A Changing Surface in Fredericksburg

It's getting harder and harder to find a shady spot in Fredericksburg. Over the last 15 years, the city has lost more than a quarter of its tree canopy to development. Residents in Ward 1 have been the most affected by these changes, losing 700 acres of tree canopy and gaining 500 acres in impervious surface area in that time. This according to two studies which looked at urban tree canopy and green infrastructure (forests, parklands and wetlands) in the city and the region.

Laurel Hammig, senior regional planner with the George Washington Regional Commission recently presented the findings of an urban ecosystem analysis which looked at the regional ecosystem for Planning District 16 at

"I think this is a good time to be talking about the benefits of green infrastructure," said Hammig in an interview. "As the economy improves and we see gowth continuing in our area, we need to start thinking about these issues in our decision making process."

The study found that between 1996 and 2009, the city of Fredericksburg lost 27.6 percent of its tree canopy, roughly 800 acres. This loss was accompanied by a 25 percent increase in impervious surface area. Now, more than 3,200 acres of land, up from 2,500 acres in 1996, within the city are covered by things like roadways, parking lots, and other development through which water cannot be absorbed. As of 2009, nearly 70 percent of Fredericksburg was covered by either bare land or development. These reductions in tree canopy acreage and increase in development have outpaced the city's population growth, which increased only 9 percent between 1996 and 2009.  

The Urban Ecosystem Analysis examined the state of "green infrastructure" through in Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties, as well as the city of Fredericksburg. On the whole, the George Washington Regional Commission lost 4.1 percent of its tree canopy in the 13 years between 1996 and 2009. Being a more urban area, Fredericksburg's higher rate of tree canopy losses were not surprising, but it should be noted that the rate of tree canopy loss in Fredericksburg far outstrips other localities in the region. Stafford County had the second worst rate of deforestation at 6.4 percent despite seeing population increase by 50 percent. 

As a result of this deforestation, Fredericksburg lost the ability to remove an estimated 81,300 pounds of air pollution annually. The effects ripple out from there. With less foliage to absorb pollution, the Urban Ecosystem Analysis estimates that Fredericksburg's residents, businesses and government could lose a combined $217,700 per year in public health costs associated with a predicted increase in lung diseases as well as negative impacts on local tourism. 

The costs of deforestation and growth of impervious surface acreage are also shared by the public utilities, particularly storm water management systems. Trees and other green areas help soak up rainwater and prevent erosion. The Urban Ecosystem Analysis estimates that Fredericksburg's deforestation has resulted in the loss of the ability to naturally manage 6.2 million cubic feet of rainwater. If Fredericksburg were to build new storm water management systems to offset those losses, the cost would run an estimated $94.2 million. 

Data compiled by the Virginia Department of Forestry on file with  the George Washington Regional Commission breaks down the city's changing landscape by council ward. As mentioned earlier, Ward 1 saw the greatest change in its surface between 1996 and 2009, going from 27.9 percent impervious surface to 43.3 percent. Ward 1 was far and away the greenest council ward in the city in 1996 at 52 percent tree canopy coverage, but slipped rapidly after 2001 to 33.7 percent coverage. This is more in par with Wards 3 and 4, whose tree canopy coverage percentages dropped from the high to low 30s since before the turn of the millenium. The full city data set is available in a PDF posted with this article. 

The George Washington Regional Commission's Urban Ecosystem Analysis calls for local governments to use its findings to combat or even recapture some of the region's lost green spaces. The report asks officials to use its findings to guide development planning, establish tree canopy restoration goals and zoning to preserve tree canopy, as well as continuing reforestation programs.

The subject of maintaining and improving the city's tree canopy is not a foreign issue to the Fredericksburg City Council. Vice Mayor Mary Kathering Greenlaw is a vocal supporter of municipal reforestation efforts.

Over the past winter, the City Council approved a set of goals and initiatives which includes a plan to plant 600 trees per year in Fredericksburg. includes a $30,000 increase in funding for the program.