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Thurston County posts tree canopy assessment; staff says LiDAR maps will guide restoration and planning
Summary
Thurston County planning staff announced the county—s tree canopy assessment is published online and explained it uses LiDAR-based analysis displayed as 250-acre hexagons to indicate where canopy exists and where restoration opportunities may be prioritized. Staff said the data will inform the comprehensive plan update and riparian habitat work.
Thurston County planning staff announced at the commission—s meeting that the county—s tree canopy assessment has been completed and published on the county website, on the Healthy Forest Project page. A planning staff member said the assessment uses LiDAR data to calculate vegetation height and canopy cover and that the report is intended as a regional visualization tool rather than a site-by-site permit-level analysis.
The staff member explained the maps are displayed using 250-acre hexagons so percentage comparisons are standardized across the county. "It's calculated directly from LiDAR data," the staff member said, adding the visualization uses hexagons to avoid misleading results that can arise when comparing very small and very large parcels. The presenter said the LiDAR analysis identifies existing canopy, conversion risk and restoration opportunities and…
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