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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNHC_Tree Canopy Report_2025-04 FINALNEW HANOVER COUNTY TREE CANOPY INTRODUCTION The 2024, the Board of Commissioners adopted a new 5-year strategic plan and identified sustainable land use and environmental stewardship as a key focus area. The New Hanover County strategic plan helps guide the county’s operations, services, and initiatives developed in part from priorities identified by the Board of Commissioners, community partners, and results from the Community Survey. Providing a foundational basis centered around effective county management, strong financial performance and responsible stewardship is critical in supporting the vision and mission of New Hanover County. This strategic priority built upon previous County work to strengthen protections for trees. Over the past several years and prior to the current strategic plan, the county had added additional tree retention standards within the Unified Development Ordinance, implementing protections for live oak, long leaf pine and other native trees. It was also during this time that the County identified the need for an assessment of the existing tree canopy in the unincorporated County. That tree canopy assessment was completed in the summer of 2024 and is the first step in understanding the baseline status of tree canopy. With this information, the County can move forward with developing potential future goals and implementation strategies. This report, consisting of the Tree Canopy Assessment and additional staff context, background information and recommendations is anticipated to help inform updates to the comprehensive plan. The baseline data and existing conditions of tree canopy included in the assessment as well as the additional staff context and recommendations will be beneficial in the formation of potential next steps, goals and/or implementation strategies. The full Tree Canopy Assessment can be found in Appendix A of this report. BACKGROUND With ongoing development, especially in northern New Hanover County—home to some of the last large undeveloped areas—there is a growing need for additional information regarding the existing conditions of tree canopy within the county. At the joint County Commissioners and Planning Board meeting on September 16, 2024 as part of the comprehensive plan update process, the boards identified several initiatives directing Planning staff on which ones to prioritize in the short term. At the meeting, the County Commissioners established that the preservation of tree canopy was a top priority and necessary to help to inform plan objectives, policies, goals and strategies. This priority is in keeping with long time County efforts. New Hanover County began regulating tree retention in 1985, gradually expanding protections over time. Key milestones include the 1988 requirement to retain 15 trees per acre of developed area which remains in the current ordinance. Several amendments to strengthen standards were made over the next 30 years and provisions were added to protect significant trees of a certain size, requirements for tree removal and mitigation, and recognizing large live oaks as specimen trees warranting additional protections. • May 1985: Landscaping standards amended adding the requirement to retain all trees 18 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet tall when within a required buffer or when fulfilling parking lot requirements. • March 1988: Landscaping standards amended adding the requirement to retain a minimum of 15 trees at 2-inch diameter per acre of developed area. • April 1990: Landscaping standards amended adding retention requirements of hardwoods and conifers, a required inventory plan, and updates to applicability that added high-Density and planned developments, commercial, office and institutional, and industrial developments. • July 2001: Landscaping standards amended adding tree removal standards including the definition for “Significant Tree” and mitigation standards. • October 2008: The Tree Retention section and definition of “Regulated Trees” was added. • November 2019: “Specimen Tree” as a regulated tree was defined and added. • February 2020: Adoption of Unified Development Ordinance included expansion of Regulated Trees. REGULATORY AUTHORITY Overview New Hanover County’s Unified Development Ordinance details the prescriptions, allowances and procedures for zoning, land use and development within the unincorporated portion of the county. These authorities are granted by the General Assembly of North Carolina (the State) found in Chapter 153A Section 121 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Chapter 153A as a General Law, broadly gives counties the authority to enact ordinances to promote public health, safety and welfare. The North Carolina General Statue that specifies the how local government can regulate zoning and land use is known as Chapter 160D. It also stipulates the rules for how to conduct Planning including definitions and procedures and any organizational structure, board, commission or staffing arrangement necessary to conduct planning within North Carolina. It is important to point out that while both 160D and 153A establish the powers granted to local governments, anything not expressly stated is otherwise not allowed. In certain instances there are distinct bills that can be created granting specific jurisdictions exclusive authority to regulate a specific subject or topic. In 1987 the General Assembly of North Carolina enacted House Bill 749 (HB749) which granted New Hanover County the authority to regulate the removal of trees from public and private property. It is this bill that sets New Hanover County apart from other county jurisdictions that do not regulate the removal of trees because they may not have the authority under a local act. Chapter 106 Article 83, known as the Forest Development Act, established the creation of a forestry development program to aid in the protection and improvement of forest lands throughout the state. It is this Act that set the precedent for limitations on local governments to regulate the removal and protection of trees. 160D Section 921 Forestry Activities (160D-921) expands on the definitions of the Forestry Development Act restricting local government from regulating any property practicing what is considered “Forestry Activities”. The intent of 160D-921 is to protect legitimate forestry operations as established by the Forest Development Act while also allowing local governments to maintain the power to regulate land development, protect public infrastructure, and comply with higher-level environmental laws. N.C. General Statues Reference Guide • § 153A-121 - General ordinance-making power. • § 153A-1 - Definitions - (5) “Local act” • Session Law 1987-786 / NC House Bill 749 – New Hanover Tree Bill • § Chapter 160D - Local Planning and Development Regulation. • §160D - 921 Forestry Activities • § 106-1010 – Forest Development Act • § 105-277.2 - Agricultural, horticultural, and forestland - Definitions. • § Chapter 89B - Foresters It is important to understand that for land to qualify as a forestland or forestry activity it must meet the following criteria: • The land must be used primarily for growing trees for timber or forest products, • The land is either taxed at its present-use value as forestland under Article 12 of Chapter 105 (approved with a management plan), OR • Forestry activity is managed in accordance with a forest management plan prepared for approved by a registered forester (in accordance with Chapter 89B of the General Statutes) For either instance, the tax exemption or forest management plan must be approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Prior to the removal of trees even on lands with forestry management plans, as part of the development review process, a tree removal permit must be submitted to New Hanover County and include the forestry management plan. In these instances, the development review staff reviews the tree removal permit and management plan to insure there is consistency between the two. If the removal permit and management plan are consistent, a letter of exemption is issued. When there are inconsistencies between a removal permit and forestry management plan, a tree removal permit is required and potentially any mitigation per Section 5.3 Tree Retention of the New Hanover County Unified Development Ordinance. Additionally, there may be instances when land with a management plan transitions away from forestry activities where there may be a final harvest with no replanting. Per the development ordinance any potential development after the final harvest would need a tree removal permit and possible mitigation depending on the remaining trees left on site. In the event trees are removed without a tree removal permit where applicable, 160D-921 states that local government may deny the issuance of any building permit or refuse to approve a site plan or subdivision plan for up to 3 years. This penalty can be elevated to 5 years if it was proven that the tree removal was a willful violation of Section 5.3.2.A of the New Hanover County Unified Development Ordinance. The full list of exemptions and New Hanover County’s governing ability around land used for forestland or forestry activity is stated in the New Hanover County Unified Development Ordinance Section 5.3. Tree Retention, Section 5.3.1 Applicability and 5.3.2 Forestry and Property Clearing. Forest Management Plan: A document outlining objectives and silvicultural practices to ensure forest productivity and environmental protection. Forestland: Land primarily used for growing trees for timber and other forest products. Forestry: The science and business of managing forests for sustained use. Forestry Activity: Growing, managing, harvesting, and protecting trees in compliance with state regulations. Source (N.C. § 160D‑921.) Framework for Current Local Tree and Landscaping Standards New Hanover County is able to and does regulate the protection, retention, and removal of trees with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Tree retention standards are located in Article 5 General Development Standards, Section 5.3 Tree Retention. Applicability is generally considered in all instances however there are situations and instances that are exempt from these requirements. Below is an outline of Section 5.3 which states: • Where the rules apply (Section 5.3.1 Applicability), • The necessity to identify and document trees (Section 5.3.3 Tree Inventory), • The protection of specific trees (Section 5.3.4 Tree Retention Standards), • How trees can be removed and the permits necessary (Section 5.3.5 Tree Removal Permit), • How to protect trees during construction (Section 5.3.6 Tree Protection During Construction), • How to mitigate the removal of regulated trees (Section 5.3.7 Mitigation), and; • Incentives for retaining trees (Section 5.3.8 Optional Incentives For Retaining Trees). In addition to tree retention standards the county also in certain instances requires landscaping and buffering which can be fulfilled by utilizing existing vegetation and trees. In these instances, there is the potential to retain or mitigate via new plantings. These standards not included here are within Section 5.4 Landscaping and Buffering of the New Hanover County Unified Development Ordinance. Current Policy Evaluation To provide additional context and information for the update to the comprehensive plan, staff evaluated its tree retention standards to determine the effectiveness of the current standards and overall development process in comparison to older standards prior to the county implementing its specimen tree standards in 2019. The full evaluation including the methodology can be found in Appendix B of this report. Key Findings & Conclusions: Staff conducted an evaluation of the tree standards and incentives that were adopted in 2020 and found that the effectiveness of the regulations to retain existing trees worked well. Retaining and/or replanting was the preferred mitigation practice by applicants submitting tree mitigation plans versus the alternative option to pay a fee in-lieu. Most of the projects assessed retained enough trees on-site that negated the need for mitigation. A notable improvement was also seen in recordkeeping for tree inventories resulting in a more consistent process to mitigation requirements. However, because review processes prior to 2020 did not require as much detailed information for tree removal permits, it is unclear whether the number, size, or species of trees retained has been increased. Further study of projects is required. New Hanover County Tree Canopy Assessment Overview For fiscal year 2024 the county budgeted for an assessment to better understand tree canopy in the unincorporated county. This assessment was in response to increased conversations between New Hanover County and the public about the protection and preservation of trees and tree canopy as well as a follow up from action taken by the county in recent years to expand tree retention standards within the county’s Unified Development Ordinance. In spring 2024, the county contracted with PlanIt Geo Inc., a leading firm in tree canopy analysis. Using high-resolution aerial imagery and advanced land cover modeling, the assessment mapped tree canopy and other land cover in unincorporated New Hanover County (2022). It also analyzed tree canopy changes from 2014 to 2022 and identified potential planting areas. After reviewing the assessment county planning staff found the assessment highly accurate but determined that additional analysis, context, and policy review were needed to set benchmarks, recommendations, and future policy direction. Because of this, staff has prepared a summary of its review below. Assessment Findings Summary For this assessment the political boundary of New Hanover County was not used as it includes large areas of water not appropriate for the analysis. The study area used consists of the upland areas of the unincorporated area county which does include water features such as creeks, streams, ponds and lakes. Based on the study area about 51.4% is considered tree canopy. The remaining 48.6% includes non-canopy vegetation such as grass or marsh area, shrub/scrub, soil and dry vegetation such as sandy areas or bare soil, water, and impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots or structures. A consistent methodology was used to assess tree canopy in both 2014 and 2022. Over this period, the county’s tree canopy decreased by 3,024 acres (4%). The decrease can be attributed to a number of factors including land development both large scale and small scale, including land cleared for residential and commercial development, infrastructure including rights of way for the expansion of roads and new roadways such as the Military Cutoff extension project and Hampstead Bypass as well as utility easements for water and sewer, and transmission lines for power. In the northern portion of the county forestry and land used for forestry activities are still active where harvesting or controlled burns can reduce canopy. It should be noted that management practices for forestry include replanting or allow for the natural regeneration of trees. Tree canopy in these instances can both reduce and increase canopy in any given time period. As seen in the data from the assessment, there are areas that saw increases in tree canopy including forestry lands where re-plantings grew between 2014 and 2022. •Measure tree canopy and other land cover types •Analyze tree canopy change from 2014 to 2022 •Identify areas where tree canopy can expand •Provide data to guide future canopy goals Goals of the Assessment NHC Tree Canopy Assessment, July 2024 A major factor in the loss of canopy, especially in this region, is the natural loss from strong weather events and storms that produce heavy wind and rain. While this cannot be seen in the analysis from the assessment, there were many strong weather events named and un-named that hit New Hanover County from 2014-2022 including tropical storms Arthur, Ana, and Elsa, as well as hurricanes Matthew, Florence, Dorian, and Isaias. Also not stated as a direct reason for canopy loss in the assessment is the loss of canopy due to people removing trees on their personal property. Early summer prior to hurricane season is a time when people remove trees in close proximity to their homes in fear of it falling on their home. While the impact of this may be small on a parcel-to-parcel level, cumulatively across the county and year after year, it can be reasonably assumed this to be considered as an issue threatening overall tree canopy. In addition to the overall tree canopy and change over time, the assessment also identified areas where tree plantings may be possible. These are areas where there currently is no canopy, and the model determined the area suitable for tree plantings based on conditions such as soil. This information can be helpful to target specific communities or other areas for future tree planting initiatives. To help better understand this information the assessment includes findings at different geographic levels. Working with planning staff, information was analyzed at four additional levels which included regional levels, depicted by planning staff, watersheds, census blocks, and five-acre hexagons. The latter is a way to view data evenly across a consistent size which helps to compare areas at a more finite scale. Lastly, PlanIt Geo assessed possible planting areas based on various socioeconomic factors to help prioritize potential planting initiatives in those areas. Based on census data this section aims to provide some guidance and help to start the conversation about prioritizing communities when considering planting initiatives. NHC Tree Canopy Assessment, July 2024 •Residential Subdivisions (35% - 40% tree canopy)* •Commercial/Industrial (20% - 35% tree canopy)* * Potential tree canopy standard expressed as a percentage Recommendations & Goals After reviewing the data, planning staff found the assessment highly accurate but determined that additional analysis and policy review were needed to set benchmarks, recommendations, and future policy direction. The Tree Canopy Assessment gives the county an initial starting point in determining the creation of potential goals and policy direction with the data and facts provided. While the assessment does provide its own conclusions and recommendations on how to apply the data in a broader sense it does not provide specific goals the county can use. Because of this, planning staff has researched and considered the following ways to set goals for the preservation and preservation of tree canopy. 1) Create general tree canopy objectives as part of the update to the comprehensive plan. Currently the 2016 Comprehensive Plan includes broad goals to conserve or protect critical or sensitive environmental areas, however, there is not one specifically for tree canopy. The comprehensive plan could specify tree canopy as a targeted natural resource with objectives to protect, preserve and increase the amount of canopy. 2) Set targets for tree canopy percentage for new developments and community areas to allow future programs and standards to be evaluated. Opportunities exist within the framework of the future land use map and place types to include a percentage range of canopy within each place type. This approach would help define where canopy is most desired and promote opportunities for more canopy during the design phase of development. In addition, within the larger framework of the comprehensive plan, canopy goals could be established by community areas such as Castle Hayne, Wrightsboro, Murrayville, or Monkey Junction. This approach would allow for future programs and standards to be more easily evaluated. 3) Consider tree canopy based standards within the Unified Development Ordinance. New Hanover County could consider additional tree retention standards including tree canopy-based standards within the Unified Development Ordinance. These standards could include a percentage of the developed site be tree canopy much like open space requirements for new residential development. In this case it could be for both residential and commercial forms of development. Below is a potential range for the two main classifications of development for reference. A specific percentage would be used for this type of regulation. APPENDIX A NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA JULY | 2024 COMMUNITY CANOPYASSESSMENT JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA BACKGROUND OF THIS ANALYSIS Tree canopies are in a constant state of change. Growth and plantings contribute to the canopy; development, disasters, disease, and pests can diminish it. Through meticulous evaluation, this report provides baseline data and a comprehensive understanding of the changes in tree canopy within New Hanover County’s unincorporated areas, situated on North Carolina's coast. It presents findings at various geographic boundaries, enlightening us about how tree canopy is distributed in the county 54%URBAN TREE CANOPY 40,615 ACRES OFCANOPY 27%POSSIBLEPLANTING AREA Figure 1. Based on an analysis of 2022 high-resolution imagery. EXECUTIVESUMMARY -4%TREE CANOPY CHANGE (2014-2022) and the environmental changes we must be aware of. Based on 2022 imagery from the USDA’s National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP), this study provides a near-current view of land cover in *New Hanover County. The results enable New Hanover County to revise existing strategies and develop new ones for protecting and expanding the forest. This study used machine learning techniques to create land cover data to facilitate more uniform comparisons in future tree canopy assessments. Following US Forest Service standards, this assessment focuses on tree canopy as a percentage of land, excluding water. The key goals of this tree canopy cover assessment include: •Quantify the amount and location of tree canopy and other land cover types•Analyze the change in canopy cover from 2014 to 2022 (change was not assessed for the other land cover classes)•Identify areas where tree canopy can be expanded (Possible Planting Area analysis)•Provide data to inform future planning and to establish canopy coverage goals NEW HANOVER COUNTY'S FOREST In 2022, more than half of the study area in New Hanover County was covered with tree canopy (54%). The remaining 36% was split between areas that have been identified to be suitable for plantings and areas where plantings are unsuitable. New Hanover County’s tree canopy cover was assessed in 2014 and 2022 using a consistent methodology. Over the 8-year study period, the county’s tree canopy cover decreased. Within the current county boundary, tree canopy decreased by 3,024 acres, a 4% decrease from 2014 to 2022. While it’s likely that the canopy coverage fluctuated over the past eight years, the imagery used in this assessment provides a snapshot of the canopy at the time the imagery was collected. Figure 2. Map of New Hanover County's unincorporated area. *For the purposes of this report, the term 'New Hanover County' specifi cally refers to the county's unincorporated areas, not the entire county. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 4. The study identified vegetated areas where it would be feasible for tree plantings but undesirable based on their current usage (left) in the data as “Unsuitable” (right). IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE PLANTING AREAS In addition to quantifying New Hanover County's existing urban tree canopy (UTC) cover, areas suitable for planting trees (PPA-Possible Planting Area) to increase canopy cover were identified. To identify possible planting areas, areas absent of tree canopy cover were classified as either PPA or unsustainable for planting. Unsuitable areas for tree planting, such as recreation fields, utility corridors, etc., were manually delineated and overlaid with the existing land cover data set (Figure 4). The final classifications include PPA Vegetation, Unsuitable Impervious, Unsuitable Vegetation, Unsuitable Soil, and Water. It's crucial to understand that areas identified as possible planting areas might not always be suitable for planting. This can be due to several factors, including current land use, impending land use changes such as new residential or commercial developments, or specific site conditions that could severely lower the survival rate of new plantings, such as salt marshes. Before proceeding with planting in these designated areas, it is essential to assess and verify site-specific conditions through on-the-ground verification. This will ensure that the chosen sites are truly viable for successful planting. MAPPING LAND COVER This assessment utilized high-resolution (60-centimeter) multi-spectral imagery from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP), collected in 2022, to derive land cover data and classify all types of land cover. Additionally, 1-meter resolution NAIP imagery from 2014 was utilized for historical tree canopy classification. The land cover data set from the EarthDefine US Tree Map (https://www.earthdefine.com/treemap/) provides six classes of distinct land cover types. EarthDefine utilizes machine-learning techniques to extract tree canopy cover and other land cover types from the latest NAIP imagery. Figure 3. This study identified six (6) unique land cover classes within the 2022 assessment imagery: tree canopy, shrubs, other vegetation, bare soil and dry vegetation, impervious surfaces, and water. TREE CANOPY SHRUBS BARE SOIL AND DRY VEGETATION IMPERVIOUS SURFACES WATER PROJECTMETHODOLOGY OTHER VEGETATION JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA STATE OF THE CANOPY ANDKEY FINDINGS The findings of this study are crucial in shaping a strategic approach for identifying existing canopy and future planting areas. The land cover data provided below offer a snapshot of the current unincorporated areas of New Hanover County as of 2022. This assessment report focuses solely on the metrics within the county’s unincorporated areas. Figure 5 illustrates the distribution of land cover in New Hanover County, including water bodies. Results showed that over half of the county (51%) was covered with tree canopy. Vegetation such as grass and low bushes accounted for approximately 26% of the county’s land cover. Buildings and roads made up another 13%. Water represented 5%, soil and dry vegetation constituted 3%, and the last 2% was classified as shrubs. Detailed Land Cover Distribution (2022) Figure 5. Land cover throughout New Hanover County, including surface water bodies. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 6. Land cover classification results (percentages based on the total area of New Hanover County, including water bodies). Detailed Land Cover Distribution (2022) JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA CANOPY AND IMPERVIOUS SURFACES The county's 40,615 acres of tree canopy were further divided into subcategories based on whether the canopy was overhanging pervious or impervious surfaces. Trees that grow over paved areas like streets, sidewalks, and parking lots provide important benefits to the community. Their leaves create shade, which helps cool down these impervious surfaces and reduces air temperature in urban areas. Additionally, trees play a crucial role in managing rainwater. They catch and slow down rainfall, which helps prevent flooding during heavy storms. New Hanover County's tree canopy as of 2022 predominantly overhangs pervious surfaces, at 99%, while just 1% overhangs impervious. However, there are opportunities to increase canopy over impervious areas by planting in rights-of-ways, along streets and sidewalks. Table 1. Tree canopy potential in acres and percent in New Hanover County. Class Acres Percent Existing Canopy 40,615 54% Possible Planting Area 20,714 *27% Unsuitables 14,418 19% COUNTY-WIDE TREE CANOPY COVER When removing the 3,963 acres of surface water, the New Hanover County study area occupies 75,746 acres of land. In 2022, 54% of the county's land area was covered by tree canopy. Approximately *27%, or 20,714 acres may be suitable to plant trees (PPA) depending on site specific conditions. Areas identified as suitable planting areas can be seen as opportunities to increase tree canopy within the county but would depend on a number of factors in order for trees to be planted. A total of 19% of the land is considered unsuitable for planting and include impervious surfaces which account for about 13% (10,095 acres) as well as recreational sports fields, areas of sand and dry vegetation that are not suitable for plantings. In 2014, New Hanover County had 43,639 acres of tree canopy, indicating that the county has lost canopy (4% decrease or -3,024 acres) over the eight-year study period. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Figure 7. Urban tree canopy potential (%) in New Hanover County. From 2014 to 2022, New Hanover County lost 4% of its tree canopy cover. Total Potential Planting Area % Total Unsuitable Urban Tree Canopy % Urban Tree Canopy % *Possible planting areas should be evaluated prior to planting. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 8. Distribution of urban tree canopy, possible planting area, and areas unsuitable for planting within New Hanover County. Total Potential Planting Area % Total Unsuitable Urban Tree Canopy % Urban Tree Canopy % Urban Tree Canopy Potential (2022) JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TREE CANOPY COVER BY REGIONAL AREAS New Hanover County is a beautiful place to live, offering a dynamic coastal environment and a blend of modern and historical charm. To understand the relationship between the county's neighborhoods and tree coverage, the tree canopy was studied across nine regional areas. This information aids in urban planning and environmental management, helping to tailor strategies for sustainable development. The largest districts in terms of land area are North End - Northeast and North End - Northwest, making up 19% and 17% of the total land, respectively, and unsurprisingly, these areas also have the most tree coverage. North End - Northeast is particularly notable, with tree canopy covering 75% of its land area. However, it has limited potential planting area due to a high tree density. Following closely is North End - Northwest, with 73% canopy coverage. North End - East Central also features dense forests, covering 50% of its land. All the other regions had around 40% canopy coverage, except for North End - West Central. Despite having the lowest canopy coverage, North End - West Central has the most potential for new tree plantings, with 37% PPA. This district offers the most significant opportunity for expanding the tree canopy, with approximately 1,900 more acres available for planting than the next highest district. South End - North had the highest proportion of impervious surfaces, with over a quarter of its land covered by materials like asphalt and concrete. These impervious surfaces can increase water runoff and higher localized temperatures in urban areas. In contrast, the North End (East and West) areas are notable for their significant water bodies, which benefit from the shade and water filtration provided by the 1,200+ acres of canopy in each community. From 2014 - 2022, every region in the area saw a net loss in tree canopy, ranging from 2% to 6%. North End - East and South End - North experienced the most loss, with 6% of their canopy removed. Table 2. Distribution of land area, tree canopy, plantable space, unsuitables, and percent change by regional areas. Regional Areas Distribution of Land Area (%) Urban Tree Canopy (%) Total Potential Planting Area (%) Total Unsuitable (%) 2014-2022 Change (%) North End - Northeast 19%75%17%8%-4% North End - Northwest 17%72%20%8%-2% North End - East 10%42%31%27%-6% North End - East Central 11%50%29%22%-5% North End - West 11%44%33%23%-2% North End - West Central 16%36%37%27%-4% South End - Central 6%44%31%25%-5% South End - North 8%40%30%30%-6% South End - South 3%47%34%19%-5% TOTALS & AVERAGES 100%70%17%13%-4% North End - West Central has the lowest canopy coverage in the area but holds the most potential for new tree plantings, with 37% of its land available as plantable space. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 9. Tree canopy in New Hanover County’s regional areas. Urban Tree Canopy by Region (2022) JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TREE CANOPY COVER BY WATERSHEDS Urban forests regulate stormwater runoff, reduce flooding, and support a healthy water cycle. New Hanover County had nearly 4,000 acres of surface water spread across its 27 watersheds (this analysis only included parts of the watersheds that were within the unincorporated area such as Lake Sutton, Motts Creek, and Telfairs Creek to name a few). Tree canopy metrics were assessed in each watershed to help maintain the health of these water bodies. Trees planted within these areas help intercept and absorb stormwater runoff, preventing it from carrying harmful pollutants into surface water bodies. In New Hanover County, the Smith Creek watershed is the largest, covering almost a quarter (21%) of the county. Among all the trees in the county, Island Creek and Prince George Creek each contain 19% of the total canopy distribution. The NE CF River NW watershed, although relatively small (representing just 4% of the county), had the densest canopy coverage at 93%. The Ness South watershed had the highest PPA percentage at 60%, offering over 800 acres of plantable land. Between 2014 and 2022, there was a decrease in the amount of trees covering the watersheds in the county. Smith Creek was the most affected, losing 563 acres of canopy. Whiskey Creek had the highest percentage of canopy loss at 8%, while Dock Creek West had the smallest loss with only 18 acres. Maintaining and increasing tree canopy can help against the risks associated with flooding and water quality degradation. Planting new trees and maintaining existing ones can help reduce negative effects to local waterways and the aquatic ecosystems in New Hanover County. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 10. Distribution of canopy throughout the county’s watersheds. Urban Tree Canopy by Watersheds (2022) JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA The census block group encompassing the Wrightsboro and Hightsville suburbs had 25% canopy coverage. Despite having over 1,300 acres available for planting, this area experienced a loss of 88 acres of canopy. TREE CANOPY COVER BY CENSUS BLOCK GROUPS Census block groups (CBG) are collections of smaller census blocks organized to reflect even population divisions. These areas are crucial for evaluating the equitable distribution of tree canopy since they link directly to demographic and socio-economic data from the American Community Survey (ACS). There are 59 census block groups within New Hanover County's Unincorporated Areas. The largest block group, which includes Interstate-140, has the highest tree canopy acreage at 10,651 and ranks third in canopy coverage at 75%, making up 26% of the county's total canopy. The densest canopy is located in the forested areas around Smith's Creek. Overall, all census block groups saw a decrease in canopy, with the most minor losses in the northwestern part of the county and the largest in the eastern parts, both north and south. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Figure 11. Urban tree canopy percent by census block groups. Urban Tree Canopy by Census Block Groups (2022) JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TREE CANOPY COVER BY HEXAGONS Due to their uniform size and shape, hexagons are highly useful for spatial analysis. This uniformity benefits normalized comparisons of each feature. The seamless fit of hexagons next to each other, without gaps, provides localized canopy data in manageable, spatially uniform segments, making them ideal for environmental modeling and urban planning comparison. In this study, each hexagon covers an area of approximately 5 acres. Regarding trends across the county, the northern areas exhibit the densest tree canopy, while the western parts have the highest potential planting area availability. The figures included below provide a clearer view of the spatial distribution of tree canopy throughout New Hanover County. Figure 12. Urban tree canopy on the left and urban tree canopy change by hexagons on the right. Urban Tree Canopy by Hexagons (2022) Urban Tree Canopy Change by Hexagons (2014-2022) JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TREE CANOPY & SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS Planting more trees in a community can benefit its residents and visitors. Data from various sources, such as socioeconomic, demographic, and accessibility, were analyzed at the census block group (CBG) level to determine an area's specific needs. Each criterion was ranked according to its unique needs, with rankings sorted from high (dark blue) to low (light yellow). Overall rankings were also calculated to show where multiple needs overlap. Areas with Low Existing Tree Canopy: This indicator highlights census block groups with low percentages of existing canopy cover. This criterion prioritizes areas with higher percentages of area that are not covered by tree canopy. Possible Urban Tree Canopy: Identifying areas that can support tree plantings is the first step to expanding urban tree canopy cover in the future. This indicator shows the percentage of the total area available for planting within each census block group. This criterion prioritizes areas with higher percentages of possible planting areas. Poverty Rate: Trees provide many environmental and health benefits to nearby residents. This indicator shows the percentage of residents living below the federally-designated poverty level. Unemployment Rate: Percentage of the labor force that does not have a job, are available to work, and are looking for a job as reported by the Census Bureau. Areas of high unemployment were considered high priority for planting. Vulnerable Population: Trees provide many environmental and health benefits to its residents. This indicator shows the ratio of residents under the age of 18 or over the age of 65 compared to the working-age population. This criterion prioritizes areas with larger ratios of vulnerable populations. Median Household Income: Income inequality often occurs with environmental inequality where lower-income residents live in highly impervious areas with limited numbers of trees, parks, and other green spaces. This criteria shows areas with lower median household incomes. Educational Attainment: The presence of trees aligns with improved educational performance and social connections. This criterion shows the percentage of the population without a high school diploma or the equivalent General Educational Development (GED). Overall: Overall prioritization rankings for New Hanover County's census block groups are based on the seven indicators above. VARIABLES ASSESSED Legend for all variables: JULY 2024URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Leverage the results of this assessment to promote the county's community forest The findings of this assessment are pivotal for promoting investment in forest monitoring, maintenance, and management and offer essential support for state, county, and local budget requests and grant applications. As government leaders, planners, engineers, resource managers, and the public, it is crucial to make an empirical case for forest needs and benefits. These results can be used to craft targeted presentations and resources to support your efforts. 1 CONCLUSIONS ANDRECOMMENDATIONS Use TreePlotter to prioritize planting efforts Utilization of TreePlotter™ CANOPY enables New Hanover County to create detailed planting priority maps. Users can create uniquely weighted scenarios to target areas based on specific criteria such as low TC, high PPA, or specific socio-demographic criteria. By focusing on these areas, the allocation of urban forest management resources can be maximized, offering a greater return on investment. 2 Set evidence-based canopy goals As New Hanover County's population grows and urbanization expands, the preservation and growth of the existing canopy is vital. These assessment findings can be used to develop short and long-term goals, such as: • Establishing annual tree planting targets.• Improving the quality of tree cover by planting a wider variety of large maturing trees.• Setting specific canopy coverage goals by a future date. 3 Monitor community progress and adjust the county's strategy Regular canopy assessments with the latest imagery are recommended to manage and expand tree canopy effectively. The imagery used in this assessment is updated every two to three years. By conducting recurring assessments, all community forest stakeholders can keep an accurate pulse on New Hanover County's community forest and get critical feedback on areas of growth and loss. 4 New Hanover County's tree canopy provide its community with resilience-boosting services, such as lowering air temperatures, improving public health, and expanding wildlife habitat. However, tree canopy and forests in general in the Eastern United States face numerous challenges. Hurricanes and other extreme storm events, pests, diseases, and development pose potential risks to the tree canopy. The results of this assessment are not just numbers on a page. They are a strategic compass, a report card, and a baseline for New Hanover County's long-term canopy health. These findings are a road-map to guide planning, investment, and management strategies ensuring that the community has the information it needs to determine the future of tree canopy in New Hanover County. JULY 2024 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT | NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA GLOSSARY/KEY TERMS Land Acres: The total land area in acres of the assessment boundary (excludes water). Non-Canopy Vegetation: Areas of grass and open space where tree canopy does not exist. Possible Planting Area - Vegetation: Areas of grass and open space where tree canopy does not exist, and it is biophysically possible to plant trees. Shrub: Areas of shrub or other leafy and woody vegetation (smaller than 6ft tall) that are not classified as tree canopy. Soil/Dry Vegetation: Bare soil and dried, dead vegetation. Total Acres: Total area, in acres, of the assessment boundary (includes water). Unsuitable Impervious: Areas of impervious surfaces that are not suitable for tree planting. These include buildings, roads, and all other types of impervious surfaces. Unsuitable Planting Area: Areas where it is not feasible to plant trees. Airports, ball fields, golf courses, etc., were manually defined as unsuitable planting areas. Unsuitable Soil: Areas of soil/dry vegetation considered unsuitable for tree planting. Irrigation and soil augmentation may be required to keep trees alive in these areas. Unsuitable Vegetation: Areas of non-canopy vegetation that are not suitable for tree planting due to their land use. Urban Tree Canopy (UTC): The “layer of leaves, branches and stems that cover the ground” (Raciti et al., 2006) when viewed from above; the metric used to quantify the extent, function, and value of the urban forest. The tree canopy was generally taller than 10-15 feet tall. Water: Areas of open, surface water, not including swimming pools. COMMUNITY CANOPYASSESSMENT NEW HANOVER COUNTY,NORTH CAROLINA JULY | 2024 APPENDIX B New Hanover County Tree Retention Standards Assessment Introduction Trees provide a host of benefits. They provide key environmental services like capturing rainwater, reducing flooding, and cooling the environment around them (Arbor Day Foundation). The city of Boca Raton, Florida estimated their trees captured 33.1 million gallons of water during a single storm event (City of Boca Raton). Trees come with economic benefits as well. Reduced flooding leads to lower costs associated with flood damage. Tree coverage has also been shown to improve real estate value (O’Brien, et. al, 2022). Scope and Overview The goal of the assessment is to compare tree mitigation standards before and after the November 2020 Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) update. This was achieved by observing commercial and residential site plans developed under the standards as well as looking at the policies themselves to find differences in language, protocol, and requirements. Methodology A total of 12 properties were selected. There were six properties that were established before the November 2020 UDO and six that were established after. Each group of six consisted of three residential and three commercial properties. This was to establish if there were any noticeable differences between practices on commercial versus residential projects. On each property, an inventory of regulated trees, what mitigation was required, and what mitigation was performed was noted. The tree inventory was done by hand-counting trees or referencing removal lists on site plans. One residential property that was developed prior to the November 2020 update was selected to be the focus of a case study. The goal of the case study was to observe the application of the county’s ordinance. Receipts from the tree mitigation fund were also obtained to identify whether there were any trends present in payment frequency or amount. Two versions of the UDO were compared to identify possible differences in requirements or language as well. The February 2020 UDO was the version selected to represent pre- November 2020 mitigation standards; the November 2020 UDO was selected to represent post- November 2020 mitigation standards. Results Tree inventories were taken for each identified property; however, they proved to be a difficult metric to use comparatively. Variations in factors like initial property condition, tree types, and collected information quality make the data too variable to draw meaningful conclusions from. Additionally, the number of trees on-site may not directly relate to the area of tree canopy or the quality of the on-site tree community. Planting trees to mitigate trees removed is not a one-to-one conversion. Some trees are more “high value” than others; they support more ecosystem services, have a larger canopy, or increase on-site biodiversity. There are several conditions that should be met in order for counts to be compared in a meaningful way. The initial site conditions should be similar (i.e. heavily forested, vacant), the structures and properties should be similar sizes (ex. Comparing only five-acre plots with one mid-size structure on them), and the pre-existing tree types should be similar (ex. Pine-only, mixed species, landscaped). Based on the difficulty to meet these conditions and the current count data, count does not seem like an effective metric to determine success of tree retention. CASE STUDY Hawthorne at Smith Creek was the property selected for the case study. It is located on what was originally a 42.51-acre tract in the north-central region of the county, just off I-40 and Gordon Road. The development includes several apartments and amenities. The development is by-right as the property is zoned R-15, however a special use permit (S-621) was approved to allow for high density multi-family in 2014. The property was approved by the Technical Review Committee in 2018. Based on aerial imagery, the tract’s initial condition was moderately forested with several recreational trails created by the surrounding community. Only a portion of the tract was cleared for development as part of the property has protected wetlands. Based on aerial imagery, the removal of trees for construction took place sometime between March 2018 and February 2019. The company reported there was no regulated trees in the area that was to be cleared so they did not supply a tree inventory or apply for a tree removal permit. The county did not require landscaping plans until 2020 so there is not one on file. The aerial imagery shows clear-cutting on the section of property to be developed. Trees were not selectively removed. After the construction was completed, the aerial imagery shows three small clusters of planted trees in the complex. There is no significant tree canopy coverage in the developed portion of the site. The portions of the property that were undeveloped have continued to mature into denser canopy coverage. VARIATIONS BETWEEN ORDINANCES Main differences between development ordinances were the reorganization and expansion of protected tree classes and additional mitigation options. The tree classification “protected” was changed to “documented” and the grouping was expanded to include pine, cypress, and hardwoods of a certain size. The “significant” classification was expanded to include dogwood, magnolia, native hollies of a certain size, pine, cypress and hardwoods of a certain size. The “specimen” category, which originally contained only live oak, was updated to include cypress trees. Several mitigation standards to encourage the retention of existing trees were added as well. If documented and/or significant trees are retained to a certain extent, then the number of parking spaces required on a project can be reduced by a specific factor. Retaining documented trees or mature stand mitigates the removal of trees as week. Trees planted or retained as a mitigation measure that die within three years of construction must be replaced. FINDINGS AND TRENDS A major trend identified was an increase in the standardization of record-keeping and tree-reporting after the November 2020 update. All “new” projects had the same information available, and it was at a clear and detailed level. Out of the new properties, four out of the seven retained enough trees to not require additional mitigation efforts or removed only trees that were below mitigation thresholds. Out of the remaining three new properties, two chose to replant and one chose to pay into the mitigation fund. No trends in payment frequency or amount were identified with the data provided from the fund. There were only 26 payments into the fund between 2017 and 2025. Anecdotally, this appears to be an unpopular method of mitigation, with developers preferring to replant or retain trees on site. Old residential projects (pre- November 2020 update) showed preference toward retaining and replanting trees on site. The old commercial projects that were observed were constructed on vacant properties, so no tree removal permits were required but each property did include a required landscaping plan which featured the planting of various vegetation types. Bibliography Benefits of Tree Canopy | Boca Raton, FL. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2025, from https://www.myboca.us/2250/Benefits-of-Tree- Canopy#:~:text=University%20studies%20have%20linked%20trees,improve%20focus%20and%20reduce %20stress O’Brien, L. E., Urbanek, R. E., & Gregory, J. D. (2022). Ecological Functions and Human Benefits of Urban Forests. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 75, 127707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127707 The Value of Trees | Arbor Day Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2025, from https://www.arborday.org/value