:: GIC Projects :: Virginia :: City of Staunton

Download Final Report

In Fall 2009, the GIC launched the Staunton project in partnership with graduate students from the University of Virginia. To create the report, students conducted research concerning the urban forest, trail network, park and school sites and water resources.  Students interviewed city staff and regional agencies, and also solicited community input through a public open house and a survey of city walkers and bicyclists.

The student teams found that the City of Staunton has approximately 40% tree cover overall, but neighborhood canopies vary widely, from less than 17% in Crosscrest to over 75% in Vista Heights.  The role trees play in stormwater management and urban flooding abatement is important to  Staunton, since the city has experienced several major floods over its history. In a two year, 24-hr rainfall, Staunton’s existing tree cover absorbs water and slows runoff, eliminating the need for an additional 40 million cubic feet of stormwater storage. This represents a total of $80 million of stormwater infrastructure that the city does not have to purchase, install, or maintain.

This project was funded by the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the Virginia Department of Forestry.

From left to right: Peyton Creek emerges from containment in the gray infrastructure conveyance system; members of the UVA Green Lands class receive the 2009 Award for Excellence from the Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee; ghost stream to be daylit; Ms. Firehock and Staunton City Planner Amy Arnold evaluate a potential creek daylight project.

Green Infrastructure in Staunton:

Lewis Creek Watershed and Betsy Bell Park (bottom) are highlights of the existing green infrastructure network in Staunton.