By Kate Lunceford, Past President, LWV of Snohomish County 

Older neighborhoods in many of our cities still have mighty trees. Their canopy spans from backyards to front yards, towering above the home. Limbs join one tree to another above ground. Roots and organisms connect them below ground. They have stood for many decades in happy cohabitation with humans.  

These trees weren’t planted 20 years ago. In recent years, large, single-family developments broadly scrape the trees and soil off the land. Dirt not covered by house and pavement is depleted. Young trees planted there are meant to reach 30% tree canopy in 20 years, but they face poor soil, neglect, or removal in many circumstances. Some developers just skip planting and hope no one notices. Now we know better, so it’s time to update the county code to reflect new understandings. Here are two things you can do: 

• The LWV of Snohomish County has signed a new Urban Tree Policy Endorsement Letter that will be discussed at the Snohomish County Council on Feb. 15. This policy will create a framework for new infrastructure in the county code to protect and enhance urban tree canopy. We are asking the environmental community and cities to sign the letter. If you want to help gather endorsements or lobby our county and cities for this policy, please contact the LWV of Snohomish County today.  
• Let your county know how you want them to manage growth in the coming years. Visit the Snohomish County 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update page by Feb. 25 and let them know what you want—dense housing near transit for every income level with tree-lined streets and bike paths? Protection for urban forests and habitat corridors? Or any other priority. It takes five minutes. 

Also thank League members Lee Alley, Valerie Rosman, and Kate Lunceford for contacting more than 150 agencies and organizations to alert them about Washington state’s Community Forestry Assistance Grant.  

U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis said to “get out and push.” It’s up to us to keep from having outcomes subverted. We need to show up and engage on the ground. For more information, contact the LWV of Snohomish County.