Protecting and Restoring Urban Tree Canopy for Stormwater Management
Public Meeting: March 25, 2017
The City of Harrisonburg hosted a presentation and discussion at the Massanutten Regional Library’s on May 25, 2017, for community members to participate in the City’s urban tree canopy management initiatives. This meeting invited community members to share their ideas for improving the City’s stormwater management efforts through tree canopy protection and restoration. Community members can still participate by reviewing the presentation and posters below and submitting comments to stormwater@harrisonburgva.gov during the public comment period.
Public Comment Period on the Tree Canopy Grant: May 30 - June 13, 2017
Public Meeting Presentation 
[10MB]
Poster 1: Land Cover Northeast Quadrant [2MB]
Poster 2: Land Cover Northwest Quadrant [3MB]
Poster 3: Land Cover Southeast Quadrant [2MB]
Poster 4: Land Cover Southwest Quadrant [1 MB]
Poster 5: Possible Planting Areas Northeast Quadrant [1MB]
Poster 6: Possible Planting Areas Northwest Quadrant [2MB]
Poster 7: Possible Planting Areas Southeast Quadrant [2MB]
Poster 8: Possible Planting Areas Southwest Quadrant [3MB]
The public is invited to submit comments related to this project. Please submit comments, in writing, to stormwater@harrisonburgva.gov or by mail to ATTN: Stormwater, Harrisonburg Public Works, 320 E. Mosby Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Comments will be accepted June 13, 2017.
Date: May 25, 2017
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Massanutten Regional Library Grand Room
The City of Harrisonburg will be hosting a presentation and discussion at the Massanutten Regional Library’s Grand Room from 5:00pm-7:00pm on May 25, 2017, for community members to participate in the City’s urban tree canopy management initiatives. This meeting will invite community members to share their ideas for improving the City’s stormwater management efforts through tree canopy protection and restoration. The City has received federal funding to study how urban trees can be used to improve the quality of local waterways. Community members can provide input on how the City can enhance the ability of existing urban forests to manage and reduce stormwater runoff.
There are things we unknowingly do every day at home or at our place of business that can threaten our rivers, lakes, and streams. Many local waterways are in violation of state water quality standards and there are a variety of easy things that the municipality and residents can do to help. Through the City’s partnership with the Infrastructure Center (GIC) and the Virginia Department of Forestry, this forum will explain this issue, show the City’s current tree canopy, explore potential planting areas, and get feedback and ideas from participants on how to improve the City’s urban trees and stormwater runoff. Funding for this forum and resulting project is provided by the USDA Forest Service and matched with in-kind support by the City.
Property owners will have time with city staff at the end of the meeting to discuss strategies for reducing their stormwater utility fee. Staff will share strategies such as planting additional trees, using rain barrels, and checking for downspout disconnections from the street. To learn more about reducing residential stormwater fees, visit https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/residential-credit or call Public Works at 540-434-5928. Visit http://cleanstream.org/ to learn more about environmental initiatives in the City of Harrisonburg, and visit https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/tree-canopy-grant for more information about the GIC Technical Assistance Grant.
Contact:
Kelley Junco, Environmental Compliance Manager
Phone: 540-434-5928
Email: Kelley.Junco@HarrisonburgvVA.gov