Sumner Avenue and “X” Reconstruction – Tree Impact Report Completed

The reconstruction of urban infrastructure often presents opportunities to enhance the sustainability and livability of communities through the integration of green infrastructure.

One such tool that aids in assessing the benefits of trees in urban settings is the i-Tree Planting software. A  report was just completed by the US Forest Service, in partnership with ReGreen Springfield, that outlines how i-Tree Planting software was employed to calculate the benefits of existing, proposed, and trees that are being removed as part of the reconstruction of Sumner Avenue at Dickinson Street and Belmont Avenue(referred to as “The X”) in Springfield, MA.

The i-Tree Planting software analyzed the existing tree canopy cover along Sumner Avenue, evaluating their contributions to air quality improvement, stormwater runoff reduction, energy savings, and carbon sequestration. The results highlighted the significant role that the existing trees played in mitigating the urban heat island effect and enhancing local air quality.

Over the span of a decade, they are projected to collectively sequester 69,106.2 pounds of CO2, continue the legacy of ozone removal by eliminating 232.43 pounds, and extract 9.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 8.01 pounds of particulate matter 2.5 from the air.

Furthermore, these new trees possess the potential to intercept a substantial 470,331.7 gallons of rainfall, alleviating the burden on the soil, preventing erosion and lessening urban flooding. Their contributions extend to the avoidance of 84,923.1 gallons of runoff, as they participate in preserving the delicate balance of the local ecosystem.

In the end, these three scenarios underscore the indispensable role that trees play in maintaining environmental equilibrium, showcasing the cascading effects of their presence, absence, and revival.

Click Here to read the report brief.

 

 

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Environmental Equity Report Completed for Springfield by ReGreen Springfield

Regreen Springfield has just completed an important study that examined environmental equity in Springfield titled “Examining Springfield’s Environmental Equity Using Key Environmental and Demographic Indicators” The report presents a comprehensive analysis of Springfield neighborhoods, employing the U.S. Forest Service i-Tree analysis software tool and the EPA EJScreen environmental mapping tool to evaluate environmental equity within the city.

The report focuses on assessing the environmental and demographic indicators to identify disparities across Springfield neighborhoods. By leveraging the i-Tree analysis software and EJScreen tool, ReGreen Springfield aims to provide valuable insights into the current state of urban forestry and environmental justice within the community.

This first of its kind report was completed with funding from the Conservation Law Foundation, as part of its Urban Forestry Initiative in Massachusetts.  A copy of the report is available online at https://joom.ag/W8qd.

 

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Status Report on Springfield Invasive Plant Control Project Released

A comprehensive status report providing an overview of an ongoing project in Springfield, Massachusetts, focused on invasive plant control in public landscapes was recently released by ReGreen Springfield. The project aims to reduce the population of invasive plants in the city by 15% over a five-year period. The primary objective of the current phase of the program is to address the invasive Japanese knotweed. The project is funded by a grant from the Springfield Community Preservation Act Committee and is being implemented by ReGreen Springfield in collaboration with the Springfield Parks Department and the Springfield Conservation Commission.

A copy of the ‘Status Report on the Invasive Plant Control Project’ can be viewed at https://joom.ag/93qd

More information on the Community Preservation Act Committee can be found at https://www.springfield-ma.gov/finance/community-preservation

 

 

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