Stormwater

Trees are a critical Best Management Practice (BMP) that communities can use to help achieve our “pollution diet” or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Learn more about the BMP credits approved for Urban Tree Canopy Expansion and Urban Forest Planting via this Fact Sheet and complete webcast/resources posted on Chesapeake Stormwater Network.


Completed tree planting

Webinar: Reforestation

Part 1 of Chesapeake Stormwater Network’s “Roots” series looks at reforestation programs designed to convert turf to forest through larger-scale plantings, featuring Frederick County’s Creek ReLeaf Program and Baltimore County’s Turf to Trees Program.

Urban tree canopy with building in background

Webinar: Big Trees, Small Spaces

Part 2 of Chesapeake Stormwater Network’s “Roots” series focuses on, we are the “design” challenges of planting trees in confined urban spaces, including constraints and best practices for good tree growth and survival.

Young trees on a grassy lawn

Webinar: Finding the Right Tree BMP

Part 3 of Chesapeake Stormwater Network’s “Roots” series gets into the details of the different tree BMPs that you can use for Chesapeake Bay TMDL credit: Tree Canopy Expansion, Forest Planting, and Riparian Buffer Plantings.

Trees to Offset Stormwater publication cover

GIC’s Trees to Offset Stormwater Project

The Green Infrastructure Center joined with six states – VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, and AL – to study how urban trees mitigate stormwater runoff. A summary report, individual case study booklets, and planning tools are provided.

Accounting for Trees in Stormwater Models publication cover page

Accounting for Trees in Stormwater Models

This paper is intended to help the stormwater engineering community more easily account for trees in runoff and pollutant load calculations so that they can more readily incorporate them into their stormwater management strategies.

Cover page of resource publication

Urban Forest Systems and Green Stormwater Infrastructure

This publication focuses on the effects of trees on urban stormwater runoff, provides helpful urban forest management strategies to maximize stormwater benefits, and demonstrates several examples around the US where the stormwater benefits of urban trees are credited for reducing stormwater volume and pollutant loading.