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Sammamish's Urban Forest Management Plan

One of our members did some research about Sammamish's Urban Forest Management Plan and this is what she found:


The Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) was adopted by the City of Sammamish in 2019. The plan contains a lot of information, particularly as it pertains to tree preservation in Sammamish.

The UFMP serves as a policy guide for managing, enhancing, and growing trees in our city over the next 20 years.Key Goals of the UFMP

The goals listed in the plan include:
  • Promote a sustainable canopy cover in Sammamish.
  • Improve oversight and enforcement of tree preservation and planting.

Big Questions for the City Council


Our member has identified the following questions for the city council regarding the implementation of the UFMP:
  1. How is the city measuring its progress with the plan? Is a road map in place, and is there any oversight, or has this project fallen by the wayside?
  2. Can the city provide an update? The last one that could be found is from 2021/2022, even though the plan states we are supposed to receive an "Annual State of the Urban Forest".

Request for a Tree Moratorium


Until there is a clear picture of the city's progress as measured against the UFMP, a moratorium is being requested on the following tree clearing activities:
  • All heritage trees (22” diameter).
  • All legacy trees (32” diameter).
  • All clearing of forested areas that exceed 3,000 square feet.

Actions Needed While Moratorium Is in Place


While a moratorium is in effect, the following actions need to take place:
  • Tree Canopy Review: Review the tree canopy (the last study was in 2018). Once a new study is released, a realistic target for Sammamish should be determined. A canopy study should be adopted every five years.
  • Stronger Codes: Develop stronger tree codes to protect our legacy and heritage trees.
  • Better Enforcement: Develop better enforcement of tree removal, tree protection, and replacing trees, as it is currently not enforced.
  • Wildlife Corridors: Formally map out the wildlife corridors in Sammamish and institute stronger codes to protect them.
  • Staffing: Budget to hire a full-time Arborist and Urban Forester for the city (this may be a long-term goal).
  • Alignment: Align the plan with the Comprehensive Plan and State laws.
We need to ask the council to do something remarkable to protect the future of our community.

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