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Costa Mesa receives first citywide urban tree canopy assessment; commissioners push for equity-focused maps and funding
Summary
City staff presented an urban canopy and land assessment showing Costa Mesa has about 23,000 trees and 13.9% canopy cover, with suitable planting area limited to about 5.6%. Commissioners urged targeted maps, school and water-district partnerships, and pilot projects to address equity gaps.
Parks staff on Nov. 13 presented the city's first comprehensive urban tree canopy and land assessment, telling the Parks and Community Services Commission that Costa Mesa's urban forest contains about 23,000 trees with an estimated ecosystem value of more than $85 million and a citywide canopy cover of 13.88 percent. Mister Ryan, the parks staff presenter, said West Coast Arborists used 2024 USDA high-resolution imagery, local GIS layers and manual refinement to classify land as pervious or impervious and to identify ‘‘suitable planting areas’’ versus locations where tree establishment would conflict with existing uses.
The study found roughly 270 tree species citywide, with a large share of younger trees (diameter at breast height in the 3'12-inch range) that could expand canopy over time. Ryan said the report estimates about 5.63 percent of the city as suitable for future…
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