Tree Maps

[cedric]

A group of researchers is using mapping and satellite data to help cities quantify their tree canopy cover -- a move that is spurring efforts to increase tree planting in cities across the country.

"Some prodded by environmental awareness, some by regulatory edict, they're stepping up tree plantings in hopes of improving air quality, reducing energy consumption and easing storm water flows."

"And a four-man team of scientists at the University of Vermont is helping urban planners and foresters gauge the existing "tree canopy" — or cover — in their cities and set realistic goals for increasing it."

"Their expertise has been tapped by public and private groups in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and several Maryland towns eager to green their cities with the help of private property owners."

"But the UVM scientists, working with a research scientist from the U.S. Forest Service, have used computer programs and their own expertise to combine satellite images with aerial photos and tax maps to ascertain tree canopy size and break it down by parcel, determining which trees are on public land and which are on private land."

"'If you don't even know what you have, you can't make any decisions,' said Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, a geospatial analyst with the team. 'It wasn't that people didn't want to plant trees or didn't want a tree canopy program. But they needed the hard data to make decisions. That's where we came in.'"

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVIgwKGFS57bzh_ABPl-FLTBPvCAD8UTUUF80

[eleny]

1. We had 7 trees planted in front of our house last Autumn

I'm so excited to see them bud out this Spring. It's changed the whole look of the place and I love each and every one.

Btw, it's an old place, here. There's a historic irrigation ditch that runs along the back. So there's even giant, old cottonwood trees growing along the ditch. When I "introduced" one to our landscape guy, he gave it a hug.

Tress are some of the greatest people!
:bounce:

[HereSince1628]

2. Few places in America could claim a ditch as historic

I think DU'ers would be interested in the story behind that.

[Kali]

4. lots in New Mexico and AZ, prob CA too

prehistoric as well!

[HereSince1628]

5. Same reply. Ditches don't get much respect. n/t

[eleny]

6. It's an old ditch that was used for the orchards and truck farming around here

We live just west of Denver in an older suburb.

We have the old incorporation papers that show that the ditch became incorporated around 1929. This neighborhood started getting built up one house at a time after WW2. Not every property can use the ditch. Just the ones that originally had it - or people who buy shares from owners and who have easy access to the ditch on their property. Our smaller lateral ditch comes off a larger one and that one comes off the largest ditch called The Agricultural Ditch. And that comes down from the mountains - the St. Mary's Glacier to be exact.

This ditch system has a high priority for use that's protected by water law. So, only when we have very bad drought years can it be appropriated by other water users with more senior water rights. Pretty much it's only farmers who can exercise their right to the water when things get desperate. I only remember this happening once or twice over the 30 years we've been here.

The ditch is why the cottonwood trees can grow so old. In the summer it's interesting to see them put out their reddish pink roots to lay in the water as it flows over them.

[HereSince1628]

8. Water rights are very different between the east and west in the US

I've never heard of a ditch being incorporated.

In southern Wisconsin too much water is often a problem, my neighbors have tried several times to get drainage districts established so that special taxes could be levied to insure that ditches draining their lowlands would be maintained.

[eleny]

9. Homeowners comprise the ditch ownership

There's a yearly meeting to discuss how much money was spent and on what in the past year and what needs to get done in the coming season. We meet in someones home or in a local school library. We all have to pitch in the keep it clean and make repairs. So it's very grassroots. It's a company and we have liability insurance, too, because a lot of it is open.

[Kali]

10. In AZ if you don't use your water for 5 years you can lose your right

My sister has irrigation still in Tempe and she sort of hated it (yard gets flooded and muddy.) I had to explain all this to her, plus it is a rarity in urban areas. I think she appreciates it more now.

[eleny]

12. It must flow out of control for her

Ours never overflows. That would be a mess for sure.

[Kali]

14. well it is supposed to flood the yards - berms all around the property -

and the house built above water level as it were - no basement, for sure!

They just get to live on an island for a day or so while it soaks in. I remember my grade school up there doing the same - fun in the summer playing in the water running and hiding from the maintenance guys - probably ruining the fields.:woohoo:

[eleny]

15. Oh!

When we first bought this place we did the same as the seller - flow irrigate. You should have seen it. Dam up the ditch. Then when it started to flow out from many places we'd place old round rain gutters end on end on the ground to get the water where we wanted it.

[mitchtv]

3. We planted 8 in our place

5 natives: 3 washingtonia Calif desert palms, and two palo verde
then 3 citrus in the yard. got rid of the huge lawn.

[eleny]

7. It must be fabulous to have citrus trees

[Kali]

11. I'm at 4500 feet and have a lime and an olive in pots

the lime does great - I bring it in during winter and it blooms right in the house - smells so good. Had about a dozen limes this year (mojitos!) and I think 4 last year. This is its third winter here.

The olive is a year old and hasn't bloomed yet, but I have friend in germany that has all kinds of tropical plants that she handles the same way - including an olive that has fruited.

[eleny]

13. Nice!