Sustainable Guelph is a presentation by Guelph Urban Forest Friends designed to stress the importance of trees in a healthy community, to outline the current development practices that harm trees in an urban environment and to show the benefits of Low Impact Development (LID)

1. Guelph Urban Forest Friends Sustainable Guelph www.guffguelph.ca

2. Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) We are a group of citizens advocating for Low Impact Development (LID) and an urban forestry department to maintain and increase the health, integrity and area of Guelph’s tree canopy

7. Two similar homes. The house on the left has significantly decreased heating & air conditioning costs. Trees reduce energy needs

8. “ A study in Charlottesville, VA showed that when tree cover dropped by 8% between 1976 – 2000, the amount of run-off increased by 19%” GRCA Forester Virginia Gauley, GRCA Watershed Report Trees enhance river quality

9. Removal of healthy trees increases run-off. This degrades water resources with pollutants and sediment from roads and rooftops. Trees reduce run-off to river after storms

10. Trees stabilize the amount of after-storm river flow. “ Our city needs a stable amount of river water for wastewater management” GRCA Watershed Report “Investing in Trees” Trees affect after-storm river volume

11. Hanlon Creek Business Park, where aquifers of the Paris/Galt moraine are recharged. Guelph water comes from the Paris/Galt moraine. Trees and soil filter rain and snow-melt, which increases ground water for Guelph

12. Properties with mature trees sell for 10-25% more than those without trees Trees increase property value

14. “ Southern Ontario has the strongest UV radiation in Canada. The greatest protection is afforded by trees with dense wide canopies and low foliage.” Shade for Good Health and a Green City, Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition

17. Schools grounds and parks are prime settings for Shade Policy Children spend 25% of the school day outdoors “ Shade for Good Health and a Green City”, Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition

19. Trees contribute to our heritage value Designated heritage property includes heritage trees

20. But many current practices are reducing our forest canopy and lowering our resistance to climate stress. This is making our city less sustainable

21. We need to practice Low Impact Development (LID) to have a sustainable future

22. Low Impact Development (LID) places roads and pipes outside treed hedgerows, preserving natural benefits of healthy ecosystems. This reduces costs and greenhouse gases, thereby increasing sustainability. Low impact development preserves natural benefits ! Source: LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound. Puget Sound Action Team, Washington State University Pierce County Extension. January 2005. Graphic by AHBL Engineering.

23. Current development practice BEFORE AFTER Victoria Road: tree branches stripped prior to removal Heritage trees are removed, heritage home remains

24. An ambient temperature of 26 degrees can increase to 48-55 degrees on paved surfaces. The effects on health are considerable. ( Shade for Good Health and a Green City, Toronto 2007) Current development practice

25. Interspersing trees in paved areas reduces the ‘heat island’ effect and deterioration of asphalt Parking lot in Munich, Germany, Oct 2007

26. ‘ Places to Grow’ legislation compels Guelph to grow to 165,000 population by 2031 This means thousands of new, infill homes for our city of 115,000 www.guelph.ca

27. Current infill practice BEFORE AFTER 13 healthy trees were removed from this infill lot, two on city property. LID would have retained some.

28. Same lot; The new house has increased storm-water run-off, reduced groundwater infiltration and increased energy demand

33. 40% tree canopy is advised for cities to withstand the negative effects of climate change Guelph currently has about 27% tree canopy New plantings take 20-25 years before they add to canopy

34. Hanlon Creek, headwaters of the Grand River, where development plans to mass-grade hundreds of acres that will result in the loss of moraine features, 1700 mature trees, 33 acres of canopy and 6 acres of wetland Environmental Implementation Report 2009

35. In June 2009, a local developer leveled over 60 acres of forest that had been identified as a critical linkage between the Hanlon Creek and Mill Creek Hanlon Creek Subwatershed Study,1993

40. For A Sustainable Guelph www.guffguelph.ca