Monitoring Tree Survival and Performance in Street-Side Stormwater Management Facilities (15-DG-1132544-041)

This project evaluates tree survival, growth, and condition in stormwater facilities, over period of three years, with street trees of the same species and comparable age used as controls.

Street-side stormwater infiltration basins (“stormwater facilities”) planted with vegetation that often includes ornamental trees are becoming increasingly common. However, little is known about the performance of trees – survival, growth, and health/pests – planted
therein. This project evaluates tree survival, growth, and condition in stormwater facilities, over period of three years, with street trees of the same species and comparable age used as controls. We use the city of Portland, OR (>10 years experience with trees in stormwater facilities) as a long-term comparison for three cities in the San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose, El Cerrito; 0-4 years experience). Study will result in two products: a publication, and a monitoring protocol. Study results will be presented in a
peer-reviewed article, trade journal article, and a webinar. The study results will also be used to construct a standardized monitoring protocol for trees in stormwater facilities, to be used by cities that are installing their own stormwater facilities. The protocol will be
informed by the study results as well as the suggestions from partner cities, and will include instructions, data collection templates and calculation sheets, as well as a discussion of lessons learned in this study.

Final Report Download

Click here to download the grant proposal narrative as a PDF.