LEXINGTON, Ky. — Minutes from the Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee's March 6 meeting have been posted, detailing discussions about urban tree canopy expansion as a key strategy to reduce stormwater runoff in Fayette County public schools.

At the March 6 meeting, the committee heard a presentation on an iTree Site Assessment funded through the city's Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program. The project evaluated tree canopy coverage and impermeable surfaces across Fayette County Public Schools properties, with 500 new trees planted across multiple school locations as part of the initiative.

Trees serve as natural stormwater management tools, intercepting rainfall on leaves and branches while directing water through root systems into soil, according to the presentation. The Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee is a group of residents representing a varied group of stakeholders in Lexington-Fayette County whose mission is to assist LFUCG with attaining the goals of its stormwater program.

The project revealed significant ecosystem benefits from Lexington's existing urban forest. Data presented showed the city's trees annually remove 776,339 pounds of air pollution, worth $2.5 million in environmental services, and prevent 171 million gallons of stormwater runoff. The urban forest also sequesters 14,453 tons of carbon annually while storing 653,836 tons in total carbon storage.

A key focus emerged around addressing inequities in tree canopy distribution. Census data presented at the meeting showed a strong correlation between neighborhood income levels and tree canopy cover, with lower-income areas having less tree coverage and more impervious surfaces. A healthy tree canopy offers numerous benefits to our community, from reducing air pollution and noise to lowering energy costs and stormwater runoff.

The Fayette County Public Schools project aligns with the Central Kentucky Climate Action Plan's top priority to increase urban tree canopy to 30 percent, up from the current 23 percent in Lexington's urban service area. School district sustainability goals aim to boost campus tree canopy from 11 percent in 2023 to support statewide environmental objectives.

The grant-funded initiative included workforce development components, with Experience-Based Career Education interns receiving training while participating in tree planting. Schools developed curriculum integrating tree benefits into math and writing lessons, creating what organizers described as a "ripple effect" that extends beyond campus improvements.