goleta valley beautiful

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PLANTING TREES TO ATTAIN AIR QUALITY GOALS Air pollution in our cities is a serious threat to public health. According to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, the County violates the state 8-hour ozone standard and the state standard for particulate matter. Urban forestry can play a significant role in addressing a variety of community and national issues from reducing carbon dioxide and other dangerous greenhouse gases to combating climate change and creating healthier communities. The four main ways that the urban forest can affect local and regional air quality are by removal of air pollutants, temperature reduction, emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds and tree maintenance emissions, and energy effects on buildings (Nowak). Trees Remove Air Pollutants Trees sequester many pollutants from the atmosphere, including nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM 10 ). The USDA Forest Service conducted research in fifty cities to assess the air pollution removal capacity of urban forests and found the following air quality benefits in each city (represented in lbs of pollutants removed per year and annual dollar savings): Washington, DC, 878,000 lbs, $2.1 million; Atlanta, GA, 19,000,000 lbs, $47 million; Portland, OR, 2,000,000 lbs, $4.8 million; Denver, CO, 1,100,000 lbs, $2.6 million (American Forests). Standardized pollution removal rates differ among cities according to the amount of air pollution, length of in-leaf season, precipitation, and other meteorological variables. Similarly, beginning in 2005 the Sacramento Tree Foundation teamed up with the USDA Forest Service, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and 5 regional air districts to study the effect of trees on air quality. The objective of the Urban Forests for Clean Air (UFFCA) project is to model the net benefit of trees to air quality, decide when trees make the biggest improvements, and where to best invest in the urban forest to improve the air. Using a similar strategy, Goleta can develop estimates using the science-based Urban Forests Effects Model. See Appendix 1 for more information. Cooling Improves Air Quality Reduced air temperature due to trees can improve air quality because the emissions of many pollutants and ozone-forming chemicals are temperature dependent. Urban trees reduce CO 2 emissions associated with power generation by cooling ambient air, which allows residents to minimize annual heating and cooling. Also, tree shade in parking lots can reduce evaporative emissions from vehicles and reduce the speed of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of ozone and particulate matter (CARB). See Appendix 2 for urban forest management strategies to help improve air quality. Challenges Associated With Estimating Tree BVOC Emissions Although trees provide many benefits, it is important to consider that most trees emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) that can contribute to ozone formation. The emission rates vary considerably between species (See Appendix 3) and increase exponentially with temperature (as does ozone formation). Because BVOC emissions are temperature dependent and trees lower air temperatures, increased tree cover in Goletaʼs cool coastal climate can lower overall BVOC emissions and slow the production of ozone. Proper Tree Selection The net effect on air quality depends on the chosen tree species and their placement in the urban environment. Many of Goletaʼs native trees are high BVOC emitters and shall be planted with caution. Non-native low emitting trees can be planted in public areas to maximize shade on paving and parked vehicles, offset atmospheric impacts of industry, and improve local tree diversity. Additionally, urban trees often receive substantial inputs of energy, primarily from fossil fuels, to maintain vegetation structure, and the emissions from these maintenance activities need to be considered in determining the ultimate net effect of urban forests on air quality. Due to Goletaʼs cool coastal climate, the benefits of planting native or non-native trees in Goleta far outweigh the emissions associated with them.

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Transcript of goleta valley beautiful

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PLANTING TREES TO ATTAIN AIR QUALITY GOALS Air pollution in our cities is a serious threat to public health. According to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, the County violates the state 8-hour ozone standard and the state standard for particulate matter. Urban forestry can play a significant role in addressing a variety of community and national issues from reducing carbon dioxide and other dangerous greenhouse gases to combating climate change and creating healthier communities. The four main ways that the urban forest can affect local and regional air quality are by removal of air pollutants, temperature reduction, emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds and tree maintenance emissions, and energy effects on buildings (Nowak). Trees Remove Air Pollutants Trees sequester many pollutants from the atmosphere, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM10). The USDA Forest Service conducted research in fifty cities to assess the air pollution removal capacity of urban forests and found the following air quality benefits in each city (represented in lbs of pollutants removed per year and annual dollar savings): Washington, DC, 878,000 lbs, $2.1 million; Atlanta, GA, 19,000,000 lbs, $47 million; Portland, OR, 2,000,000 lbs, $4.8 million; Denver, CO, 1,100,000 lbs, $2.6 million (American Forests). Standardized pollution removal rates differ among cities according to the amount of air pollution, length of in-leaf season, precipitation, and other meteorological variables. Similarly, beginning in 2005 the Sacramento Tree Foundation teamed up with the USDA Forest Service, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and 5 regional air districts to study the effect of trees on air quality. The objective of the Urban Forests for Clean Air (UFFCA) project is to model the net benefit of trees to air quality, decide when trees make the biggest improvements, and where to best invest in the urban forest to improve the air. Using a similar strategy, Goleta can develop estimates using the science-based Urban Forests Effects Model. See Appendix 1 for more information.

Cooling Improves Air Quality Reduced air temperature due to trees can improve air quality because the emissions of many pollutants and ozone-forming chemicals are temperature dependent. Urban trees reduce CO2 emissions associated with power generation by cooling ambient air, which allows residents to minimize annual heating and cooling. Also, tree shade in parking lots can reduce evaporative emissions from vehicles and reduce the speed of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of ozone and particulate matter (CARB). See Appendix 2 for urban forest management strategies to help improve air quality. Challenges Associated With Estimating Tree BVOC Emissions Although trees provide many benefits, it is important to consider that most trees emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) that can contribute to ozone formation. The emission rates vary considerably between species (See Appendix 3) and increase exponentially with temperature (as does ozone formation). Because BVOC emissions are temperature dependent and trees lower air temperatures, increased tree cover in Goletaʼs cool coastal climate can lower overall BVOC emissions and slow the production of ozone. Proper Tree Selection The net effect on air quality depends on the chosen tree species and their placement in the urban environment. Many of Goletaʼs native trees are high BVOC emitters and shall be planted with caution. Non-native low emitting trees can be planted in public areas to maximize shade on paving and parked vehicles, offset atmospheric impacts of industry, and improve local tree diversity. Additionally, urban trees often receive substantial inputs of energy, primarily from fossil fuels, to maintain vegetation structure, and the emissions from these maintenance activities need to be considered in determining the ultimate net effect of urban forests on air quality. Due to Goletaʼs cool coastal climate, the benefits of planting native or non-native trees in Goleta far outweigh the emissions associated with them.

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APPENDIX 1: Using the Urban Forests Effects Model (UFORE) in Goleta UFORE is an acronym for "Urban Forest Effects" and refers to a computer model that calculates the structure, environmental effects and values of urban forests. The UFORE Model can be used in the City of Goleta to estimate:

- Hourly amount of pollution removed by the urban forest, and associated percent air quality improvement throughout a year. Pollution removal is calculated for ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (<10 microns). - Hourly urban forest volatile organic compound emissions and the relative impact of tree species on net ozone and carbon monoxide formation throughout the year. - Total carbon stored and net carbon annually sequestered by the urban forest. - Effects of trees on building energy use and consequent effects on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. - Compensatory value of the forest, as well as the value of air pollution removal and carbon storage and sequestration. UFORE has great potential impact on urban forest management, because the results portray scientifically tested and statistically valid projections of the benefits and value of the urban forest. Information such as the following can greatly help managers: Structure and Composition- UFORE analysis of samples of large areas of the urban forest can depict

its structure and composition. This analysis often shows a very different structure and composition that is normally seen in street or park tree inventories. In many cities, relatively little is known about the vegetation in areas of non-managed forest or how land-use types affect the composition of urban vegetation.

Environmental Benefits- A variety of analyses can be projected to identify the value of different segments of the urban forest. For example, air pollution removal by tree size-class can be projected, allowing a quick and visual assessment of the significant impact of large trees on air quality. Similar analysis can be used for different tree species and land-use types. Interactions of various factors such as species by land use can also be examined, which would show the impact of certain kinds of land use.

Resource Management and Evaluation- UFORE results can be valuable as a tool to determine the potential impact of management of the urban forest. UFORE can be used to evaluate “what if” scenarios, such as to determine what the loss of individual trees, species or portions of the forest would mean in terms of environmental and economic benefits. Similarly, UFORE can be used to determine the potential of urban forest management scenarios that increase urban tree cover.

Direct Management Applications - UFORE has been used in various areas to aid in urban forest management and planning. For example, in the New York City region, UFORE was used to help assess the role of urban trees on ozone formation; in New Jersey, UFORE was used to quantify the amount of air pollution removed by trees and obtain funding for future tree planting; and in Syracuse, UFORE was used to help develop an urban forest master plan that was adopted by the Cityʼs Common Council

Source: http://www.ufore.org/

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APPENDIX 2: Urban forest management strategies to help improve air quality in Goleta

- Increase the number of healthy trees (increases pollution removal). - Sustain existing tree cover (maintains pollution removal levels). - Maximize use of low VOC emitting trees (reduces ozone and carbon monoxide formation). - Sustain large, healthy trees (large trees have greatest per tree effects). - Use long-lived trees (reduces long-term pollutant emissions from planting and removal). - Use low maintenance trees (reduces pollutants emissions from maintenance activities). - Reduce fossil fuel use in maintaining vegetation (reduces pollutant emissions). - Plant trees in energy conserving locations (reduces pollutant emissions from power plants). - Plant trees to shade parked cars (reduces vehicular VOC emissions). - Supply ample water to vegetation (enhances pollution removal and temperature reduction). - Plant trees in polluted areas or heavily populated areas (maximizes tree air quality benefits). - Avoid pollutant sensitive species (increases tree health). - Utilize evergreen trees for particulate matter reduction (year-round removal of particles). Source: Nowak, David J. The Effects of Urban Trees on Air Quality. http://www.ufore.org/effects_of_urban_tree.html

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APPENDIX 3: Avoid Tree Species With High BVOC emissions

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For more species, see: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/local-resources/downloads/vocrates.pdf

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REFERENCES American Forests. Trees and Air Quality. http://www.americanforests.org/graytogreen/air/ California Air Resources Board (CARB). Trees and Air Quality. http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/ecosys/tree-aq/tree-aq.htm Knight, Kenneth A. “Planning and Financing Future Urban Forests – A Capital Asset Hybrid Proposal”. NUFCA. June 2008. http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/goletavalleybeautiful/NUCFACone.asp McPherson, Gregory E., et al. “Tree Guidelines for Coastal Southern California Communities.” Western Center for Urban Forest Research and Education, USDA Forest Service. January 2000. http://www.ufei.org/files/pubs/cufr_48.pdf Nowak, David J. Estimated Biogenic VOC Emission Rates for Common U.S. Trees and Shrubs. 2002. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/local-resources/downloads/vocrates.pdf Nowak, David J. The Effects of Urban Trees on Air Quality. USDA Forest Service, Syracuse, New York. http://www.ufore.org/effects_of_urban_tree.html Rowntree, Rowan A. and David J. Nowak. Quantifying the Role of Urban Forests in Removing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/urban-forests/docs/quantifying%20the%20role%20if%20urban%20forests%20in%20removing%20atmospheric%20carbon%20dioxide.pdf Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District. Santa Barbara County Air Quality Attainment Designation. http://www.sbcapcd.org/sbc/attainment.htm Trees – The Air Pollution Solution. Center for Urban Forest Research. January 2006. Urban Forests Effects Model. US Department of Agriculture. http://www.ufore.org/ Urban Forests for Clean Air Project. Researching the Relationship Between Trees and Local Air Quality. http://greenprintonline.org/doc.aspx?135 USDA Forest Service. “Urban Tree Effects on Air Quality and Climate” http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/urban/focus/air_quality_climate/

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PLANTING TREES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY Maintenance of Goletaʼs urban forest is a cheap and effective method in achieving energy conservation goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Strategically planting trees to shade buildings, parking lots, and pavement structures can diminish the intensity of solar radiance, resulting in significant reductions of energy usage and cooler local air temperatures. Tree planting sites shall be identified in accordance to the City of Goletaʼs General Plan and Californiaʼs Solar Shade Control Act. Passive Energy Conservation in Buildings Trees planted in intelligent spaces in the urban environment can reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool buildings. In the summer, most solar energy hits the east and west walls of buildings, and in the winter most solar gain is received on the south wall. Research shows that if California plants an additional 50 millions shade trees in strategic, energy-saving locations—two trees on the west and one tree on the east side of residential buildings—in 15 years the annual energy savings will nearly double to 12,500 GWh and eliminate the need for seven additional 100-MW power plants (Center for Urban Forest Research). Since 1990, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) in collaboration with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, has maintained state of the art programs Free Shade Trees and Community Shade to reduce energy use and cool entire neighborhoods. SMUD uses a Tree Benefits Calculator to estimate the impacts of planting a tree on energy savings and supplies free trees to residents and public areas in order to minimize air conditioning use during peak hours. See Appendix 1 on how Goleta can incorporate a similar program. Reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect In addition to the direct energy savings in buildings, a healthy urban forest can help reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect. Depending on the climate, some cities can be up to eight degrees Fahrenheit hotter than their suburban and rural surroundings due to the large amounts of paved and dark colored surfaces like roofs, roads, and parking lots that absorb and store the sunʼs heat. Parking lots without shade can become extremely hot and contribute to air pollution through enhanced volatilization of reactive hydrocarbons from parked vehicles (Scott et al 1999; Center for Urban Forest Research). The Center for Urban Forest Research found that annual benefits provided by the current parking lots trees in Sacramento (8.1% shade) was valued at approximately $700,000 for improved air quality, and by increasing shade to 50% in all parking lots, the annual benefits would increase to $4 million. Additional benefits of tree shade include the reduction of the amount of impervious surface in parking lots, which can reduce polluted runoff and the size and costs of storm water facilities. Many communities require newly constructed parking lots to incorporate tree plantings into the design through parking lot shade provisions. The City of Goletaʼs General Plan mandates that “Adequate tree density shall be established and shall include approximately one tree for every four parking spaces.” See Appendix 2 for Parking Lot Site Design Guidelines and Planting Strategies to Maximize Energy Savings. Coordinating Tree Planting with Solar Panels It is the policy of the state to promote all feasible means of energy conservation and uses of alternative energy supply sources; however, there are certain situations in which the use of alternative energy devices, such as solar panels, requires limited control on trees and shrubs. Specifically, the Solar Shade Control Act prohibits certain tree owners from planting or allowing a newly planted tree or shrub to cast a shadow over more than 10 percent of a solar collector on a neighboring property during the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. See Appendix 3 for more details.

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APPENDIX 1: Applying SMUDʼs Free Shade Tree Program to the City of Goleta Encouraging enhanced tree care in the City of Goleta through a Shade Tree Program can provide a multitude of benefits to the community:

- Trees cool your home naturally - Trees properly selected, planted and cared for can begin to reduce your home cooling costs within a few years - Fully-grown, properly placed trees can cut your home cooling costs by up to 40 percent - Trees add beauty and grace to your neighborhood - Trees add value to your property - Trees produce oxygen and help cleanse the air we breathe - Tree leaves capture rainwater - Tree roots help clean rainwater and add stability to the soil - Trees also provide a habitat for birds, squirrels and insects (and children)

The energy saving potential of tree shade can be determined with the Tree Benefits Estimator and depends on factors such as climate; tree size, shape and shading coefficient; direction and distance of trees relative to buildings; and type, size and vintage of building construction, and occupant behavior. The Tree Benefits Estimator assesses the amount of energy savings (kWh saved) and carbon and CO2 sequestration (lbs) removed when mature trees are planted in urban and suburban settings. The web-based estimator was developed by SMUD and based on the experience of the SMUD's Shade Tree program. In developing this simplified and easy-to-use method for estimating the tree planting benefits, broad assumptions were made regarding trees impact on direct shading benefits, impacts of indirect or evapotranspiration effect, heating penalty in winter months, tree growth rates and tree survival rates. As a result, this method may yield less precise results than a more tailored approach, which may take into account the unique characteristics of the tree-planting site. In order to convert the annual KWh saving estimates into monetary values, SMUD residential customers multiply the KWh saving estimates with 10 cents, which would represent only a quick and easy approximation of SMUD summer average KWh price. Although shade trees do not curtail energy demands immediately, they do promise reductions that will increase as trees grow larger, usually 5 to 15 years before it can fully contribute to the energy saving process. Shade from trees is more effective at cooling a building than blinds or reflective coatings because they reduce air temperatures surrounding the building. To use the Tree Benefits Estimator, you must know: 1. The average cost of electricity in summer and winter months (cost of KWh). 2. The tree species (common OR botanical name). 3. The age of the tree from the tree planting date OR the tree diameter at the breast height (DBH). 4. The number of trees planted (1 or more) 5. The location in the US, which would determine the climate zone. 6. The direction your tree faces (for trees planted next to buildings) 7. The distance between the tree and the building that is being shaded. To take into account different climate zones, you will need to input information on whether the utility has a substantial summer cooling load (which would then estimate 100% of the energy and capacity benefits), or small summer cooling load (which would then estimate 50% of the energy and capacity benefits) or no summer cooling load (which would then provide no energy and capacity benefits). However, regardless of whether a utility has any summer cooling load, the method will estimate carbon and CO2 sequestration. If the tree species is not on the list, then select another tree species that is on the list and that has a similar tree size.

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To use the calculator, visit: https://usage.smud.org/treebenefit/iDefault.aspx

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APPENDIX 2: Proper Site Design for New Parking Lot Construction Reduce parking ratios to decrease the number of unused parking spaces. Identify peripheral and overflow parking areas, especially in retail lots, and determine the appropriate

landscape treatment (e.g., pervious paving, storm water infiltration areas). Narrow the width of aisles between rows of spaces. In many cases aisle widths exceed the standard Increase soil volume and reduce soil compaction. Ensure adequate species diversity. Use structural soil mix under paving to retain parking spaces while increasing soil volume. Convert double-loaded full-size spaces to compact spaces with a tree in between to increase shade

without reducing the number of spaces. Increase use of one-way aisles, angled parking spaces, and shared parking to reduce overall

imperviousness. Increase the ratio of compact to full-sized spaces. Increase tree well and planting island minimum dimensions to 8 feet. Require soil in tree wells to be excavated to a depth of 3 feet and amended as necessary. Reduce conflicts between trees, lighting and signage by coordinating location of trees, light poles, and

signs. 1) Reduce the maximum height of parking lot light poles to the height trees are typically pruned for clearance. 2) Amend sign ordinances to allow monument signs (eye-level sings located near the street) and promote site designs that locate businesses closer to the street and move parking behind the buildings.

Develop a master tree list, omit species that are not suitable for parking lots and consider specifying recommended tree spacing and minimum planting island widths for each species.

After Installation

Promote adequate tree care after installation to increase tree vigor, crown growth and shade density. Remove stakes as soon as young trees can support themselves. Prune young trees early to train their growth. Allow tree crowns to reach their full potential. Make property owners, mangers and arborists aware of shade benefits as well as the benefits of a

commitment to professional care on a regular and long-term basis. Enforce the ordinance to ensure that trees are growing at acceptable rates, are properly pruned and

waters, and promptly replaced after removal. Replace removed trees with trees of equivalent size or value.

Strengthening Ordinances

Develop an enforcement and monitoring program that records information on the management needs for every tree, and results in a letter sent to the property manager requesting corrective action in a specified time.

Link inspection fees to the issuance of a building permit. Establish a mechanism to collect fines or places a lien on the property in owner fails to make the

requested improvements. Require interest-bearing bonds to pay for landscape improvements throughout the life of the project.

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Planting Strategies to Maximize Energy Savings

• Trees should be planted to shade windows on the east and west sides of buildings. • West shading is most important because peak demand for energy occurs in the afternoon when the sun shines on the west face of buildings and overall ambient temperatures are higher. • Use deciduous trees to the south because the bare branches allow heating during winter months. Locate trees about 10-20 feet south of the home to maximize summer shade and minimize winter shade. • Trees should not be placed too close to a building in order to prevent damage to the buildingʼs foundation or piping. Keep trees away from overhead power lines and do not plant directly above underground water and sewer lines. • Locate trees to shade windows from solar radiation, but do not block views. • Shade paved patios and driveways because they become heat sinks that warm the home during the day. Since air conditioners run more efficiently when kept cool, another way to increase energy savings is to shade the air conditioner. • Planting trees or erecting a trellis with vines around an air conditioner can reduce air temperatures around it by six to seven degrees Fahrenheit. • This reduction in temperature can increase the efficiency of the air conditioner by ten percent during peak periods. • It is best to plant several trees around the air conditioner to ensure that after a five year growth their canopies will completely shade the air conditioner and adjacent area. Direct Summer Breezes Through Windows In areas where little air conditioning is used, trees and shrubs can be pruned to funnel breezes that will naturally cool the building through open windows. It is important not to use this method when air conditioning is used because warm winds can increase interior temperatures. This is generally only a problem in the Southwest. Reduce Wind Speeds Trees can also reduce heating energy use by blocking cold winter winds. Although buildings help to keep wind speeds down, increasing the number of surrounding trees can reduce winds further. Note, however, that while this may create a benefit in the winter, this strategy can also work to deter cooling breezes in the summer, and can thus be counterproductive depending on local conditions. Windbreaks Where appropriate, trees can be planted to create windbreaks around buildings. In these instances, tall trees should be used to guide winds up and over buildings. Trees are the best form of windbreak because they filter and absorb the wind without creating turbulence. Very dense windbreaks, like walls, create turbulence on the leeward side of a windbreak, which can cause winds to be pulled downward, thus reducing the effect of the protection. Source: Tree Guidelines for Coastal Southern California Communities. http://www.ufei.org/files/pubs/cufr_48.pdf

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APPENDIX 3: Californiaʼs Solar Shade Control Act

The Solar Shade Control Act grants certain protections to owners of solar collectors. Solar collectors that are blocked by the shade of a neighbor's tree or shrub may be protected under the Shade Act. The solar owner must be able to answer "Yes" to the following questions:

Does the neighboring tree or shrub shade more than 10% of the solar collector between 10 am and 2 pm local standard time?

Was the tree or shrub in question planted, or did the tree or shrub in question grow to shade the solar collector, after the solar collector's installation?

Did the tree or shrub in question begin to cast a shadow on the solar collector one year after the solar collector's installation?

Was the tree or shrub in question planted after January 1, 1979? Was the solar collector installed pursuant to the Section 25982 setback requirements? Does the solar collector meet the statutory definition of a "solar collector" provided in Section 25981? There may be no violation of the Shade Act on the part of the tree or shrub owner if any of the following questions can be answered "No":

Does the tree or shrub shade more than 10% of the solar collector between 10 am and 2pm local standard time?

Do you own or lease the property on which the tree or shrub is located? Was the tree or shrub in question was planted after January 1, 1979? In addition to the questions above, the tree owner may not be in violation of the Shade act if any of the following questions can be answered "Yes":

During the 12 months following installation of the solar collector, did the tree or shrub in question cast a shadow on the solar collector? Is the tree or shrub in question owned by a municipality that has passed an ordinance exempting itself from the Act?

Is the tree or shrub in question growing on land designated as timberland or agricultural land? Are the trees or shrubs in question part of a passive cooling and heating strategy in which net energy

savings from the passive solar system are demonstrably greater than those of the shaded solar collector?

http://www.ucan.org/energy/energy_efficiency_alternatives/california_solar_rights_act_and_solar_shade_control_act

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WORKS CITED Californiaʼs Solar Rights Act. http://www.sandiego.edu/EPIC/publications/documents/070123_RightsActPaperFINAL.pdf Californiaʼs Solar Shade Control Act. http://www.sandiego.edu/epic/publications/documents/070123_SSCAPaperFINAL_001.pdf Center for Urban Forest Research. “Where are all the cool parking lots?” http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/products/3/cufr_151.pdf Climate Change Resource Center. http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/urban-forests/ “Green Plants or Power Plants?” Center for Urban Forest Research. Davis, CA. http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/products/3/cufr_148.pdf i-Tree: Tools for Assessing and Managing Community Forests. http://itreetools.org/ Scott, K.I., Simpson, J.R., and E.G. McPherson. 1999. Effects of tree cover on parking lot microclimate and vehicle emissions. Journal of Arboriculture 25(3): 129-142. Online at: http://wcufre.ucdavis.edu/effects_of_tree_cover_on_parking.htm Simpson, James R, and Gregory E. McPherson. Potential of Tree Shade for Reducing Residential Energy Use in California. http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/products/cufr_35_JS96_49.PDF Simpson, James R, and Gregory E. McPherson. Carbon Dioxide Reduction Through Urban Forestry: Guidelines for Professional and Volunteer Tree Planters. http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/products/cufr_43.pdf Simpson, James R, and Gregory E. McPherson. Energy and Air Quality Improvements Through Urban Tree Planting. http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/cufr/products/cufr_44_JS00_47.PDF Talking Trees: An Urban Forestry Toolkit for Local Governments. November 2006. http://www.lpb.org/programs/forest/talking_trees_urban_forestry_toolkit.pdf Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Goal Setting. http://www.forestsforwatersheds.org/urban-tree-canopy/

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SIGNIFICANCE OF ACCURATE TREE INVENTORY Complete understanding of the urban tree canopy is very important to urban management for reasons such as air quality improvement, energy conservation, runoff control, and mitigation of climate change. The current urban tree cover of Goleta has been captured in aerial photographs; however, for improved urban forest planning it is recommended that the satellite data be integrated into the Cityʼs Geographic Information System (GIS). Accurate maps and up-to-date inventory of Goletaʼs urban forest will provide a wealth of information and analytical capabilities for managing, monitoring, and assessing the health of the urban forest. Planning Neighborhood Tree Inventories Community based tree inventories serve to build information about an areaʼs tree canopy, promote tree care, enhance public involvement and environmental awareness, reveal planting opportunities, and to set goals for programs and strategic planning. For example, since 2001 Casey Trees of Washington D.C. has used ArcGIS tools to restore, enhance, and protect the tree cover in our nationʼs capitol. Casey Trees led an unprecedented GIS citizen based inventory of 109,000 street trees using Compaq iPAQs programmed with ArcPad 6.0 to provide the data collection interface (See Appendix 1). Based on the inventory findings, Casey Trees partnered with NYPIRGʼs Community Mapping Assistance Project (CMAP) to develop an interactive online mapping site to make data publicly available and easy to use. The map enables the user to create their own neighborhood map or zoom in to identify individual trees, species, size, and condition. Each time Casey Trees plants a tree, the location and information is recorded in a GIS database. Because the D.C. GIS system has so accurately digitized the local infrastructure, planting a tree can be conducted with only the mobile tablet device and GPS is not needed to calculate the location. Integrating Goletaʼs Tree Layer into the Cityʼs GIS System Tree inventories are the starting point for understanding and managing the urban forest, but can quickly go out of date, or lack sufficient information if not designed properly. Tree inventories of Goleta are conducted by a variety of agencies (City, Goleta Valley Beautiful, Southern California Edison, Caltrans, etc.) for different reasons and levels of accuracy. Thus, the current information is difficult to manage, time consuming, and displays gaps in the data, particularly in dealing with trees on private property and those public agencies with small tree populations. In order to enhance urban forest management, the different formats of tree data can be manipulated and integrated into the Cityʼs GIS system. GIS Capabilities and Benefits GIS can be used for inventory, surveying, analysis, and to share information with government partners, citizens, business, and other organizations. GIS provides the ability to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize tree information in many ways that reveal easy to understand patterns and relationships. Specifically, a new tree layer in Goletaʼs GIS will allow the capability to choose proper tree site locations, ensure the health of the tree, and measure success and track performance of the Urban Forest Management Plan. GIS technology can be used to track vital statistics about each tree planted, and to ensure that the tree reaches maturity and will provide the maximum overall benefits to the community.

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APPENDIX 1: Casey Trees Uses GIS Technology to Build Interactive Tree Map To collect the tree and site attributes in the field, Casey Trees used an ESRI ArcPad 6.0 application. Buttons were designed and added to the stripped-down toolbar to give the resulting inventory toolbar. The tools added, from right to left, are: “Add tree/site”, “Invalid tree/site”, and “Toggle ortho/vector”. Another attractive feature of ArcPad® 6.0 is the ability to create custom attribute entry forms and validation rules for attribute entry. Many types of attribute entry controls are available for ArcPad forms. Free-form text boxes, drop-down list boxes and sliders for numeric entry were used in this inventory project. Casey Trees also uses upgraded tablet PCs in the field instead of the iPaq computers to enable more battery life, memory and screen space.

For more information visit Casey Trees GIS: http://www.caseytrees.org/geographic/tree-inventory/plantings/GIS/index.php

Visit the interactive map online at: http://146.96.129.113/caseytrees2/map.asp?tab=search

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REFERENCES Casey Trees, Washington DC. “Data Collection and GIS Technology” http://www.caseytrees.org/geographic/tree-inventory/plantings/GIS/index.php Dwyer, Mark C. and Robert W. Miller. “Using GIS to Assess Urban Tree Canopy Benefits and Surrounding Greenspace Distributions. ” http://cambria.cgu.edu/ccsi/resources/08_USING_GIS_TO_ASSESS_CANOPY_BENEFITS_dwyer.pdf

ESRI – The GIS Software Leader. http://www.esri.com/ Myeong, Soojeong. “Urban cover mapping using digital, high-spatial resolution aerial imagery.” http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/urbanforests/docs/urban%20cover%20mapping%20using%20digital,%20high%20spatial%20resolution%20aerial%20imagery.pdf