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Bothell presents first urban forestry plan: 15,000 street trees inventoried, canopy at about 44%
Summary
City planner and consultant presented initial findings from Bothell’s first urban forestry plan: a street‑tree inventory of roughly 15,000 trees, 228 identified species, 44% overall tree canopy citywide and areas prioritized for new plantings.
City planner Cameron Colvin presented initial findings from Bothell’s first urban forestry plan to the Park and Recreation Board in July 2025, reporting on a newly completed street‑tree inventory and an updated tree canopy assessment.
Colvin said certified arborists conducted an on‑the‑ground inventory that mapped just over 15,000 trees in the public right of way and identified about 228 distinct species. The most common species was red maple at roughly 16 percent of inventoried street trees, followed by Douglas‑fir and western red cedar. Colvin told the board the average mapped trunk diameter was 10 inches and the largest measured 75 inches.
The updated canopy analysis — using 2023 GIS data — showed Bothell with about 44 percent tree cover citywide and about 35 percent tree cover in the urban growth area immediately outside city limits. Colvin said that, excluding existing buildings and impervious surfaces, about 15 percent of the city’s land could potentially be used for new plantings (a “tree canopy potential” figure). Comparing 2015 and 2023 canopy datasets, staff reported a net citywide decrease of slightly less than one percentage point, with losses concentrated in some neighborhoods and gains in others (often in protected natural areas).
Why it matters: Colvin said the inventory and canopy maps will inform where to prioritize tree planting for multiple benefits — shade along high‑use pedestrian corridors, heat‑island mitigation, riparian shading for water quality, and equity‑focused plantings in neighborhoods with lower canopy cover.
Key findings and next steps:
- Street‑tree inventory: ~15,000 trees mapped; 228 species; ~16% red maples. Condition assessments found about 2% of inventoried trees recommended for removal or replacement. Conflicts observed included vehicle clearance issues (24%), overhead utilities (10%) and hardscape damage (7%).
- Canopy and potential: Citywide canopy about 44%; urban growth area ~35%; tree canopy potential (excluding impervious and built areas) roughly 15%.
- Prioritization: A planting prioritization model linked canopy gaps with demographic indicators to identify census blocks with the greatest potential equitable benefit; staff flagged specific neighborhoods with notable canopy loss since 2015.
Colvin said the next steps are expanded public engagement over the summer and a draft plan expected in early fall for review; staff aim to return to council for plan adoption in December if schedule holds. He encouraged the public to complete an ongoing survey (open through July 18) and noted two public focus groups planned in late August or early September.
Board questions and discussion covered private‑land planting strategies, tree giveaways and incentives, updating the city’s recommended street‑tree species list, right‑tree/right‑place guidance, and revisions to construction standards to provide sufficient planting areas. Colvin noted that roughly 63 percent of existing tree canopy in the city is on private land and that private‑land strategies will therefore be part of the plan.
What happens next: The plan team will refine recommendations and present draft materials in early fall. Staff asked board members to help spread the survey link to boost participation.
