KCD’s Urban Forest Health Program assists member jurisdictions (cities) in our service area with enhancing green infrastructure by stewarding street trees, urban backyards, and forested open spaces. KCD currently invests up to $150,000 annually over a five-year period (2015-2019) through partnerships with member jurisdictions to support regional and collaborative urban forestry initiatives that bridge stewardship across private and public lands. Since 2015 the Urban Forest Health Program has partnered with 31 of its 34 member jurisdictions.
To date, the following cities have partnered with KCD’s Urban Forestry program:
| Algona | Auburn | Beaux Arts | Bellevue | Black Diamond | Bothell | Burien |
| Clyde Hill | Covington | Des Moines | Hunts Point | Issaquah | Kenmore | Kent |
| Kirkland | Lake Forest Park | Maple Valley | Medina | Mercer Island | Newcastle | Normandy Park |
| Redmond | Renton | Sammamish | SeaTac | Seattle | Shoreline | Snoqualmie |
| Tukwila | Woodinville | Yarrow Point |
2017 Projects
In 2017 the Urban Forest Health Management Program launched its South King County Tree Canopy Assessment Initiative which partnered with 15 cities in South King County to complete tree canopy assessments of each partner city. These assessments mapped current tree canopy, other land cover classes, provided metrics for city specific geographies, and an analysis that provided a baseline of canopy cover impacts on stormwater capacity.
South King County Tree Canopy Assessment Initiative
At the completion of this initiative all the cities’ maps and data were loaded into the web-based planning software, Canopy Planner, to support city partners with planning, community development, and urban forest management.
Explore the Canopy Planner Tool
2018 Projects
See 2018 Urban Forestry Projects Approved by KCD’s Board of Supervisors and are currently being implemented.
2019 Projects
KCD Urban Forest Health Program’s request for project proposals closed on July 31, 2019. KCD staff are working with the Urban Forest Initiative Working Group, KCD’s Advisory Committee, and KCD’s Board of Supervisors to approve a suite of 2019 Urban Forest projects that will then commence in 2020.
KCD’s Urban Forest Health Program partnered with the City of Issaquah to complete a Tree Canopy Assessment through a contracted services agreement. This tree canopy assessment’s maps and data have been loaded into the web-based planning software, Canopy Planner, to support city staff with planning, community development, and urban forest management.
And in 2019 the Puget Sound Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Report was completed, published and revised in 2019.
Puget Sound Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Report
Urban Forestry Working Group
KCD’s Urban Forest Initiative Working Group are a group of diverse stakeholders who assist the Urban Forest Health Program with the development and implementation of urban forest projects. Current Working Group members are:
| Brenda Fincher | Councilmember | City of Kent |
| Jason Ritchie | Councilmember | City of Sammamish |
| Patrick Boyd | Former Councilmember | City of Medina |
| Mark Phillips | Councilmember | City of Lake Forest Park |
| Jana Dilley | Trees for Seattle | City of Seattle |
| *Vacant* | Private Citizen | Urban Forest Landowner |
| James Rasmussen | Director | Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition |
| Dick Ryon | Chair | KCD Board of Supervisors |
| Andy Chittick | Commissioner | King County Rural Forest Commission |
| Kristi McClelland | retired Forester | King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks |
For additional information about KCD’s Urban Forest Initiative Working Group or if you’re interested in joining this Working Group contact brandy.reed@kingcd.org or call 425-282-1924.
For additional information on KCD’s Urban Forest Health Management Program contact ellen.arnstein@kingcd.org or call 425-282-1929.