HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-24 Public Comment - M. Wictor - Urban Parks & Forestry Board, Community Development Board, City Commission & key staffFrom:Mary Wictor
To:Agenda; Jessica Ahlstrom; Nicholas Ross; Shawn Kohtz
Cc:Mary Wictor
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment 1-24-2024 for Urban Parks & Forestry Board, Community Development Board, CityCommission & key staff
Date:Wednesday, January 24, 2024 3:00:54 PM
Attachments:Public Comment 1-24-2024 need factor TREES into Water uses & needs Planning (plus GW & WQ impacts).pdf
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Public Comment 1/24/2024 need factor TREES into Water uses/needs Planning (& also includeGroundWater levels & Water Quality)
From:Mary Wictor (mwictor@yahoo.com)
To:mwictor@yahoo.com
Date:Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 01:50 PM PST
TO: Urban Parks & Forestry Board for 6:00pm 1/25/2024 upcoming meeting as written inputs for F. general Public Comment,
and with regard to G. / G.1 Special Presentation by staff Jessica Ahlstrom on Water, irrigation performance, & Design Standards
[I am writing this email as input since there does NOT seem to be any opportunity to give Public Comment on Special Presentations.]
CC: Please also provide this to Community Development Board & City Commission, + include key management/leadership/staff.
Dear Parks/Forestry Board members for Bozeman (& to consider for the whole City "scale", + within the wider area of Gallatin County):
This week Bozeman city meetings have the topic of WATER, the amounts, the usage and needs, plus planning better for the long-term.
The presentations this week have been really excellent, being very informative and illustrative of what Bozeman is looking at for WATER.
As a member of the public, I really appreciate the time, effort, resources, and quality of staff for this work being done & presentations.
However, a BIG factor is not being mentioned ~ the existence of Trees and addition/replacement of Trees per design standards/code.
Please consider TREES and the impacts they DO HAVE on Groundwater levels, water quality, in addition to any irrigation needs.
Note: Much of the land being considered / approved for Annexation & Zoned for development was farmland--already cleared of trees. Also,
a number of developers have noted HIGH GROUNDWATER for their parcels/Lots, and also encumbered by Wetlands/areas.
[Though not an engineer, I believe taller buildings do actually require digging deeper to support 50ft or 4-5 stories vs 2-3 levels in height.]
It is my general impression based on researching this 2023-2024 that ADDING TREES and also REMOVING TREES will impact Water!
So, today I am writing to reach out to you as the PARKS/Forestry people who are likely our the best resources on the topic of TREES.
I cannot actually offer a simple, single, solution, but I provide here info and research for you to consider, think about, and recommend.
1) LOCATING TREES near foundations / sidewalks
Improved landscaping images shown by staff/Ahlstrom, depict a greater number of trees being required, but they are mostly located
ADJACENT to and very close the home/structure/buildings.
a) Please note that over 20 years or so, depending on the type(s) of trees, roots grow large & can adversely impact the ground around the
structure, (and do like to seek pipes for water and/or sewer, too)
b) Going around Bozeman, one can even see where sidewalk concrete squares are cracked and/or concrete sidewalk segment squares
have been tipped / lifted up around or near tree roots as they have grown over time
c) Some places, like downtown, I believe underground Tree boxes are used in sidewalks, helping prevent or limit overall growth and the
potential for roots to adversely impact improvements developed. However, I don't know what may occur for foundations of structures?
d) HOW do the current Bozeman regulations/code, and UDC being updated address TREE(s) and large vegetation in close proximity to
concrete foundations or areas like sidewalks? How/where can trees be put that enhance the area/development without causing issues?
2) Removing trees does impact groundwater, and can cause the groundwater level to rise, plus perhaps reduce overall water quality.
a) In my 5/1/2023 Public Comment, I had provided online research summary regarding: Trees DO affect Hydrology, Water Cycle, and
Groundwater (even for on a small SCALE such 1 hectare ~ about 2.5acres)
b) On 4/25/2023, Nick Ross City Director of Transportation & Engineering (cc: City Engineer) emailed me & stated the following in text:
+Please note that within engineering and hydrologic processes, scale has a massive effect on outcomes.
+We are very much in agreement that huge tree clearing operations on the scale of 3000 acres such as the study you provided would very
much have the potential to substantially impact groundwater.
So, conversely, adding/planting a large number of trees** on parcels/Lots over larger areas (~3000+ acres) can and WILL have impacts!
Consider irrigation, water needs and use, water quality, along with groundwater levels. Types of trees, #, and where planted do matter.
DATA City of Bozeman
GROWTH: 2020 Community Plan pages 23-24 states 6,650 acres (10.3 sq. miles) annexed since 1988 (more than doubled in size);
projected land demand based on estimated population growth (for 20yrs to 2040) ranges from 3,820 acres to 5,716 acres to be added.
2020 Bozeman, MT Census data states Land area in square miles = 20.60 2020 [Wikipedia shows City/Land at 20.91 or 20.86 acres]
**3) Adding trees ~ what might be the best ideas & plan for using large landscape plants and/or trees, especially for new development?
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SCALE & IMPACTS
My Public Comment of 4/25/2023 provided research including
verbally delivered / transcribed audio-recorded input on water (rights, wells, watersheds, & aquifers)
2017 Public Hearing inputs from former MT Legislative Rep. Mr. Kerry White who said,
“I think one thing we need to look at is the amount of trees and their consumption of water.”
Furthermore, Rep. Kerry White stated sprinkler irrigation has higher evaporation/loss than flood irrigation.
Also, I had provided the 2006 Study by Dan C. Ambercrombie on how just tree thinning on 3,000 acres raised the water table 80+ feet.
The inputs stated by Rep. Kerry White asked us to not just consider the City of Bozeman, but even wider into the County as we grow.
Therefore, in juggling water availability and consumption/use...
My take is
on the SCALE in the State of Montana, Gallatin County, or even just the City of Bozeman or portions of it,
with regard to water, it may indeed be important to look at and consider the amount of
trees not only removed, but also the # PLANTED and tree types in addition to where planted.
Additional online research showed:
Watering-up: Studies of Groundwater Rising After Trees Cut does note:
Dubé et al. (1995) confirmed that clear cuttings, even on 1 ha (hectare) [~ 2.5acres], caused rises of the water table
Separately,
I read an article online, www.nature.com/scientificreports,Ilstedt, U. et al
Intermediate tree cover can maximize groundwater recharge in the seasonally dry tropics.
Sci. Rep. 6, 21930; doi: 10.1038/srep21930 (2016).
Which tested an “optimum tree cover theory..."
Trees can reduce water availability but aid percolation into soils & are important for groundwater recharge
Per more single-tree type research done online--just for ONE tree type (prevalent, large, & existing along in places along farm ditches):
Cottonwood trees can use from 50-200 gallons per day each
Cottonwoods (aka poplars) consume large amounts of water in their growth cycle.
[Only some of the water in a plant becomes growth, 1-10% at most.]
A single cottonwood tree can consume 50-200 gallons of water each day.
A mature cottonwood tree uses 200 gallons of water a day
In comparison, and oak tree can consume up to 50 gallons/day.
This, it is obvious that TYPE of TREE really matters, along with foliage types of deciduous or evergreen for trees/vegetation.
It is my hope in doing this further research, that TREES WILL ALWAYS be a key part of the equation for development,
and truly considered during infrastructure planning for Water, water Quality, and Groundwater impacts,
plus additionally for drainage, comprehensive stormwater management, and flood prevention.
Trees effect hydrology & the water cycle:
Intercept water via canopy/ leaves/branches
Use water, up-taking via Transpiration
Shade, plus heat is reduced by tree processes
Tree litter and roots improve soil infiltration
Increase biodiversity and carbon capture
Human Health is affected improved by trees
Without Trees, (and much existing farmland had trees removed long ago, back to 1860s, etc.)
No Interception rain falls on to ground
No Transpiration, does increase runoff
Hotter more soil /surface evaporation
Loss of leaf litter, habitat for birds/wildlife
True Net Loss & Climate impacts
[Community Development Board & City Commissioner(s) spoke a bit to this.]
I offer this data for YOU as PARKS / FORESTRY to truly consider TREEs, what Types, #'s & where located, & impacts +/- on WATER.
Sincerely, Mary Wictor member of Bridger Creeklands Association of Neighbors (BCAN)
1504 Boylan Rd City approved chartered objectives for eight (8 neighborhoods)
{In 2019-2020 I did spend 100 hours in classes, plus 150+hours volunteering, to become a Native Plant Steward}
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My prior Public Comment inputs used herein as REFERENCEs for TREE-related inputs, which relate to WATER:
i)
Public Comment 5/1/2023 More online RESEARCH ~ Trees DO affect Hydrology, Water Cycle, and Groundwater (1 hectare)
ii)
4/17/2023 Public Comment ~ Canyon Gate / App22264 Ask Questions NOW & Add Conditions of Approval for PrelimPlat