Silver Spring Gets Made in the Shade

A recent assessment of Montgomery County’s tree canopy showed that while Bethesda and Potomac are some of the shadiest places in the county, Silver Spring is in need of more shady spots. The Silver Spring Central Business District in particular has only 14 percent canopy coverage, compared to an average of 50 percent for the county. (Tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above.)

As a result, the county will be planting trees in Silver Spring and in other areas that need it, according to an article on the Gazette web site. The funding for this is possible thanks to an amendment of the county’s forest conservation law to match a state law allowing fees collected from developers to be put towards creating more urban tree canopy. This money also funds a Leaves for Neighborhoods program which gives residents a discount to plant trees on their property.

Having lots of tree canopy in urban areas also has environmental importance. It lessens the “heat island effect” which is the temperature increase that happens in most city areas. And buildings under a tree canopy often see reduced energy costs.

The program in Silver Spring is just beginning, and no budget has been set so they don’t yet know how many trees will be planted. Bethesda folks would also like to see more trees planted, feeling that many older trees have been lost due to development, storms or just old age. Down the road, the County Planning Department wants to create an online tool that property owners can use to see the canopy coverage of their individual lots.

So get out your lawn chair, pour some lemonade, and get ready to enjoy more cool shady spots in Montgomery County.

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