The State of the Science and Practice of Using Urban Trees as a Stormwater Control Measure

Trees are already part of virtually all development and can be integrated even into the densest urban areas. Many cities already have tree requirement ordinances. However, the potential of these trees to provide significant stormwater benefits is largely untapped to date. Stormwater professionals have been studying stormwater control measures for decades, and foresters have been studying and growing urban trees for centuries. But combining the two to use trees as a Stormwater Control Measure, a critical component of green infrastructure, is in its infancy. This paper summarizes the current state of the science and practice of using urban trees as a stormwater control measure.