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Evergreen Communities Act
Growth Management Staff Contact: Micki McNaughton - Urban Forestry Specialist
 
 
Evergreen Communities Act - Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2844
 
Evergreen Communities Act Technical Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Evergreen Communities Act Urban and Community Forest Inventory and Assessment, is made up of Washington community and urban forestry professionals. The TAC is assisting the DNR Urban and Community Forestry program in developing protocols and an implementation plan for the statewide inventory project.  Members were selected as representatives from the following groups and were appointed by the Commissioner of Public Lands. (Arborists, Municipal Foresters, Educators, Consultants, Researchers, Public Works and Utilities Professionals, Information technology specialists, Other affiliated professionals)
 
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The Evergreen Communities Act seeks to assist municipalities and jurisdictions across the state to better manage existing urban forests and plan for improvements to the urban forest infrastructure by:
 
  • providing technical assistance in urban forest assessment and inventory;
  • creating model ordinances and management plans;
  • recognizing those municipalities that take action to preserve and enhance their urban forests;
  • supporting public and private utilities in efforts to reduce conflicts between  trees and utilities that are harmful to both; and
  • fostering partnerships among a wide variety of agencies toward improving air and water quality through the use of correct landscaping and tree planting practices.
The benefits of a healthy, well-managed urban forest are myriad:  better air and water quality; the well-being of citizens and wild creatures; less flooding and stormwater impacts; better human and economic health.  Healthy urban and community forests are a valuable and potentially powerful tool to support economically viable, sustainable urban areas in Washington. 
 
 
The portion of the Evergreen Communities Act administered by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) provides guidance for communities about tree-related ordinances and urban forestry management plans. The Act creates an awards program to recognize communities for their work in developing excellent urban forest management programs that include community and urban forestry inventories, assessments, management plans, ordinances, maintenance programs, partnerships, and community involvement.  Other sections of the Act are administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program (assessment and inventory) and utility agencies (prevention, management and mitigation of tree/utility conflicts).
 
 
The Evergreen Communities Act provides for the formation of an advisory panel, the Evergreen Communities Partnership Task Force, to aid and advise CTED in the administration of its duties under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 35.105.030.  The Task Force will assist State staff to achieve three goals:
  1. development of model evergreen community ordinances
  2. development of model urban and community forestry management plans
  3. develop criteria for an Evergreen Community recognition program
 
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