Urban Forestry

Snoqualmie maintains a robust urban forestry program with 1,051 acres of open space and a tree canopy of 47%, one of the largest in the region.  In addition, the city has a street and park tree population of 9,306 trees representing 122 different species, and more than 6,000 street trees lining sidewalks, or about one tree for every two people. It 

One aspect of urban forestry is the installation and management of street trees in urban areas, an increasingly popular program across many U.S. cities. As populations grow, higher densities in urban areas are inevitable. Urban forests are an important way to support surrounding ecosystems while minimizing the impact of expanding urban centers.

Snoqualmie Urban Forest Strategic Plan 

Urban Forestry Program Benefits

Urban forestry programs across the nation provide cities with many benefits:

• Reduced temperatures by shading streets and buildings
• Lower heating and cooling costs for surrounding buildings
• Reduced levels of pollutants released during high summer temperatures
• Absorption of “greenhouse” gases
• Release of chemicals that support ozone formation
• Wind barriers
• Less water runoff, reducing the changes of erosion flooding
• Shade and cooling for fish-bearing streams
• Protected wildlife habitat
• Improved air quality
• Increased property values

Get involved through the Green Snoqualmie Partnership, which continues the region’s forest legacy and invites people of all ages to get outsides, have fun, and engage in helping restore green spaces.