Tree Canopy US is a canopy data project of the Arbor Day Foundation (founders of TreeCity® designations), the US Forest Service, and PlantITGeo. It states its goals as helping communities understand their tree canopy data and “understand how well plans and projects are working.” It only measures trees over 10-15 feet high, or otherwise relatively mature trees having some tangible canopy benefit versus small newly planted ones.

Readers may be particularly interested in how the canopy has changed in the North Van Dyke area of the City of Sterling Heights, and why preserving all existing canopy should be the top priority for city administration and city council. Tree Canopy US shows this portion of Sterling Heights, a 299-acre Census block consisting of only the east side of North Van Dyke, as having lost 10 acres (or 3.2%) of mature tree canopy between 2016 and 2022. Just over 6 years.

Note that this is well beyond the period of any Emerald Ash Borer impacts often noted in many discussions of “reforestation” efforts of the Pathways to Play and Preservation Millage, and prior to any land clearing for developments in place after 2022. It is an area of intense focus and concern for flooding impacts. But data like this isn’t communicated in the City’s planning presentations.

Remind your representatives on the Sterling Heights City Council to reconsider any past or future decisions that contribute to further removals of mature trees in this North Van Dyke district, as these decisions work against the city’s goals for increasing canopy cover. It works against charging residents more in taxes to replant trees or buy more property to preserve. It runs counter to any discussion of mitigation of flooding impacts in the North Van Dyke corridor. It’s already declined by 10 acres over 6 years, according to the Arbor Day Foundation/USFS study. It has more grass to mow and impervious surface than tree cover.

The city can now legally change the fate of “Riverland Park” and all of its mature trees, actually preserving the last remaining green space for the North Van Dyke District. Residents have spoken, written, and pleaded repeatedly. It rests in the hands of the Sterling Heights City Council. It simply takes the political will to do so.

FYI – the Petition to Save the Sterling Oak currently has 3601 signatures!