Investigating the Stormwater: Quantity and Quality Impacts of Urban Trees

A webinar given by Bill Selbig and Rebecca Dohn on January 8, 2020 discussing current research regarding street tree debris and water quality as well as how Nashville views its urban forest as a stormwater management practice.

A community with dense overhead tree canopy may benefit from reduced stormwater runoff volume through interception, transpiration, and infiltration but may also suffer from excess nutrients leached to nearby receiving waters from leaf litter. Bill Selbig will highlight ongoing research to help managers assess stormwater volume reduction potential of urban trees as well as understand how municipal leaf collection and street cleaning programs can limit the amount of nutrients in stormwater runoff. Rebecca Dohn will share advances and challenges in the city of Nashville’s efforts to use its urban forest for post-construction water quality stormwater control, including challenges to balancing credits for tree preservation with potential for post-construction tree mortality.

Investigating the Stormwater: Quantity and Quality Impacts of Urban Trees