Different species in the district have varying effects on avoided runoff. In D.C., tulip and beech trees account for the highest cubic feet of avoided run off — while crape myrtles account for the least by over 1 million cubic feet. It's important to note that there are twice as many crape myrtles as american elms but contain almost half the leaf area. That means these smaller trees are doing less of the important work we need them to do.
Knowing this information can help us advocate for planting trees that naturally grow larger, like Elms or Tulip trees. Healthy waterways are integral to the vitality of our community. Using trees as a solution we can clean those waterways naturally for less while beautifying our city.
