Urban Forestry and You
Urban tree canopy is the layer of tree leaves, branches, and stems that provide coverage of the ground when viewed from above. Many communities, including Bonney Lake, plant trees to become more sustainable and livable. Improving our urban tree canopy provides many benefits including:
- reducing summer peak temperatures,
- increasing removal of air pollutants,
- enhancing property values,
- providing wildlife habitat,
- providing aesthetic benefits, and
- improving social ties among neighbors.
A robust tree canopy can also attract businesses and residents.
This means when we manage and preserve our trees in healthy and thoughtful ways the entire community benefits. The City of Bonney Lake Tree Board is the Park Commission. If you’re passionate about trees and urban tree canopy consider getting involved in our city parks.
Teamwork: Protecting our City
In 2019, the City of Bonney Lake updated the Urban Forestry Code in response to a tree canopy analysis (see image below) to enhance the protection of our urban tree canopy. Some important changes are listed below:
- Clearing of an area four tenths (0.4) of an acre or larger requires a clearing permit regardless of the groundcover.
- New definitions for significant and exceptional trees.
- Vegetation that extends over the sidewalk/street must trimmed to a height of nine and half (9.5) feet above sidewalks and fourteen (14) feet above a roadway.
- New hazard tree provisions.
These code updates are designed to protect the city, but we all need to work together in order to be successful. Click through our Urban Forestry Pages to learn more or use the staff contacts to the left to contact the city today.
