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Too many trees The right amount of trees Too few trees Re s p o n s e s Across Fort Collins there are... Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 89 Figure 34. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to answer the question, “Where is it most important to plant trees?”, with the option to select multiple choices. Figure 35. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to complete the phrase, “I support…” with one of four response options. Figure 36. Responses to a public survey question that asked participants to rank tree benefits in order from most (rank 1) to least (rank 10) important. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Parks Streets Schools Businesses Trails Private property Re s p o n s e s Where is it most important to plant trees? 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Required tree removal permits for trees above a certain size Required replacement or payment in the amount of the trees' appraised value Increased education about tree protection standards during construction on private property I don't support stronger policies on private property trees Re s p o n s e s I support... 12345678910 Av e r a g e r a n k Rank tree benefits in order of most to least importance. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 90 Figure 37. Responses to the open-ended question, “What is your hope for the future of the urban forest in Fort Collins?”, categorized by theme. A response could be positive, negative, or neutral about a theme. Public Meetings Public meetings were held on October 25 and 26, 2023, and March 2, 2024, and were attended by more than 150 members of the public. Participants left verbal and written comments and other feedback that expressed a variety of viewpoints about trees in Fort Collins (figure 38). Major themes from public comment are collected below. Tree Benefits ● Shade, cooling, and wildlife benefits of trees were frequently mentioned. ● Several residents requested additional planting of edible fruit and nut trees. 0 100 200 300 Volunteering Solar Cycling Sidewalks Streets/Medians Gardens/Fruit trees Xeriscape/Water Equity Preservation City Funding/Staffing EAB Benefits/Value Climate Change Heat/Shade Maintenance Tree Planting City Identity Private Land Policy Development Resident Resources More Trees Species Healthy Urban Forest Number of Responses Re s p o n s e T h e m e What is your hope for the future of the urban forest in Fort Collins? Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 91 ● There is public interest and concern about water usage, indicating an opportunity for additional education and outreach regarding trees’ role in conserving water, drought tolerant species selection, etc. Species Selection ● Several participants spoke and left comments in support of native tree species. ● Many participants left opinions about the value and drawbacks of specific kinds of trees, e.g., oaks, cottonwoods, and talked about their favorite trees. ● There were a smaller number of comments that were skeptical of native species, for example, comments that questioned the role of native trees within a grassland ecosystem or that stressed adaptability over nativity. ● Several residents voiced support for more diversity in trees and shrubs that are planted in Fort Collins. ● Participants expressed interest in resources that would help them select appropriate tree species for specific sites, drought tolerant species, etc. ● Emerald ash borer has caused some concern about future pest and disease resilience and the plan for replacing ash trees that are removed in the future. Forestry Division ● There was general support for the Forestry Division. ● Some participants are satisfied with the current level of funding for Forestry, while others wanted to see the Division grow. ● Many residents support expansion of volunteer opportunities, community involvement, and internships in Forestry. ● Several residents expressed concerns that tree establishment activities could be improved, e.g., watering, mulching, and increasing the survival of newly planted trees. Tree Canopy ● A number of participants commented that commercial properties and streets are in greater need of additional tree planting/green space development. ● Many comments were made in support of building equitable tree canopy by strategically investing in tree cover within disadvantaged neighborhoods and/or in areas with low tree canopy. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 92 Tree Policy ● A large number of comments at public meetings focused on the potential for new policies and ordinances that would strengthen protections for trees on private property. Comments were made both in support of, and in opposition to, such policies. ● There were a number of questions and comments that indicated that participants want to learn more about policy options to create an informed opinion. ● In response to discussion and written comments about private tree policy, there were several requests for separate, added engagement that focuses on this topic. ● While residents are divided about tree protection on private residential land, there was more general support for strengthening tree protection policies that govern large developments and commercial properties. Resident Resources • Homeowners would like to learn more about proper tree care. ● Cost is a difficulty many residents face when planting new trees. Tree care and removal costs are a burden to homeowners. ● There is strong support for additional resources for private property owners that support private tree protection, for example, financial resources, mitigation credits, and outreach and education. Support for resources may be in addition to, or in lieu of, mandates. ● There were a few requests about guidelines for preventing trees from blocking solar panels. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 93 Figure 38. An interactive board from the October 25, 2023, public meeting. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 94 Partner Focus Groups In October and November, 2023, the City of Fort Collins held a series of partner focus group meetings with city departments/divisions and external partners to inform the development of Fort Collins' Urban Forest Strategic Plan. In total, representatives from more than 49 partner entities and branches of local government participated across ten focus group meetings. Meeting Participants City of Fort Collins Departments & Divisions Cemeteries Connexion FC Moves Forestry Fort Collins 911 Gardens on Spring Creek Golf Light & Power Natural Areas Nature in the City Neighborhood Services Parks Planning Planning, Development, Transportation Park Planning & Development Police Services Recreation Streets Utilities External Partners Arthur Irrigation Company Bartlett Tree Experts Bath Landscape Design & Irrigation Co. BHA Design Blue River Forestry & Tree Care Broadcom Inc. Colorado State University CSU Extension Davey Tree Downtown Development Authority Downtown General Improvement District Fort Collins Tree Care Inc. City of Greeley Hartford Homes HF2M Inc. Housing Catalyst Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company Larimer County, Natural Resources Lumen Norris Design Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal Company Poudre Fire Authority Poudre River Public Library District Poudre School District Ripley Design Inc. SavATree South Side Ditch Company Transfort Wisdom Tree Care Zak George Landscaping This section provides a description of major themes that arose from the ten meetings and the needs, issues, challenges, and opportunities that were identified with each theme. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 96 Policies & Procedures ● Create Explanatory Resources About City Policies and Procedures. Stakeholders requested more plain-language written explanations and illustrations about city code to consolidate and convey information in various formats and to provide consistency in code implementation across staffing changes. Examples include tip sheets, best management practices manuals, and specifications. ● Industry Standards. City policy should refer to written standards that can be easily updated and that reflect industry best practices. Examples include standards for boring and utility clearance. Standards should be consistent for in-house versus contracted labor. ● Code Enforcement. Even with good tree policies on the books, both internal and external stakeholders noted that the City often lacks the resources to consistently monitor and enforce those policies. Examples were cited for development—both tree protection policies during construction and replacement of mature trees within developments. ● Irrigation Standards. Tree roots can be damaged by improper irrigation. There is a need for improved education, outreach, permitting, and Forestry department involvement related to good irrigation practices for trees. ● Tree Metrics and Goals. Stakeholders expressed uncertainty about what tree metrics and goals they should use for plans and to measure progress. For example, is the number of trees or canopy cover a more important metric? ● Tree Replacement Policy for Subdivisions. Developers would like to see an adjustment to the time frame for which they are responsible for tree survival after new developments are completed. Tree care becomes the responsibility of homeowners after they move into their houses. In practice, mature trees are often not being replaced by developers per city code unless there are HOA funds to replace them. City and Stakeholder Coordination ● Good Camaraderie and Culture. Both internal and external stakeholder groups noted existing camaraderie among different City departments that touch trees and between the City and several external partners. They noted an intentional effort toward development of personal relationships that facilitates communication and collaboration. Communication and partnership with Forestry is established with many organizations and is performing well. ● City Interdepartmental Coordination. Stakeholders noted several opportunities for improved coordination among city departments; examples included adding more departments to sidewalk repair maps, collaborating on a compost program that is under development, and adding Forestry to planning teams for other City plans. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 97 o Stakeholders in development and construction noted a need for more City interdepartmental coordination and communication on tree species, planting locations, and tree protection requirements, particularly between the departments of Zoning and Forestry. o An informal Veg Team was established in the past two years with representation from different departments that manage vegetation to discuss shared management objectives and goals. It meets 2-3 times per year. The Veg Team grew from a need for more formal policy, e.g., during plan review. ● Collaboration With and Among External Partners. Stakeholders named several examples where the City could facilitate broader conversations about urban forestry with and among external partners. Examples include: o Facilitate a regional meeting that brings together tree care companies and foresters to share information and respond to emerging threats. o It was noted that the City has a good working relationship with Colorado State University on the maintenance of trees on properties adjacent to CSU campus. The City and CSU coordinate on maintenance and treatment contracts for trees in shared spaces. o There is an opportunity to expand the CSU partnership model to other partners who steward large tracts of land or campuses. Potential engagement topics include tree management, planning, and planting on campus and adjacent properties and setting an example for other businesses in Fort Collins. o The City, Poudre Schools, and CSU all operate annual Arbor Day celebrations that are good opportunities to reach the public. There is some coordination on annual celebrations to set annual themes. This may be an opportunity for further coordination. o The Cities of Greeley and Fort Collins noted opportunities to collaborate more, for example, to share resources and information. Greeley has a City plant database with hydrozone as a filter criterion that could be useful in Fort Collins. ● Consistent Messaging. Coordination with partners to provide consistent messaging on topics such as EAB, cutting for solar, and property management. Public Education & Outreach ● Strong Public Support for Trees. Trees are largely viewed as assets by community members, partner organizations, and elected officials. City council recently declared trees to be “living infrastructure”. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 98 ● Trees as Infrastructure. A potential drawback to strong community support for trees is that they can be viewed as simplified or undervalued assets, which misses the complexity of their management needs as infrastructure. For example, residents may complain when trees are removed due to poor health. This is an opportunity for more education and outreach. ● CSU Extension. The Extension service receives a lot of questions/feedback about trees from residents and has started programs to address this, e.g., a Master Gardener program that provides free tree expertise to residents. ● Xeriscaping. Stakeholders noted a need for more public education about tree establishment and watering in a xeric environment. It is difficult to grow trees in Fort Collins relative to other places in the U.S. o Homeowners, HOAs, and irrigation companies could all be better educated about proper tree watering practices. ● Public Notice. The City could improve its communication to the public about its own activities; examples given include planned tree maintenance and removals, if there are alternatives to mitigation planting in suboptimal locations, planting permits, and ROW designation. ● Homeowner Rights and Responsibilities. Homeowners may not be adequately educated about their rights and responsibilities for trees in their yards and within the ditch easement, alleys, and street ROW. o Home buyers within new developments may need more education about tree benefits and care to promote survivorship of newly planted trees. Involving them earlier in the homebuying process to teach and gather input regarding species and location of trees that will be planted in their yards may promote survivorship. ● Infrastructure Conflicts. Ditch easements and alleys are often sites for utility conflicts, which arise from poor management of trees and uncertainty around rights and responsibilities for maintenance. At the same time, utilities may have misconceptions about how trees impact infrastructure. There is an opportunity for better education to the public and within utilities companies. Right Tree In The Right Place ● Species Selection. Tree species diversity can be challenging in Fort Collins due to its high desert climate and a growing emphasis on water conservation. Several needs for support with species selection were noted: o Species recommendations for naturalized buffers to boost habitat and capture stormwater. Importance of native/cottonwood forests along rivers for wildlife and enjoyment by people. o Ensuring minimum species diversity and adequate Forestry involvement, particularly for new developments. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 99 o Balancing species requirements with design and aesthetic preferences. Tree planting palettes are limited and shift often, which is a source of frustration for developers and landscape designers. They would like to see more consideration for design within new developments. o Mitigation planting recommendations. o Limited species in streetscapes, but parks present an opportunity to diversify plantings. Expanded plant palettes for parks. o Limited space downtown where planting spaces are small. ● Planting Locations. On a topic that closely relates to species recommendations, stakeholders are looking for more guidance from the City on proper planting locations. o Trees along trails are hard to establish (i.e., solitary/exposed) and maintenance is difficult, which can create conflict within departments. o Clarification on responsible parties at different planting locations, for example, along utility ROWs. o In sites that cycle through site plans > tree planting > dead tree > required replant—does failure to establish mean that the location isn’t appropriate for a tree, or does it require a different kind of tree and/or different management? How is the city handling sites with repeated tree failure? o Downtown is very well served by many organizations that include trees in their programming and budgets. Perhaps other parts of Fort Collins are in need of similar investment. ● Sourcing Trees. Stakeholders noted that it is becoming increasingly hard to find new species or hardy ones due to development pressure and increased tree planting. Local shortages require ordering from more distant wholesale nurseries. This can affect plant hardiness and species diversity. ● Costs. Tree maintenance costs are burdensome to landowners. Trees and Other Infrastructure ● Ditch Easements. The rules and stewardship of the land without ownership along ditch easements were brought up in several stakeholder conversations. Trees that are not adequately maintained pose a risk to both residential structures and ditches. Conflicts arise because maintenance of trees within ditch easements is the responsibility of the homeowner; however, ditch companies are responsible for the delivery of water. The City is limited in their authority to regulate ditch easements. o Homeowners may not be adequately educated about their rights and responsibilities for the ditch easement. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 100 o Trees are often not intentionally planted in the easement and are often not well maintained. o There’s conflicting information about how tree roots impact ditch embankments—do they stabilize them or deteriorate them? Opportunity for better education. ● Alleys. Alleys have abundant trees that are often not well managed, which creates conflicts with utilities. The rights and responsibilities of homeowners, the City, and utilities with regard to tree care was noted as a point of confusion for all three groups. ● Traffic Calming. CSU and the City share a joint interest in trees as traffic- calming measures, which can be linked to their Vision Zero programs to eliminate traffic fatalities. Fort Collins is a leading city in the U.S. in bike use and bike safety. CSU has examples of vegetated medians on their campus that they think should be replicated throughout the city to make better use of center turn lanes, promote bike safety, and reduce maintenance costs. ● Street Conflicts. A number of infrastructure conflicts with street trees were brought up in discussion. A recurring question was whether adjacent property owners have adequate information/resources to maintain trees in the street ROW. ● Solar Infrastructure. There is conflicting information for homeowners who are installing solar arrays about how much tree clearance is needed and which species are compatible with solar. ● Bike Infrastructure. Trees can block bike racks, and low-hanging branches are a concern over bike lanes. At the same time, low-stress bike networks are an effort to make ROW more bikeable and reduce conflict with cars; they could use more shade. Threats to the Urban Forest ● Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The City has an EAB management plan but does not have funding to remove trees that present a hazard to the ROW, which is the responsibility of adjacent property owners. EAB management in the ROW requires the City to increase enforcement of city codes. o There may be an opportunity to collaborate with contractors to offer payment plans to ease financial barriers. o There is a need for more EAB education/outreach to homeowners, renters, and HOAs. Also a need for different agencies to coordinate on EAB messaging. ● Species Selection/Diversity. Species lists should reflect the latest information about climate change, with adequate consideration for xeriscaping and resistance to pests/diseases. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 101 ● Fire Safety. Is there a need for public education about the placement of evergreen trees close to homes? ● Water Use. As the cost of water increases and the community reduces water use, it is important to provide adequate water to support trees. Some HOAs may be limited in the dues they can collect to support tree watering. ORDINANCE REVIEW City regulations and ordinances establish a regulatory framework for the protection, preservation, planting, and care of public and private trees. Fort Collins’ Code of Ordinances (2023) and Land Use Code (2023) were reviewed in January 2024 using a set of criteria from the 2016 Municipal Tree Census (Hauer & Peterson, 2016) and International Society of Arboriculture Ordinance Guidelines (Swiecki & Bernhardt, 2001). Any changes to City codes and regulations after January 2024 are not reflected in this ordinance review. The ordinance review (Appendix C) identifies several areas where existing code could be strengthened, including the following recommendations: • Reference the Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices manual within city code. The manual contains procedures and policies related to arborist licensing, pruning, and other tree activities that the city has relied on since 2010 but that are not encoded in city ordinance. Referencing the manual ensures that its use will persist across staffing and leadership changes. ○ Update the manual to comply with current best management practices. • Establish an insect/disease control strategy, and/or reference external documents such as the Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan that describe authority, procedures, and policies for pest and disease control. • Expand tree protections: ○ Extend tree protection to prohibit damage to trees that are required to be preserved or protected. ○ Provide credits or incentives for tree preservation. ○ Establish penalties for damage or removal of trees that are to be preserved, protected, or saved. ○ Expand tree protections that currently only apply to development to additional scenarios. • Encode the existing wood waste program and Tree Fund to preserve existing programs and resources across any future changes in leadership. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 102 HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION Heritage Trees, sometimes also called Landmark or Significant Trees, are mature trees that receive special recognition and protection due to their ecological, cultural, and/or historic significance. The designation of heritage tree status acknowledges the outsized benefits that these trees provide to their communities and seeks to protect them from damage, removal, and neglect. Typically, protections are either reinforced through community outreach exercises including education, mapping, and storytelling, or required by policy or ordinance. Mature trees provide many benefits to communities, including cleaner water, cooler and cleaner air, improved human health outcomes, increased safety, and positive effects on business and commerce. The value of some of these benefits can be quantified based on avoided costs—for example, trees that cool the air help nearby residents save on energy costs. However, most of the demonstrated benefits from trees are not currently quantifiable, and many heritage tree designations are founded on preserving access to a diverse species or the emotional connection to specific trees that serve as a backdrop to community events and key historic moments. To develop recommendations for Fort Collins’ Forestry Division as it explores the creation of a Heritage Tree program, DRG reviewed existing programs for heritage or landmark trees of 24 municipalities. Cities were identified based on internet searches for “heritage tree”, “landmark tree”, “remarkable tree”, and “significant tree” terms along with “program” or “ordinance”; they were also identified by the City of Los Angeles and from references contained within resources about heritage tree programs. In general, existing heritage tree programs can be characterized into two basic structures: voluntary programs, where trees are nominated for heritage status based on ecologic, cultural, and/or historic significance; and mandatory programs, where trees are automatically enrolled into a heritage tree program once they reach a certain size. Several cities combine aspects of voluntary and mandatory programs. Preservation The Land Use Code references “significant trees” as being at least 6 inches DSH and requires their preservation “to the extent reasonably feasible”. Heritage Tree Programs Austin, TX Charlotte, NC Corvallis, OR Fernandina Beach, FL Fort Worth, TX Glenview, IL Lakewood, WA Manitou Springs, CO Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 103 Menlo Park, CA Nashville, TN Palo Alto, CA Pittsburgh, PA Portland, OR Sacramento, CA Salem, OR San Luis Obispo, CA San Mateo, CA Santa Cruz, CA Seattle, WA Sonoma, CA Telluride, CO Washington, DC Westmont, IL Whitemarsh, PA Voluntary Heritage Tree Programs Thirteen cities with voluntary heritage tree programs were reviewed. Voluntary programs are those in which public and/or privately owned trees may be nominated for recognition as heritage trees; trees are not automatically enrolled. All of the reviewed programs applied to trees on public land, and all programs allowed for nomination of trees based on local landmark status or cultural/historical significance in addition to, or instead of, size and species constraints. Seven of 13 cities’ heritage tree programs restrict the removal of designated trees. Two cities (Telluride and Seattle) have city ordinances with detailed restrictions governing heritage trees once designated. Seven programs map or describe the trees for the public; four cities share heritage tree characteristics via an interactive map such as an ESRI StoryMap. Summary ● Requires property owner consent (100% of programs examined) ● Nomination criteria includes social factors (cultural or historical significance, local landmark; 100% of programs) ● Mapped locations shared with the public (62%) ● Restricts removal (54%) ● Requires certified arborist assessment before or after designation (38%) ● Heritage tree status maintained across land transfers (46%) ● Shared via an interactive web map (31%) ● Provides public maintenance funds (15%) ● Maintenance requires a permit (15%) Mandatory Heritage Tree Programs Thirteen municipal ordinances were reviewed in which trees of a certain size are automatically enrolled in a heritage tree program, thereby protecting the tree from Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 104 removal or significant damage. Seven of these cities additionally permit designation of a heritage tree based on cultural or historic significance. None of the programs reviewed applied to park lands only. In one city (Sonoma, CA), the city assumes maintenance and removal responsibility for heritage trees, regardless of location. In the other twelve cities, a permit is required to remove a heritage tree. Most of these cities waive the permit requirement if the tree is hazardous. Eleven cities require mitigation planting and/or a fee-in-lieu for heritage trees that are removed. Summary ● Prohibits removal and damage (100% of programs reviewed) ● Minimum size requirement (100% of programs). Median = 15 inches DSH (range 8–50 inches DSH) ● Permit required for removal (92%). Permit often waived if tree is hazardous (69%). ● Mitigation required (85%) o Planting required: varies in number of stems, by inch, etc (85%). Sometimes there are species requirements (62%). o Relocation required (8%) o Fee-in-lieu (77%): varies from $250 flat fee to value calculated from basal area ● Species requirements for heritage tree designation (46%) ● Fee for removal (15%; separate from mitigation requirements) ● Requirements vary by land type (15%): in two cases, small residential properties were exempted, or public/private/developed land had different requirements CITY POLICIES AND PLANS The City of Fort Collins is committed to continuously enhancing, improving, and innovating services for its community. To achieve this, various City and County departments collaborate in developing plans, studies, and strategies. A comprehensive assessment of selected City of Fort Collins plans, studies, and standards was conducted to evaluate the integration of tree preservation, protection, and planting efforts. The purpose of the review is to identify opportunities or gaps in these documents and provide recommendations that will improve Fort Collins’s urban forest resource. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 105 ● Fort Collins Water Efficiency Plan (2015) ● Water Shortage Action Plan (2020) ● Fort Collins City Plan (2019) ● Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020) ● Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2021) ● Fort Collins Our Climate Future Plan (2021) ● Fort Collins Strategic Plan (2022) - lists city council priorities ● Larimer County Internal Climate Action, Resilience, And Education (ICARE) Report (2023) Ratings trees not incorporated trees incorporated but requires revision or implementation trees fully incorporated & implemented Fort Collins Water Efficiency Plan (2015) Description: Presents the current state of Fort Collins’ water supply system, demand, and management, as well as the opportunities and corresponding implementation principles to increase efficiency. Opportunity/Gaps: Opportunity exists to promote urban trees’ role in improving stormwater management, explore the impacts of water restrictions on trees, and include recommendations for ensuring trees receive adequate irrigation. Recommendation: Publish an updated document to update community members on the city’s water supply and current water efficiency efforts and provide efficient tree watering recommendations. Water Shortage Action Plan (2020) Description: The Water Shortage Action Plan outlines emergency restrictions to water use to manage Fort Collins’s water supply in the event of projected shortages. The Plan includes restrictions to tree irrigation: watering trees is permitted under all levels of water restrictions, but under higher levels, trees must be hand-watered or drip/microspray irrigated to maximize efficiency. Opportunity/Gaps: Tree watering best practices could promote further water conservation and tree health. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 106 Recommendation: Update plan to include tree watering best practices, or, consider a public outreach campaign to raise awareness of tree watering best practices in the event of water shortage. Fort Collins City Plan (2019) Description: Shapes decision-making and funding priorities over the next 10-20 years to implement the vision and goals gathered from community members. Opportunity/Gaps: Trees offer numerous “co-benefits” not included in the Plan that can serve as a crucial tool in achieving the city’s goals, including: sequestering and storing carbon, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, reducing energy usage through strategically planting trees around buildings, increasing pedestrian, cyclist, and driver comfort along streets, sidewalks, and bus stops by providing shade, providing food with the development of maintained food forests/orchards in parks and open spaces, and increasing a community’s connectivity, involvement, safety, and attractiveness. Recommendation: Creating and maintaining a safe, healthy and resilient urban forest is recognized as a guiding principle in meeting one of the Plan’s core values of Environmental Health. Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will assist in meeting the goals of the City Plan. Fort Collins Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management and Response Plan (2020) Description: Reviews current EAB situation, the city’s plan, and the challenges at a time when EAB had just been detected in the city. Opportunity/Gaps: The implementation of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan’s recommendations may relieve the deferred maintenance impacts and their negative consequences anticipated in the EAB Management and Response Plan. Recommendation: Publish an updated document to inform the community on the current EAB distribution, the treatment’s progress, and the future management plan. Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2021) Description: Envisions the future of parks and recreation, addressing needs and providing a strategic roadmap for the City to shape the system over the next 20 years. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 107 Opportunity/Gaps: The Plan identifies the promotion of planting, preservation, and maintenance of canopy trees and native vegetation on public and private land as a key action in implementing the city’s parks and recreation goals. Recommendation: Coordinate the implementation of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan to assist in meeting the goals of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Fort Collins Our Climate Future Plan (2021) Description: Defines the city's goals for climate, waste, energy, community equity and resilience, along with their respective implementation strategies. Opportunity/Gaps: One of the “next moves” action items identified in the Plan is the development of an Urban Forest Strategic Plan, and a progress metric of healthy natural spaces to be the city’s tree replacement rate and percent canopy coverage. Trees could also be included in the goals relating to building an equitable and resilient community, reducing energy use, becoming carbon neutral, and increasing healthy local food sources. Recommendation: Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will assist in meeting the goals of the Our Climate Future Plan. Fort Collins Strategic Plan (2022) Description: As a companion to the City Plan, the Strategic Plan outlines short- and mid-term objectives, influences the City’s budgeting process, and guides the implementation of the City’s services. Opportunity/Gaps: Trees are identified as an integral piece of the “Neighborhood Livability & Social Health” strategic initiative, which precisely calls out the components needed for a healthy urban forest. Although trees’ role in this category has broad implications, there is an opportunity to further incorporate urban forestry into other strategic initiatives. Recommendation: Implementation of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan will assist in meeting the goals of the Our Climate Future Plan. Larimer County Internal Climate Action, Resilience, And Education (ICARE) Report (2023) Description: Captures progress of County’s climate goals since the adoption of the initial ICARE document in 2022, with intent to guide the forthcoming County Climate and Sustainability Plan. This plan, the completion of which is anticipated in 2024, aims to address climate change and lessen impacts on community members with innovative mitigation and adaptation strategies. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 108 Opportunity/Gaps: There is opportunity to include the planting, maintenance, and preservation of trees into the County’s goals. Recommendation: Collaborate with the Larimer County Climate and Sustainability Plan process to ensure integration and mutual reinforcement between the Urban Forest Strategic Plan's priorities, recommendations, and actions, contributing to the sustainable development and progress of Larimer County. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & POLICY INTEGRATION: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Findings from the community engagement process demonstrate that the people of Fort Collins value trees and understand the myriad ways that trees enhance quality of life in the city. Feedback that was gathered from the public survey and three public meetings indicate that residents are invested in the ongoing management of Fort Collins’s trees and the ways that the City will help ensure tree canopy preservation and growth into the future. Residents are particularly interested in resources that will help them be effective stewards of tree canopy. Examples of resources that were requested include opportunities to volunteer and intern with Forestry; education and information about species selection, including drought tolerant, climate adapted, and native species; opportunities to provide input into citywide forestry management, such as shaping biodiversity and species composition of the urban forest; helping to recognize and manage pests and diseases; becoming educated about proper tree care; and having access to financial resources to help defray costs associated with tree maintenance. Feedback from Forestry Division partners, both internal and external to City government, underscored the collaborative nature of Forestry staff and the high level of expertise and service that they provide. Suggestions from these meetings focused on building efficiency in partnerships and increasing the number of resources that can assist partners with their own tree management. Suggested resources include plain-language explanations of city code and policy, improved consistency of code enforcement, tree species recommendations, information about tree best management practices including care and irrigation, clarification about responsibilities, and resources that can be shared with clients and the general public. Several suggestions also centered on better integrating urban forestry and the Forestry Division into existing and future planning efforts that relate to climate resilience and city priorities. A review of existing ordinances, policies, and plans highlighted possible areas where the City can enhance tree protection and preservation. Protection and preservation Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 109 are important strategies for canopy growth over time, both because a majority of tree canopy is contained on land that is not city-owned, and preservation is more effective (and cost effective) than relying on tree planting alone. Private property protections are a topic of particular interest to the general public, with strong opinions on multiple sides. In general, there seems to be stronger existing support for tree protections that affect development, large tracts of land, and large redevelopment projects than for ordinances that would affect private residential property. Many residents expressed a need for more information before taking a position. Further engagement would be needed to accurately gauge public support for any enhanced protection measures. It is recommended that the City conduct additional, focused engagement on the topic of tree protection ordinances, particularly those that apply to private residential property. Trees Contribute to Neighborhood Livability & Social Health Trees Enhance Streetscapes. Trees beautify streets and encourage residents to spend time outdoors. Trees along streets and sidewalks help to slow traffic and create more comfortable conditions for walking, biking, and public transit use. Trees Improve Public Health. Trees provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, improve access to nature, and reduce stressors that impact vulnerable populations. People living in neighborhoods with more canopy cover have been shown to have better overall health, including lower rates of obesity, more social cohesion, less stress, and lower blood pressure. Trees significantly decrease the incidence of asthma and heart disease in a community and help residents feel more at ease. The primary mechanism for these effects arise from the ability of tree canopy to reduce air pollution, extreme heat, and stress. Residents are three times more likely to be physically active when they live in areas with high levels of trees and vegetation. A 2018 study showed that residents reporting poor mental health decreased 63% 18 months after vacant lots near their homes were planted with grass and trees. Trees Provide a Sense of Community. Trees in neighborhoods contribute to a sense of community. In Fort Collins, oaks, pines, and cottonwoods have strong cultural significance. Tree canopy is often cited by residents as one of the reasons they love living here. Sources: Swift et al., 1997; Kuo, 2003; Ellaway et al., 2005; Ewing & Dumbaugh, 2009; O’Neil-Dunn, 2012; Donovan et al., 2013; Roe et al., 2013; Gilstad-Hayden et al., 2015; Ulmer et al., 2016; South et al., 2018. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 110 Chapter 5: Recommendations & Implementation THEMES & OUTCOME AREAS Three overarching themes were identified during development of the strategic plan that summarize the Forestry Division’s vision for the urban forest over the next 20 years. Urban Forestry Strategic Plan Themes 4. Build resilience & wellbeing of people and trees 5. Sustainably grow the Forestry program 6. Expand the community’s appreciation for trees Additionally, the recommendations of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan reflect seven Outcome Areas that are detailed in the Fort Collins City Plan (2019) and the 2022 Strategic Plan. Because of the many social, economic, and environmental benefits that trees provide, the recommendations of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan relate to all seven of these Outcome Areas. The most relevant Outcome Areas are listed for each recommendation. Call-out boxes throughout this plan detail the ways that tree benefits support each outcome. Outcome Areas 1. Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 2. Culture & Recreation 3. Economic Health 4. Environmental Health 5. Safe Community 6. Transportation & Mobility 7. High-Performing Government RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES & INITIATIVES Eight urban forestry strategic recommendations are presented to guide Fort Collins’ forestry initiatives over the next 20 years. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 111 Within each recommendation, the current state of Fort Collins’ urban forestry program is summarized as it relates to the recommendation. Following each recommendation are two levels of action steps that can support accomplishment of each recommendation. ● Foundational Initiatives represent those that may be simpler to implement, or more urgent, or strategies that must be completed before some or all of the Transformational Initiatives can be tackled. ● Transformational Initiatives may be more complicated or difficult alternatives to Foundational Initiatives, or they may represent standalone strategies that are complex or on a long implementation horizon. At the same time, Transformational Initiatives may provide more value to the forestry program and the City’s larger civic goals and Outcome Areas. RECOMMENDATION 1. STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN GROWING TREE CANOPY WHERE IT WILL PROMOTE RESILIENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN FORT COLLINS While tree canopy is growing in Fort Collins, it is not evenly distributed across the city. Targeted investment in planting and maintenance where trees provide the most value can help Forestry support multiple civic goals. This presents the opportunity to adapt to climate change and the needs of the community in ways that lead the region in preparedness. Urban forestry activities that tie into other civic objectives—such as encouraging cycling, walking, and public transit use—can demonstrate how urban forestry is intertwined with quality of life in Fort Collins. Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Culture & Recreation, Transportation & Mobility Current State ● Citywide tree canopy cover is 13.7% and has grown 753 acres (17.3%) in the decade from 2011–2021. ● Tree cover in the city + growth management area is 12.6% and has grown 936 acres (17.2%) in the past decade. ● Tree canopy cover ranges widely across Fort Collins. Among 137 US Census block groups (federal geographic areas that are smaller than a census tract), tree cover ranges from <0.1% to 41%. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 112 Foundational Initiatives ● Prioritize planting and maintenance within areas of greatest tree canopy loss that correspond to priority areas for health and social factors and combined human/environmental wellbeing (see the Priority Planting Analysis). ● Implement a parks planting plan to identify and strategically fill vacant planting sites (e.g., Living Tribute Trees) as well as rebuild canopy within new parks. Transformational Initiatives ● Prioritize planting and maintenance along bicycle routes and around bus stops. ● Coordinate with other city departments to integrate trees into a complete streets framework, an urban planning design concept that aims to make streets comfortable and safe for all users. ● Plant along walking/cycling/public transportation corridors to build tree connectivity to parks. Encourage citywide adoption of existing metrics such as the 10-Minute Walk, an initiative that aims to place all city residents within a 10-minute walk of quality parks and nature. ● Plant trees along other transportation corridors, such as Safe Routes to Schools. ● Utilize third-party metrics for social equity such as the Tree Equity Score from American Forests to guide planting and maintenance investments and communicate about equity with the public. ● Develop and set canopy goals for different geographies. For example, set goals that differ by land use type, factoring in variability in potential tree canopy among differing land uses; alternatively, create separate goals by district. RECOMMENDATION 2. CREATE A TREE PLANTING PLAN A planting plan can guide tree planting efforts to reach desired levels of planting and more equitably distribute tree canopy across the city. Planning over longer periods of time allows for species selection, sourcing of trees, and spreads out the maintenance needs of tree cohorts over time. Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Sustainable Growth Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 113 Outcome Area: Environmental Health Current State ● In the past 5 years, average annual public tree removals have outpaced public tree plantings: 633 trees removed per year vs. 500 trees planted per year. ● In 2021-2022, tree plantings surpassed removals (556 trees planted vs. 513 trees removed). Two $50K grants in 2022 and 2023 helped achieve more trees planted. ● The Community Canopy Program (established in 2018) has provided 1,000 trees for $25/tree to residents within the Growth Management Area. Foundational Initiatives ● Scale annual tree planting efforts to replace public tree losses due to tree removals and natural mortality. ● Create a planting plan to fill vacant planting spaces over 10 years. ● Incorporate new species that are recommended for future climate conditions, making considerations for drought tolerance, warmer and more extreme temperatures, and pest/disease tolerance. ● Work with water efficiency experts to create species guidance by irrigation zones. ● Grow the Community Canopy Program to supply more trees to residents for planting on private property. Transformational Initiatives ● Shift species composition of the urban forest toward more drought-tolerant species. ● Build species-level biodiversity of the public tree inventory. Track the use of cultivars and varieties. ● Explore a citywide tree canopy goal that can inform planting and protection objectives for private property. ● Provide species guidance for tree giveaways and private planting. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 114 RECOMMENDATION 3. COMPLETE THE SHIFT TO PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FORT COLLIN’S PUBLIC TREES The Forestry Division strives for a 5-year pruning rotation to improve the health of public trees and create safe public spaces in the community. Additional resources will be needed to continue a 5-year pruning cycle, which reduces the costs of storm and emergency response and helps maintain the health of public trees. An urban forest management plan can provide operational direction for Forestry and the city for the next 5–10 years. A management plan is more detailed than an urban forest strategic plan; it utilizes data to prioritize tree activities and ensures that trees are integrated into the city’s other overlapping plans and outcome areas. Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Economic Health, Safe Community Current State ● From 2018–2022, Forestry pruned 8,670 trees (18.2% of the public tree inventory) per year, on average. ● In 2022, Forestry pruned 10,877 trees (22.4% of the public tree inventory) with the aid resource cost recovery and carry over from 2021 snow storm. Foundational Initiatives ● Implement a 5-year routine pruning cycle. ● Plan to scale up pruning activities as additional trees are added to the inventory. ● Use the existing tree inventory to inform management decisions based on species and size. ● Create an urban forest management plan that details Forestry operations over the next 5–10 years. ● Incorporate the storm response plan, City Plan, Parks Master Plan, Our Climate Future plan, and other city management plans. Transformational Initiatives ● Use enhanced inventory data to guide management based on risk rating, recommended maintenance, and/or related metrics. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 115 ● Project tree benefits under different management scenarios. ● Integrate natural areas inventory data into natural areas management plans. RECOMMENDATION 4. STRENGTHEN CITY POLICIES TO PROTECT TREES Tree protection in Fort Collins currently focuses on the stewardship of public trees, with less policy development around private tree protection. Because a majority of the city’s trees are found on private land, additional opportunities to protect trees on private land—whether through policy or incentives—will help curb canopy losses in parts of the city and help protect community tree benefits for all residents. Themes: Resilience & Wellbeing, Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Environmental Health Current State ● The existing city code has provisions for public tree planting, protection, and care. ● A draft land use code adds additional protections and planting requirements for trees during development. ● Supplemental documents—e.g. Tree Management Standards and BMPs— strengthen city policies but are not referenced in city code. ● Public sentiment about private tree protection lags behind support for trees on public land; however, public opinion is divided, and a large portion of public participants in the UFSP process indicate that they do not know enough about issues such as heritage tree programs to state their opinion. Foundational Initiatives ● Reference existing supplemental policy documents for Forestry, including the Tree Management Standards and BMPs document, in city code. ● Adopt a citywide land use code that improves tree preservation and protection while balancing other priorities and needs of the community. o One example of policy changes that favor trees is to amend ground cover requirements in planter strips to allow for wood mulch areas around trees to retain water, reduce competition, and protect tree roots. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 116 ● Draft a heritage tree program that allows for the elective enrollment of trees that have cultural, historic, or ecological value. ● Create policy summaries or tip sheets that clarify the responsibility for tree maintenance within alleyways. ● Plan for education and outreach that will guide policy development about tree protection for development scenarios on private land. ● Encode existing good practices—best management practices, certified arborist requirements, wood utilization program—in city ordinance. ● Build upon the Emerald Ash Borer Management and Response Plan (2020) to create a more generalized insect/disease control plan to address existing and future threats. Reference the plan within city ordinance. Transformational Initiatives ● Draft a heritage tree policy that protects trees greater than a certain size on private property. Require a permit for, or prohibit, pruning or removal of heritage trees. o For reference, 6% of public trees are >24 in DSH and 2% of public trees are >36 in DSH. o Connect policy to stormwater and water efficiency public benefits of large trees. o Exclude invasive species and those that are prohibited by existing ordinance. ● Clarify the legal responsibility for trees within vacant and boundary areas (land without ownership) to encourage the protection and growth of tree canopy within these spaces. ● Plan for tree preservation and tree canopy expansion within areas in the Growth Management Area that are to remain as future green space as identified by the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. ● Expand tree protection policies within the Land Use Code to apply to non- development scenarios. ● Develop additional policy for tree protection on private land—for example, protecting trees during residential property development scenarios. Educate and engage with the public about policy scenarios to gauge public support. ● Require landfill diversion for wood waste from private land. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 117 RECOMMENDATION 5. COLLECT DATA TO TRACK CHANGES TO TREE CANOPY OVER TIME AND TO INFORM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES Accurate, up-to-date data can inform sound decision making. Planning for future urban tree canopy assessments and tree inventory updates will provide information that can help the Forestry Division evaluate progress and refine management strategies. Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Area: High-Performing Government Current State ● An existing urban tree canopy assessment and public tree inventory provide bottom-up and top-down information about tree canopy. ● Tree inventory information utilizes trained volunteers to provide up-to-date information about public trees. Foundational Initiatives ● Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 5 years using 2026 data (2027– 2028 BFO cycle) to measure canopy change. o Measure five-class land cover: tree canopy, vegetation, impervious surface, bare soil, open water. o Evaluate urban tree canopy within street rights-of-way. o Calculate how tree benefits have changed with tree canopy over time. ● Map existing public trees under threat from pests and/or drought using inventory data; look for trends that may inform tree activities. ● Complete data fields for all public trees about irrigation status and EAB treatment priority. ● Complete a sample inventory of natural areas. Transformational Initiatives ● Repeat an urban tree canopy assessment in 2 years to capture early canopy changes due to emerald ash borer. Advance mapping options: o Canopy health and broadleaf/evergreen distribution Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 118 o Tree canopy cover and change within additional geographies—e.g., riparian and ditch areas, alleyways, land uses, private/public land—to guide and measure the effects of policy changes ● Update the public tree inventory on a 5-year cycle. ● Utilize certified arborists to capture tree inventory data about risk and recommended maintenance, to inform proactive maintenance. RECOMMENDATION 6. SUSTAINABLY GROW THE FORESTRY DIVISION TO KEEP PACE WITH GROWTH OF THE URBAN FOREST The Forestry Division currently provides an excellent level of service to the city of Fort Collins. Additional metrics about tree activities will be helpful for internal planning, budgeting, and reporting to both city council and the community. The public tree inventory reflects the city’s sustained commitment to planting. With 60 percent of the public tree inventory consisting of young trees, and new trees being planted every year, it will be necessary to plan for growth of the Forestry program. Additional capacity and a sustainable funding stream will be needed to keep pace with growth of the public tree inventory. Themes: Sustainable Growth Outcome Areas: Economic Health, High-Performing Government Current State ● Access FC allows for and tracks resident requests. ● The Fort Collins 2022 Strategic Plan and Budgeting for Outcomes process require relation of tree activities to Outcome Areas. ● Forestry is providing a great level of service compared with U.S. cities but is approaching the threshold of tree activities that they are able to perform annually with existing resources. Foundational Initiatives ● Internally track public requests that are submitted via phone and email. ● Regularly report on budget expenditures by tree activity. ● Create work plans to make efficient use of personnel and budget. ● Acquire additional staff for tree planting/preparation and pruning. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 119 ● Add capacity for grant writing and reporting. ● Pursue grants and other limited funding opportunities. ● Contribute to local initiatives to expand the green workforce. Transformational Initiatives ● Use resource management software to track public requests. ● Create an urban forestry planner position. ● Annually or biannually report to the public on tree activities. ● Link tree activities to health, social, and environmental data, and to civic data (transit ridership, cycling/pedestrian stats, city Outcome Areas) as available. ● Add at least one additional, fully equipped Forestry crew. ● Implement a staff rotation schedule. Regularly rotate Forestry staff to different teams to provide rest from physical labor and build knowledge across the team. ● Increase the space that is available to Forestry for operations, equipment, and wood waste. Locate space where it can maximize efficiency of fuel use and time. ● Increase the budget for tree maintenance over time as young trees grow. ● Create new sources of sustained funding, such as a Tree Fund, and align with City Give. RECOMMENDATION 7. DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TREE STEWARDSHIP There is a great amount of support for trees and urban forestry in Fort Collins from the public, officials, and the surrounding region. This public support can help facilitate conversations about difficult decisions and expand engagement to new community sectors. Themes: Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Neighborhood Livability & Social Health, Environmental Health Current State ● The public shows a high level of support for public trees and the Forestry Division. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 120 ● Forestry has established wood waste and tree ambassador programs. ● Public opinion varies on the topic of private property tree protections. Foundational Initiatives ● Continue to support the wood waste program and grow the network of urban woodworkers and wood utilization partners. ● Engage the public in policy updates that protect trees on private property. ● Continue and grow the Urban Forest Ambassador program. ● Provide educational resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation. o Promote tree species diversity and resilience including the Choice City tree trademark and the Select Tree evaluation program. Transformational Initiatives ● Engage in cross-sector coalition-building around trees: o Integrate forestry activities with implementation of the Active Modes Plan. Engage with Active Modes stakeholders including the cycling community. o Expand engagement and volunteer opportunities into communities with health and social vulnerabilities. o Align wood utilization efforts with larger Zero Waste initiatives. o Engage with parks advocates; see Nature in the City and 15-Minute Walk campaigns. o Engage with the business sector to promote trees for economic development, e.g., Holiday Lights. o Enlist community organizations to engage with their networks on topics including tree benefits, tree responsibilities, policy development, and volunteer opportunities. ● Create resources on wood utilization best management practices for the general public. ● Provide financial resources to assist property owners with private tree planting, maintenance, and preservation. ● Expand volunteer opportunities to assist with activities such as young tree pruning, watering assistance during drought, or community education. ● Create tip sheets that explain city ordinances and policies in plain language. ● Create a municipal Urban Forestry Commission with resident appointments. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 121 RECOMMENDATION 8. EXPAND THE NETWORK OF FORESTRY DIVISION PARTNERS Technical partnerships within urban forestry are abundant across the Front Range— see for example the Colorado Tree Coalition, the Front Range Urban Forestry Council, and the Emerging Pests in Colorado (EPIC) Committee. Increasing Fort Collins’ presence and role within these collectives can promote greater knowledge sharing and adaptability for the city while building staff technical skills. Involvement can also promote adoption of the latest guidance and standards. Themes: Sustainable Growth, Appreciation for Trees Outcome Areas: Safe Community, High-Performing Government Current State ● Existing resources for climate- and pest-resilient species selection are established for the Front Range and are in the process of being updated. ● Forestry Division has collaborative relationships with numerous internal and external partners. Foundational Initiatives ● Continue regional work with nursery growers to secure the quantity and types of climate- and pest-adapted trees that will be needed to meet planting goals. ● Share urban forestry resources and knowledge with neighboring communities. ● Expand staff involvement in regional urban forestry networks; provide additional opportunities for staff that contribute to career development. Transformational Initiatives ● Encourage large corporate and institutional campuses to develop tree plans. ● Continue engagement with partners about management of public trees. ● Contribute expertise about trees and urban forestry in regional planning efforts that relate to climate resilience, complete & green streets, human health, wood utilization, etc. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 122 IMPLEMENTATION & METRICS References AECOM. (2013). Financing San Francisco’s Urban Forest. 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Fort Collins, CO. https://www.tpl.org/city/fort-collins-colorado Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 125 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 pp. U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.) Low-Income Community Energy Solutions. https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/low-income- community-energy-solutions U.S. Federal Government. (2022). Climate Mapping and Resilience Assessment [web tool]. Data accessed April 24, 2024. https://resilience.climate.gov Ulmer, J.M., Wolf, K.L., Backman, D.R., Tretheway, R.L., Blain, C.J., O'Neil-Dunne, J.P, & Frank, L.D. (2016). Multiple Health Benefits of Urban Tree Canopy: The Mounting Evidence for a Green Prescription. Health & Place, 42, 54–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.08.011. US Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.) 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Journal of Forestry, 103(8), 396-400. https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/city_trees_retail_wolf.pdf Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 126 Appendix A: Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest The Trees: MODERATE INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR INDUSTRY STANDARD PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES LOW MODERATE HIGH Urban Tree Canopy Achieve the desired tree canopy cover according to goals set for the entire city and neighborhoods. Alternatively, achieve 75% of the total canopy possible for the entire city and in each neighborhood. Canopy is decreasing. - and/or - No canopy goals have been set. Canopy is not dropping, but not on a trajectory to achieve the established goal. Canopy goal is achieved, or well on the way to achievement. No canopy goal has been set, but canopy grew 17.2% in past 10 years. Equitable Distributio n of Canopy Achieve low variation between tree canopy and equity factors citywide by neighborhood. Ensure that the benefits of tree canopy are available to all, especially for vulnerable populations for whom tree benefits are of particular importance. Tree planting and public outreach and education is not determined by tree canopy cover or benefits. Tree planting and public outreach and education is focused on neighborhoods with low tree canopy. Tree planting and public outreach and education is focused in neighborhoods with low tree canopy and a high need for tree benefits. A planting plan can help the city plan canopy growth for low-canopy, high-need neighborhood s. Age of Trees (Size and Age Distributio n) Establish a diverse-aged population of public trees across the entire city and for each neighborhood. Ideal standard: 0-8" DBH: 40% 9-17" DBH: 30% 18-24" DBH: 20% Over 24" DBH: 10% Age distribution is not proportionately distributed across size classes at the city level. Age distribution is evenly distributed at city level, though unevenly distributed at the neighborhood level. Age distribution is generally aligned with the ideal standard diameter classes at the neighborhood level. Citywide age distribution is 60% young trees. Condition of Publicly Owned Trees Possess a detailed understanding of tree condition and potential risk of all intensively- managed, publicly-owned trees. This information is used to direct maintenance actions. No current information is available on tree condition or risk. Information from a partial or sample or inventory is used to assess tree condition and risk. Information from a current, GIS-based, 100% complete public tree inventory is used to indicate tree condition and risk. Condition information is available, and there is partial information about risk. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 127 Condition of Publicly- Owned Natural Areas Possess a detailed understanding of the ecological structure and function of all publicly- owned natural areas (such as woodlands, ravines, stream corridors, etc.), as well as usage patterns. No current information is available on tree condition or risk. Publicly-owned natural areas are identified in a sample-based "natural areas survey" or similar data. Information from a current, GIS-based, 100% complete natural areas survey is utilized to document ecological structure and function, as well as usage patterns. Limited tree inventory within public natural areas. Trees on Private Property Possess a solid understanding of the extent, location and general condition of trees on private lands. No data is available on private trees. Current tree canopy assessment reflects basic information (location) of both public and private canopy combined. Detailed information available on private trees. Ex. bottom-up sample-based assessment of trees. Current citywide UTC assessment based on 2021 data. Diversity Establish a genetically diverse population of publicly-owned trees across the entire city and for each neighborhood. Tree populations should be comprised of no more than 30% of any family, 20% of any genus, or 10% of any species. Fewer than five species dominate the entire tree population citywide. No species represents more than 20% of the entire tree population citywide. No species represents more than 10% of the entire tree population citywide. Only Fraxinus pennsylvanica (11%) and Gleditsia triacanthos (11%) exceed 10%, and there are plans in place to reduce their population. Suitability Establish a tree population suited to the urban environment and adapted to the overall region. Suitable species are gauged by exposure to imminent threats, considering the "Right Tree for the Right Place" concept and invasive species. Less than 50% of trees are considered suitable for the site. 50% to 75% of trees are considered suitable for the site. More than 75% of trees are considered suitable for the site. Many trees are reliant on irrigation for survival; predictions of future drought, extreme heat, and abrupt cold will pose a challenge to many species. The Players: MODERATE INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR INDUSTRY STANDARD PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES LOW MODERATE HIGH Neighbor- hood Action Citizens understand, cooperate, and participate in urban forest management at the neighborhood level. Urban forestry is a neighborhood- scale issue. Little or no citizen involvement or neighborhood action. Some active groups are engaged in advancing urban forestry activity, but with no unified set of goals or priorities. The majority of all neighborhoods are organized, connected, and working towards a unified set of goals and priorities. UFA program; HOA tree planting programs Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 128 Large Private & Institutional Landholder Involvement Large, private, and institutional landholders embrace citywide goals and objectives through targeted resource management plans. Large private land holders are unaware of issues and potential influence in the urban forest. No large private land management plans are currently in place. Education materials and advice is available to large private landholders. Few large private landholders or institutions have management plans in place. Clear and concise goals are established for large private land holders through direct education and assistance programs. Key landholders and institutions have management plans in place. Several partners noted a good relationship with Forestry. CSU coordinates with Forestry on management of trees along their boundaries. Opportunity to increase cooperation on campuses for Broadcom/He wlitt-Packard, Poudre School District, Woodward Governor, and Budweiser. Green Industry Involvement The green industry works together to advance citywide urban forest goals and objectives. The city and its partners capitalize on local green industry expertise and innovation. Little or no involvement from green industry leaders to advance local urban forestry goals. Some partnerships are in place to advance local urban forestry goals, but more often for the short-term. Long-term committed partnerships are working to advance local urban forestry goals. Forestry staff are highly involved in regional conversations about EAB, wood waste utilization, and other topics. City Department and Agency Cooperation All city departments and agencies cooperate to advance citywide urban forestry goals and objectives. Conflicting goals and/or actions among city departments and agencies. Informal teams among departments and agencies are communicatin g and implementing common goals on a project- specific basis. Common goals and collaboration occur across all departments and agencies. City policy and actions are implemented by formal interdepartmen tal and interagency working teams on all city projects. Veg Team meets to discuss vegetation across city departments. Partners noted that Zoning and Forestry may require closer cooperation. Funder Engagement Local funders are engaged and invested in urban forestry initiatives. Funding is adequate to implement citywide urban forest management plan. Little or no funders are engaged in urban forestry initiatives. Funders are engaged in urban forestry initiatives at minimal levels for short-term projects. Multiple funders are fully engaged and active in urban forestry initiatives for short-term projects and long-term goals. Share Some Shade and Living Tribute Trees programs; private donation of $50,000 per year in 2022 and 2023. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 129 Utility Engagement All utilities are aware of and vested in the urban forest and cooperates to advance citywide urban forest goals and objectives. Utilities and city agencies act independently of urban forestry efforts. No coordination exists. Utilites and city agencies have engaged in dialogues about urban forestry efforts with respect to capital improvement and infrastructure projects. Utilities, city agencies, and other stakeholders integrate and collaborate on all urban forestry efforts, including planning, site work, and outreach/educat ion. There is some coordination between Forestry and utilities. Additional coordination may be needed for education and outreach to private property owners. Utilities and Engineering/CI P have concerns about increased mitigation requirements of draft Land Use Code. Developer Engagement The development community is aware of and vested in the urban forest and cooperates to advance citywide urban forest goals and objectives. Little or no cooperation from developers in (or awareness of) municipality- wide urban forest goals and objectives. Some cooperation from developers and general awareness and acceptance of municipality- wide goals and objectives. Specific collaborative arrangements across development community in support of municipality- wide goals and objectives. Developers exhibit good understanding and acceptance of city rules. New LUC updates demonstrate capacity for city goals & objectives. Public Awareness The general public understands the benefits of trees and advocates for the role and importance of the urban forest. Trees are generally seen as a nuisance, and thus, a drain on city budgets and personal paychecks. Trees are generally recognized as important and beneficial. Trees are seen as valuable infrastructure and vital to the community’s well-being. The urban forest is recognized for the unique environmental, economic, and social services it provides to the community. The public is generally supportive of the urban forest on public land. Support for the private urban forest needs further assessment to tease apart public sentiment about specific issues. Regional Collaboration Neighboring communities and regional groups are actively cooperating and interacting to advance the region's stake in the city's urban forest. Little or no interaction between neighboring communities and regional groups. Neighboring communities and regional groups share similar goals and policy vehicles related to trees and the urban forest. Regional urban forestry planning, coordination, and management is widespread. Numerous local communities have indicated an interest in partnering. There's an opportunity to share planning and resources and coordinate more on education/outr each. Additional Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 130 opportunities at county level (Larimer, Weld), CO State Forest Service, CSU/CSU Extension, and Poudre School District. The Management: MODERATE-HIGH INDICATOR OVERALL OBJECTIVE OR INDUSTRY STANDARD PERFORMANCE LEVEL NOTES LOW MODERATE HIGH Tree Inventory Comprehensive, GIS- based, current inventory of all intensively-managed public trees to guide management, with mechanisms in place to keep data current and available for use. Data allows for analysis of age distribution, condition, risk, diversity, and suitability. No inventory or out-of-date inventory of publicly-owned trees. Partial or sample-based inventory of publicly-owned trees, inconsistently updated. Complete, GIS- based inventory of publicly-owned trees, updated on a regular, systematic basis. Current inventory dates from 2018-2023 Canopy Assessment Accurate, high-resolution, and recent assessment of existing and potential city- wide tree canopy cover that is regularly updated and available for use across various departments, agencies, and/or disciplines. No tree canopy assessement. Sample-based canopy cover assessment, or dated (over 10 years old) high resolution canopy assessment. High-resolution tree canopy assessement using aerial photographs or satellite imagery. Current UTC from 2021 data with comparison to 2011. Management Plan Existence and buy-in of a comprehensive urban forest management plan to achieve city-wide goals. Re-evaluation is conducted every 5 to 10 years. No urban forest management plan exists. A plan for the publicly-owned forest resource exists but is limited in scope, acceptance, and implementatio n. A comprehensive plan for the publicly owned forest resource exists and is accepted and implemented. City demonstrates elements of a management plan, such as a proactive pruning program. There is opportunity to create a planning document that can be circulated for support. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 131 Risk Management Program All publicly-owned trees are managed for maximum public safety by way of maintaining a city- wide inventory, conducting proactive annual inspections, and eliminating hazards within a set timeframe based on risk level. Risk management program is outlined in the management plan. Request-based, reactive system. The condition of publicly- owned trees is unknown. There is some degree of risk abatement thanks to knowledge of condition of publicly-owned trees, though generally still managed as a request-based reactive system. There is a complete tree inventory with risk assesment data and a risk abatement program in effect. Hazards are eliminated within a set time period depending on the level of risk. Forestry has noted a decrease in risk assessment needs and tree failures with shorter pruning rotation. Forestry is trying to shift away from a request-based reactive system. Maintenance Program of Publicly- Owned Trees All intensively-managed, publicly-owned trees are well maintained for optimal health and condition in order to extend longevity and maximize benefits. A reasonable cyclical pruning program is in place, generally targeting 5 to 7 year cycles. The maintenance program is outlined in the management plan. Request-based, reactive system. No systematic pruning program is in place for publicly-owned trees. All publicly- owned trees are systematically maintained, but pruning cycle is inadequate. All publicly- owned trees are proactively and systematically maintained and adequately pruned on a cyclical basis. There is extensive pruning taking place, currently on a 5–6 year cycle. Young trees are visited more frequently— every 2-3 years to manage clearance. Maintenance Program of Publicly- Owned Natural Areas The ecological structure and function of all publicly- owned natural areas are protected and enhanced while accommodating public use where appropriate. No natural areas management plans are in effect. Only reactive management efforts to facilitate public use (risk abatement). Management plans are in place for each publicly-owned natural area focused on managing ecological structure and function and facilitating public use. Management plans are in place for natural areas by zone, but with minor exceptions, they do not include tree management components; in many places, trees are not desired Planting Program Comprehensive and effective tree planting and establishment program is driven by canopy cover goals, equity considerations, and other priorities according to the plan. Tree planting and establishment is outlined in the management plan. Tree establishment is ad hoc. Tree establishment is consistently funded and occurs on an annual basis. Tree establishment is directed by needs derived from a tree inventory and other community plans and is sufficient in meeting canopy cover objectives. Data from UFSP can be used to create a data- driven planting plan to address priorities. Tree Protection Policy Comprehensive and regularly updated tree protection ordinance with enforcement ability is based on community goals. The benefits derived from trees on public and private property are ensured by the No tree protection policy. Policies are in place to protect trees, but the policies are not well-enforced or ineffective. Protections policies ensure the safety of trees on public and private land. The policies are enforced and supported by significant Policies are in place to protect trees during development, and a permitting process is in place for public trees. Policies are enforced, Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 132 enforcement of existing policies. deterrents and shared ownership of city goals. but there are currently no policies to protect trees on private land outside of development scenarios. City Staffing and Equipment Adequate staff and access to the equipment and vehicles to implement the management plan. A high level urban forester or planning professional, strong operations staff, and solid certified arborist technicians. Insufficient staffing levels, insufficiently- trained staff, and/or inadequate equipment and vehicle availability. Certified arborists and professional urban foresters on staff have some professional development, but are lacking adequate staff levels or adequate equipment. Multi- disciplinary team within the urban forestry unit, including an urban forestry professional, operations manager, and arborist technicians. Vehicles and equipment are sufficient to complete required work. City Forestry is well staffed but has identified near-term needs to scale department with growth of canopy. Equipment is in good shape overall, but some equipment needs were noted. City is approaching maximum capacity of existing staff. Funding Appropriate funding in place to fully implement both proactive and reactive needs based on a comprehensive urban forest management plan. Funding comes from the public sector only, and covers only reactive work. Funding levels (public and private) generally cover mostly reactive work. Low levels of risk management and planting in place. Dynamic, active funding from engaged private partners and adequate public funding are used to proactively manage and expand the urban forest. Most funding is from the public sector, but work is more than reactive. Risk management and planting could be increased. Disaster Prepared- ness & Response A disaster management plan is in place related to the city's urban forest. The plan includes staff roles, contracts, response priorities, debris management and a crisis communication plan. Staff are regularly trained and/or updated. No disaster response plan is in place. A disaster plan is in place, but pieces are missing and/or staff are not regularly trained or updated. A robust disaster management plan is in place, regularly updated and staff is fully trained on roles and processes. Storm response plan in place Communi- cation Effective avenues of two- way communication exist between the city departments and between city and its citizens. Messaging is consistent and coordinated, when feasible. No avenues are in place. City departments and public determine on an ad-hoc basis the best messages and avenues to communicate. Avenues are in place but used sporadically and without coordination or only on a one- way basis. Avenues are in place for two- way communi- cation, are well- used with targeted, coordinated messages. Avenues are in place including the City's Access FC system. Additional points of contact include phone and email to various staff. Outside of Access FC system, Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 133 communication may be one- way and/or harder to track. Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 134 Appendix B. Public Survey Responses The City of Fort Collins and Davey Resource Group released a community survey that was open to public participation from September–December 2023. Nine hundred seventy-one (971) participants completed the survey, which included 14 questions. Public survey questions and responses (971 participants) QUESTION RESPONSES* Q1- Trees are an important part of Fort Collins. Strongly agree (94%) Agree (5%) Neutral (0.2%) Disagree (0%) Strongly disagree (0.5%) Q1- Having trees is worth the financial cost of maintaining them. Strongly agree (86%) Agree (11%) Neutral (2%) Disagree (0.2%) Strongly disagree (0.5%) Q1- Public street trees seem well cared for in Fort Collins. Strongly agree (37%) Agree (48%) Neutral (11%) Disagree (3%) Strongly disagree (0.7%) Q2- Across Fort Collins there are… Too few trees (50%) The right amount of trees (49%) Too many trees (0.6%) Q2- In my neighborhood there are… Too few trees (39%) The right amount of trees (60%) Too many trees (2%) Q3- Trees in the urban environment provide many known benefits to the community, some of which are listed below. To help us understand how to best maximize these benefits to meet community needs, please rank the benefits below from most important to yo... Average rankings: Help reduce crime (9.2) Increase my property value (7.5) Reduce flooding/run-off (basement/property) (6.6) Screen and provide privacy from my neighbors (6.6) Protect us from noisy roads and highways (6.5) Help landscape and beautify my property (6.1) Improve my mental and physical health (6) Provide habitat for wildlife (4.8) Improve air quality (reduce air pollution) (4.5) Prevent the city from becoming a hotter and drier place (3.9) Shade to help reduce temperatures and keep my house cool (3.8) Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 135 Q4- Where is it most important to plant trees in Fort Collins? Please select your top five. Parks (88%) Private property (52%) Retail/commercial areas (i.e., parking lots) (71%) Schools (78%) Streets (parkways and medians) (79%) Trails (65%) Other (6%) Strongly agree (84%) Agree (13%) Neutral (2%) Disagree (0%) Strongly disagree (1%) Q5- Public trees are those which are grown between the curb and sidewalk, in street medians, in parks, cemeteries, golf courses, and other City facilities, and are maintained by the City. These public trees seem: Well cared for (55%) Somewhat cared for (40%) Poorly cared for (3%) Neglected (0.5%) No opinion (2%) Q6- How do you feel about the City of Fort Collins Forestry Division's response to tree- related requests in the community? Very responsive (21%) Responsive (29%) Neutral (46%) Responsive, but not in a timely manner (3%) Not responsive (1%) Q7- The City of Fort Collins is exploring a Heritage Tree Program. Heritage Tree Programs are developed to protect and maintain trees on both public and private property in the community that may be of special species, sizes, or have cultural or horticu... I am in support of a Heritage Tree Program (54%) I am not in support of a Heritage Tree Program (9%) I don’t know enough to decide (37%) Q8- As part of planning for the urban forest, the City of Fort Collins is assessing the need to preserve canopy on private property. Examples of preservation tactics include adding tree removal guidelines to the building permit process, home expansion,... Required tree removal permits for tree removal over a certain size of diameter (46%) Required mitigation standards to apply - which means requiring replacement or payment in the amount of the trees' appraised value (38%) Increasing education around tree protection standards during construction on private property (75%) I don't support stronger policies on private property trees (19%) Q9- What is your hope for the future of the urban forest in Fort Collins? Open response (see below) Q10- Do you live, work, or play in Fort Collins? Please select all that apply. I own a home here (77%) I rent a home/apartment here (16%) I am visiting (2%) I work or go to school here (32%) I own a business here (10%) Other (5%) Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 136 Q11- What zip code do you live in? 80526 (29%) 80525 (26%) 80521 (20%) 80524 (17%) 80528 (7%) 80523 (0.3%) 80527 (0.1%) 80522 (0%) 80523 (0%) Decline to specify (0.5%) Q12- How do you identify your race and/or ethnicity? Please select all that apply. White (798) Hispanic/Latinx/Spanish Origin (38) Asian/ Asian American (19) American Indian/Alaska Native (13) Middle Eastern/ North African (6) African American/ Black (4) Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (3) African (0) Decline to specify (113) Prefer to self-identify (10) Q13- What is your age? 75 and older (5%) 65-74 (21%) 55-64 (19%) 45-54 (14%) 35-44 (18%) 18-34 (17%) 12-17 (0.1%) Under 12 (0%) Prefer not to say (5%) Q14- How would you prefer to receive information from the City regarding the urban forest? Please select all that apply. Email (650) City website (372) Social media (@ParksandRecFC) (282) Community events (253) Volunteer opportunities (209) Training or workshops (177) Mail (153) Public survey write-in comment themes and specific examples. Percentages reflect the proportion of comments that related to a theme out of 655 total comments. Comments could be categorized as fitting with more than one theme. COMMENT THEME EXAMPLES Healthy/resilient/diverse/ben eficial urban forest; Grow & maintain the urban forest (15.7%) “Resilient, diverse and thriving trees across Fort Collins.” “We can continue to have a beautiful, well managed, resilient urban forest that will help us cool the city and combat climate change.” “Keep maintaining the trees we have, while still advocating for more cover.” Species (11.5%) “More and more trees. Especially ones that have natural defenses against disease and infestation in this particular Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 137 climate (as well as a good guess on what our climate will be in the future).” “Wider diversity of tree species to guard against loss of canopy trees from pests or disease.” More trees (10.8%) “Adding more trees to new construction neighborhoods and city parks.” “Protection of existing trees and encourage and support new tree growth.” Financial & educational support for residents (8.4%) “More trees become available to residents at reduced costs, especially to new neighborhoods where there are no trees.” “Informing public of their responsibility to care for trees.” “I hope to educate more people about the value of trees and be sure that when any development happens, trees and animal habitats are given much more consideration than seems to be the case in recent years.” Maintenance/ Preservation (6.5%) “In general, I think trees are a good thing and should be maintained, preserved, and that more trees should be planted in areas where they are appropriate. When this becomes an issue of nuisance, private property rights, or detriment to public use, all factors should be considered (including value of the trees) before planting or removing trees. I hope that Fort Collins can continue to beautify our city by maintaining healthy trees, both public and private, and adding more in the right places.” “For Fort Collins to have more trees, all of the trees well taken care of and the city be cleaner and habitants breathing fresher air and the city looking prettier and enchanting. For trees and nature areas to be preserved and taken care of and not destroyed and not for people to keep destroying them for construction. Protect prairie areas of the city too!” Development (6.1%) “I would love to see new developers put more thought in their landscaping- they put trees right up next to house and windows for curb appeal but don’t take into consideration the size at maturity- so beautiful trees have to be removed.” “When large trees are removed for redevelopment of a property, the city, the developer and landowner must take responsibility for the adequate care of young replacement trees. I see too many dying young trees in new developments in the city.” Private land policy (4.7%) “..I love trees in our community, but dislike too much policy as that can often complicate things and create resentment between citizens and City departments. I'll support more carrots than sticks for tree issues.” “I am all for increasing the canopy of Fort Collins, as long as the city is able to maintain the trees. I am concerned with our warming climate, that increased canopy without proper maintenance, could lead to future potential fire hazards. I'm also concerned about private homeowners that don't maintain their trees causing that same issue. I'd like to see the city MORE involved in declaring dead private trees Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 138 hazardous, and forcing homeowners to deal with the situation. Easier said than done I realize however.” City identity (4.1%) “I hope that Fort Collins will become known as the leader in urban forestry and sustainability in the US.” “The trees is Fort Collins are incredible. I moved here only 2 years ago and they’re one of my favorite parts of the city.” Other (3.9%) “It is not natural for a forest, urban or otherwise to exist on the land Fort Collins covers. At least recently (last 10000 years). That said, trees are great.” “The city needs to be aware that due to the policy of suppressing small natural fires along the Poudre trail and not removing fallen trees but piling them up on the side of the trail, has created a potential for a huge fire hazard that would likely burn entire neighborhoods that are near by, such as Pateros Creek.” General positive (3.7%) “We’re new here and think this city is doing an incredibly good job at keeping trees and nature integrated into the city. Thank you.” “Thanks for the forward thinking efforts from the city!” Heat/shade (2.5%) “More trees/shade along certain trails (like power and Cathy fromme) and sidewalks to encourage walking/biking and reduce car use.” “More shady places to walk in summer.” Climate change (2.4%) “Maintain a diverse urban forest w an eye toward climate change.” “Increased tree canopy throughout the city. Focus on trees that are only the best climate-wise for the next 50+ years. This is an investment in our community to avoid big and costly problems due to climate change-induced heatwaves, droughts, floods, etc. We have a great start, but we must continue to prepare.” Emerald Ash Borer (2.1%) “I'm very worried about the 70K ash trees and their future in light of the emerald ash borer invasion. I'd like to see a concerted effort to have them all inoculated against this destructive bug.” “That we can keep up with planting trees to replace those which need to be removed, i.e., emerald ash borer and other pests which need to be proactively addressed.” Benefits/value of trees (2.1%) “That trees will be valued for all that they contribute towards improved quality of life.” “Science supports the following 1) Trees reduce temperatures 2) Trees increase mental health 3) Trees support more wildlife I hope we are able to develop a sustainable urban forest to help with the listed issues.” Funding/staffing (2%) “That the forestry department continues to lead the way in the municipal arborist field with implementation of the highest quality and knowledgeable tree care providers in the state.” Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 139 “That we continue to support and fund good care for our trees!” Equity (2%) “Our underresourced neighbors are gifted more trees!!!” “More trees all around town but especially in lower income areas and areas that are largely developed (lots of concrete i.e. Parking lots, malls, etc.).” Tree planting (1.8%) “I hope that the city can fill in any gaps that exist, by convincing property owners to plant more trees where there are currently too few. I also hope that the program continues indefinitely, or until there is some other self-sustaining program.” “Support for young/growing trees. Continued planting.” Maintenance (1.7%) “More trees and good maintenance.” “Continued strong maintenance of trees especially larger sizes..” Xeriscape/ water (1.5%) “A canopy of trees that do well in this area and true xeriscape landscape throughout the city to replace turf and eliminate landscape with high water needs. Education to the general public about how to xeriscape and what trees to plant in this area of Colorado.” “Probably the largest threat to our current city trees is the high cost of city water. I've seen many trees doing poorly or that have died because residents choose not to water their trees-likely because of the high cost of water. This will only become a larger problem as climate warms and dries.” Community gardens/ fruit trees (1.5%) “That a park with numerous trees is added, perhaps fruit for public to harvest. This would be great on Precision and Cinquefoil instead of more apartments.” “More urban fruit trees for urban foraging!” Streets/ medians (1.2%) “..And some trees between streets and sidewalks need to be pruned.” “More trees along larger roads and in public shopping places. More trees between sidewalks and the road (including adding a buffer between sidewalks and roads to make pedestrians feel safer and make sidewalks more inviting).” Preservation (1.1%) “I hope that trees are watered more frequently to account for the higher temperatures that have become the norm during seasons when it hasn't been hot in the past, and that there are more efforts to save much older trees that are unhealthy, like the cottonwoods down by the river. I also hope that there will be more effort by developers to save as many trees as possible on lands that are slated to be razed.” “For them to maintain the beauty of this town, and it's many trees, esp the older and more mature ones downtown on Oak, mountain, etc. And when clearing land to build new neighborhoods and homes, making it more difficult to remove existing trees too.” Sidewalks (0.9%) “I think planting trees along the roadways, sidewalks and other paved area big mistake and just leads to unhealthy Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 140 trees and root issues along cement walkways, path, roadways.” “Trees between the sidewalk and street, and trees in medians are high priority because they are enjoyed by all citizens.” Cycling (0.6%) “Important that trees are planted back from roads so that they have room to grow but don’t present obstacles to seeing cars, bicyclers and animals. They should be properly trimmed for these reasons, too.” “Plant trees along bike trails.” Solar (0.5%) “Current and future rooftop solar panel owners should have their solar rights protected from encroaching shade from trees and from new development encouraged by changing city policies.” “I would love to see more trees, but the type of trees should match the size of the property they are planted on. Fort Collins is blessed with a sunny climate which is good for home solar projects. Since we do not control the size of trees that people have, many home owners do not have enough sun to justify any type of solar improvement. Fort Collins is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, poorly placed large trees reduce individuals ability to contribute.” Volunteering (0.2%) “I am passionate about trees and would love to volunteer with the city to help with our forest canopy.” “Home owners have the right to have none to many trees on their property. The city should not dictate what home owners do. Educating people on the benefits of having trees which are obvious to most people would help most. Providing saplings to plant or a volunteer group to plant trees on people's property that want them would also be helpful. Educating on the importance of deep watering at least once a month even through winter is crucial. A lot people do not take care of trees during the winter.” Meta (0.2%) “Question #3 malfunctioned. Some replies didn’t offer all the way up to 11 choices.” “This survey is not only well conceived but so easy to use!!!” Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 141 Appendix C: Ordinance Review TOPIC ADDRESSED CHAPTER & SECTION COMMENTS Credentials Requires certified arborist for paid private tree work Requires Certified Arborist for public tree work (X) CO 27-17 This is included in the Tree Management Standards and BMP document. CO 27-17 allows for the City Manager to implement written rules. A recommended improvement is to mention this document within city code. Requires licensing of private tree care firms X CO 27-34–40 Defines official authority for public tree management X CO 27-17 Public Tree Management and Protection Establishes/Authorizes City Forester to regulate public trees X CO 27-17 Establishes/Authorizes City position (e.g. Mayor, City Administrator, DPW Director) to regulate public trees X CO 27-17 Establishes a community Tree Board or Commission Defines public trees Requires annual community tree work plans Identifies formula for determining monetary tree value (X) LUC 3.2.1 I-7 Applies only to development Establishes responsibility for public tree maintenance (e.g. City, adjacent property owner) X CO 24-42, 27- 17, 27-57 Responsibility for public trees is implied but not directly stated Requires regular public tree maintenance X CO 27-57 Requires particular types of maintenance (e.g., pruning) X CO 27-58 Requires adherence to ANSI A300 standards and best management practices (X) CO 27-17 Tree Management Standards and BMPs Establishes permit system for work on public trees X CO 27-33 Requires payment of fees for the removal of public trees Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 142 Establishes provisions for penalties for non-compliance X CO 27-59–62 Restricts tree removal on public property Permit required; see next line Permit or approval required for tree removal, pruning or excavating near public trees X CO 27-31–32 Requires protection of public trees during construction, repairs or utility work X LUC 3.2.1 G Prohibits damage to public trees (e.g. attaching ropes, signs, wires, chemicals, storing materials, excavation etc.) X CO 27-19 Establishes provisions for trimming for overhead utility line clearance Restricts burning of solid wood waste Establishes a wood utilization program Recommended Improvement Establishes an insect/disease control strategy Recommended Improvement Prohibits tree topping (X) CO 27-17 Tree Management Standards and BMPs Regulates abatement of hazardous or nuisance trees on private property (X) CO 27-18(c) Regulates removal of dead or diseased trees X CO 27-58 Tree Fund Recommended Improvement Tree Planting Regulates tree species which may or may not be planted on private property (approved tree list) X CO 27-18 LUC 3.2.1 D-4, I-2, I-8 Requires tree planting around and within parking lots X LUC 3.2.1 D, E-4–5 Requires replacement of removed publicly owned trees X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-d Applies only to development Permits public tree planting - beyond the right-of-way X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-b Requires tree plantings around new developments (see also trees in parking lots) X LUC 3.2.1 D, D-1-c Regulates tree species which may or may not be planted on public property (approved tree list) X CO 27-18 LUC 3.2.1 D-1-c, I-8 Private Tree Protection and Preservation Restricts tree removal on private property Permit or approval required for tree removal on private property Requires preservation of trees during development on private property X LUC 3.2.1 F Prohibits damage to preserved/protected trees Recommended Improvement Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 143 Prohibits damage or removal of trees on another person's property Inventory of trees on site required X LUC 3.2.1 F Identification of forests/woodlands required Specific species and/or size tree regulated (e.g. heritage/significant trees) (X) LUC 3.2.1 F Applies only to development Location of Critical Root Zone/Dripline required X LUC 3.2.1 G-7 Minimum canopy cover requirement set Identification of riparian buffers, natural areas, preservation zones X LUC 3.2.1 A, M Tree protection/preservation plan required X LUC 3.2.1 C Identification of prohibited activities in dripline/critical root zone X LUC 3.2.1 G-3 Tree protection fencing required X LUC 3.2.1 G-3 Location/type of other tree protection measures (e.g. root pruning, aeration, vertical mulching, trunk protection, soil protection, irrigation,) on development plans (e.g. site plans, construction plans, etc.) X LUC 3.2.1 G, G- 7, J-2 Provide credits/incentives for tree preservation Recommended Improvement Landscape plan with proposed landscaping and mitigation trees to be planted (X) LUC 3.2.1 C Requires Grading plan to include protected/preserved trees Utility plan with trees to include protected/preserved trees X LUC 3.2.1 K Tree planting requirements for removal of regulated trees X LUC 3.2.1 F, F-1 Fee in Lieu of planting mitigation trees X LUC 3.2.1 F Tree mitigation survival requirements X LUC 3.2.1 I-4–6 Fine for removal of regulated trees Recommended Improvement Penalties established for damage and removal of preserved/saved trees Recommended Improvement Bonding to ensure required trees are planted X LUC 3.2.1 I-4 Bonding utilized to discourage tree removals Other Ordinances of Note Defining 'City Forester' X CO 27-16 Alley ROW maintenance X CO 27-31 Right of entry X CO 27-56 Tree spacing X LUC 3.2.1 D-1-c Fort Collins Urban Forest Strategic Plan 144 Visual clearance X LUC 3.2.1 L Requirement of ROW planting X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-a, D-2-c ROW tree spacing from infrastructure X LUC 3.2.1 D-2-a, D-2-c, K Minimum species diversity for development plans X LUC 3.2.1 D-3 Minimum sizes for trees planted X LUC 3.2.1 D-4–5 Buffering requirements X LUC 3.2.1 E-1 Water conservation requirements X LUC 3.2.1 E-3 Required maintenance for development landscape X LUC 3.2.1 I-5