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The Health and Safety Benefits of Trees in Boone County: Forest Cover Analysis and Recommendations

This report by the Davey Resource Group and the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council explores the public health and safety benefits of trees in Boone County, addressing pressures from development, insufficient tree ordinances, and the need for professional forest management. Phase I findings indicated 38% forest cover across 157,280 acres, highlighting areas such as floodplains and riparian zones. Recommendations include the establishment of tree ordinances, conservation easements, and urban forest management plans to enhance tree coverage and protect natural resources.

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The Health and Safety Benefits of Trees in Boone County: Forest Cover Analysis and Recommendations

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  1. Boone County Forest Cover Phase II: The Public Health and Safety Benefits of Trees Davey Resource Group and Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council

  2. Pressures to Boone County Forests • Development • Lack of Tree Ordinances for Urban Forests • Lack of Regulations Protecting Woodlands • Under Use of Professional Management • Environmental Impacts

  3. Phase I: Boone County Forest Quality Methodology • Mapped forest units 10 acres and larger based on 1998 aerial photograph analysis. • Limited ground-truthing to identify forest size and location. • Created canopy cover map and performed statistical analysis. Northern KY University Environmental Resource Management Center (NKU ERMC)

  4. Phase I: Findings • Boone County size = 157,280 acres • Total forest cover = 38% • Large crowns = 5% • Medium crowns = 30% • Small crowns = 65% • Watersheds = 0% - 69% forested

  5. Benefits of Trees • Environmental • Economic • Recreational • Quality of Life • Public Health • Public Safety

  6. Phase II: Boone County Forest Cover Methodology Analysis Results Recommendations

  7. Results: Floodplains Total Floodplain 5,024 acres Forested Floodplain 1,323 acres 26% Forested

  8. Results: Riparian Buffer Zone Total Riparian Buffer Zone 56,387 acres Forested Riparian Buffer Zone 22,806 acres 40% Forested

  9. Results: Groundwater Sensitivity Sensitivity Rating 2 63% Sensitivity Rating 3 22% Sensitivity Rating 4 21%

  10. Results: Highly Erodable Soils Canopy Cover on Highly Erodable Soils 54,369 acres 92% Forested

  11. Results: Zoning Agriculture/Rural Residential Residential 85.2% Office/Industrial Recreation Airport 0.4% 3.0% 0.7% Conservation 4.6% 1.1% 5.2% Commercial

  12. Results: Steep Slopes Slopes > 12% 41,322 acres Forested Slopes > 12% 27,502 acres 67% Forested

  13. Results: Impervious Surfaces Total County 164,469 acres Forest Canopy 59,396 acres (36%) Impervious Surfaces 8,567 acres (5%)

  14. Critical Forest Cover Critical Areas Assessment Scores 3 or less 33,708 acres (57%) 4 and 5 22,308 acres (38%) 6 or greater 3,289 acres (6%)

  15. What can we do with this information?

  16. Recommendations • Legislation • Tree Ordinances • Tree Preservation Ordinances • Riparian Setbacks and Easements • Conservation Development • Management Tools • Tree Inventories • Forest Canopy Inventories • Urban Forest Management Plans • Countywide Rural Forest Management Plans

  17. Recommendations • Conservation Easements and Land Donations • Reforestation • Open Space and Greenways • Educational Tools

  18. Conclusion Trees Are The Answer

  19. Contacts Jenny Gulick Davey Resource Group 962 Summit Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 (513) 772-3159 jgulick@davey.com  Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council John Volz, Chairman Boone County Extension Service PO Box 876 Burlington, Kentucky 41005 www.nkyurbanforestry.org

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