Canton Township presents first annual tree report; plans 178 spring plantings and seeks sustainable funding

Canton Township planning staff presented the township’s first annual tree report, summarizing the public-tree inventory, maintenance and planting work done since 2019 and laying out a work plan for the coming year.

Zach Michelle, planning staff, told the commission the township’s inventory now lists roughly 6,800 public trees that the planning department helps manage (street trees, municipal trees and park trees). Staff said the department removed many Callery (Bradford) pear trees because of poor long-term viability; that removal has created roughly 500 empty planting spaces in the street and municipal inventories. Staff reported touching about 652 public trees last year and planting roughly 420 trees overall (including 104 funded through a parks grant).

For the coming season staff said the township plans to plant 178 trees in spring, including 41 trees in existing empty spots and 40 trees in front of public schools as part of a grant-supported program. Staff said trimming and maintenance increased last year and that the township aims to reach a seven-year trimming cycle, which would require trimming about 1,000 trees per year to remain on schedule.

Staff also summarized environmental benefits calculated with the i-Tree ECO model (U.S. Forest Service): about 1.4 tons of fine particulate matter removed annually, roughly $13,000 in air-quality-equivalent value, more than 700,000 gallons of reduced stormwater runoff, over 3 million intercepted gallons, 38 tons of carbon sequestered last year and an estimated 1,000 tons of carbon currently stored in the public-tree stock. Zach said the township invested more than $260,000 in public-tree work last year; roughly $200,000 is held in a tree fund (about $100,000 for planting and $100,000 for removal and trimming), with additional grant and leisure-services funding used for other plantings.

Commissioners asked about using developer public-benefit contributions to bolster the tree fund, coordination with DTE Energy on trimming and grant opportunities, homeowner association outreach and contractor pricing for group planting projects. Staff said existing in-lieu funds collected when developers remove protected trees are dedicated to the tree program and do not go to the general fund, and staff said they are discussing with administration how to sustain tree funding going forward.

Staff described ongoing policy work including a public tree care ordinance, pursuit of Tree City USA recognition, stewardship planning for undeveloped woodlands, and early planning for an urban forestry master plan. The commission received the report as information; staff requested feedback on outreach and tracking improvements for future annual reports.