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- Trees to Offset Stormwater
Trees to Offset Stormwater - “Trees2O H2O”
This grant project was completed in Fall 2018 and the City is working on implementing recommendations found in the Final Case Study Report.
Project Timeline
- Grant Start: November 2016
- Public Meeting: June 15, 2017
- Public Meeting: November 29, 2017
- Grant End: September 2018 Final Case Study Report (PDF)
- Next Steps: Implementation
Past Public Meetings
- Public Meeting: Thursday, June 15, 2017
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: College of Charleston's School of Business, Wells Fargo Auditorium (Room 115), 5 Liberty Street - Public Meeting: Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m
Location: 75 Calhoun Street, 3rd Floor Meeting Room
Green Infrastructure Center
Who is the GIC? The Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) is providing the technical support and project management. The GIC is a non-profit organization. More information about GIC is available at Green Infrastructure Center.
Want to Learn More? Please see the below resources that explain how urban forests as green infrastructure are a vital tool in managing and reducing stormwater runoff.
- “Trees2O H2O: A Technical Assistance Grant to Incorporate Trees as Stormwater Management” (PDF)
- “The Human Health and Social Benefits of Urban Forests” Dovetail Partners, Incorporated (PDF)
Contact Us
If you have questions, please email Katie McKain or call Katie at 843-724-3789.
The City of Charleston is one of thirteen southern localities that has received funding to carry out a project to link urban tree canopy to stormwater mitigation, specifically for cities with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permits to manage stormwater. The project is helping southern cities utilize their urban forests to better manage and reduce stormwater runoff. Urban trees soak up tremendous volumes of stormwater.
The more treed the landscape, the less runoff and flooding may occur. This project will assess the city’s tree canopy and determine its role for treating and absorbing stormwater.
Project partners include the City of Charleston, The South Carolina Forestry Commission and The Green Infrastructure Center (GIC). Funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service and matched in-kind through participation by the City.
City agencies involved on the Project’s Technical Review Committee include Information Technology and Geographic Information Services; Parks and Urban Forestry; Planning, Preservation and Sustainability; and Public Service and Stormwater Management. Staff from these departments formed a technical review committee, advising the GIC and coordinating Charleston community events.
Why has the Project Been Funded? Rapid urbanization and climatic fluctuations have led to increased risk of flooding and degraded water quality in cities. Trees can be utilized as a key strategy for addressing this problem. Trees intercept, store and transpire storm water and are a vital tool in abating and cleaning storm water runoff. One urban tree can intercept thousands of gallons of water annually.
But while the benefits of trees are well known, most cities do not include trees as a component of their storm water management strategies.
The project began in November 2016. The case study report was completed in August 2018, and the grant period ended September 2018.
Participation
What Will Charleston Receive for Participating? The primary outcome is a process for integrating trees into the City’s storm water management program. Ultimately, Charleston will have a more strategic and effective process for combating storm water runoff.
Charleston will receive:
- Case study of the project suitable for sharing at workshops, with elected and appointed officials and other agencies and stakeholders
- Codes and Ordinance Audit for urban trees to facilitate better management and care
- Model ordinance language or other program/policy documents for using trees to meet stormwater regulations
- Potential planting areas map (digital GIS) used for strategic planning to set future canopy goals
- Updated tree canopy and impervious land cover map used to map current canopy and analyze runoff, stormwater benefits and potential for mitigating stormwater
- Workshops with local committees to provide education and solicit input
- Written step-by-step- strategy and methodology for linking urban forest systems to urban MS4 requirements for each of the specific partner city(s)
Ecosystem Services
In addition to the outcomes listed above, by better evaluating and planning for its trees, Charleston will also realize other ‘ecosystem services’ of the urban forest such as:
- Aesthetic values
- Air
- Better real estate values
- Cleaner water
- Improved climate for businesses
- Open space
- Safer pathways
- Walkable and bikeable streets