TEMPLE TERRACE -- For the first time, Temple Terrace will take full stock of its revered trees and canopy.
The City Council has approved a $53,500 project to catalog the community's tree resources and create a long-term management plan for its urban canopy.
Officials say the work will give the city critical data to protect and expand its greenery, which provides benefits like shade and cleaner air.
Community development director Greg Pauley likened the project to developing a roadmap for the city's future.
"Up until this point in time, city staff has never had information available to ... proactively manage our urban forest canopy," he said.
The city issued a request for proposals in April and selected Biotech Consulting LLC to carry out the work.
Temple Terrace city arborist Joe Ferris, who chaired the selection committee, said Biotech's proposal to use two teams -- one on the ground to catalog trees, another using aerial imagery to analyze canopy coverage -- and complete the project in only three months were key to the selection. The project begins this month.
Biotech will also provide weekly updates to the city.
When complete, the database will list every tree on public property with a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more.
Trees in parks, in municipal rights of way and around city facilities will be included, while larger preserves, such as Riverfront Park and Scout Park, will be evaluated through aerial imaging rather than individual counts.
"They're literally going to count, identify, provide identification, serial numbers for each tree, and provide us a database," Pauley said. "So we had to draw the line at some point."
The study will also exclude leased properties like the golf course, although its trees will be included in the broader canopy study.
Urban forests play a vital role in city life. Tree canopies help lower surface temperatures, absorb stormwater, improve air quality and provide habitat for wildlife. They also boost property values and quality of life.
In Temple Terrace, those trees are a source of pride. In 2008, the city was named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation for its work toward meeting certain urban forestry standards.
According to Mayor Andy Ross, University of South Florida researchers previously used LiDAR technology to estimate that the city's canopy had grown by 70 acres over a decade. But Hurricane Milton did significant damage last year and slowed that progress.
Tampa Bay lost thousands of trees to hurricanes last fall.
Ross said the new assessment will help track those changes over time.
"I'd like to know which way are we going," he said.
The study will also highlight "potential planting areas," identifying the best locations for new trees to strengthen the canopy for future generations.
The project will be paid for from the city's tree and landscape beautification fund, which currently has about $1.4 million set aside for planting, preservation and removal of hazardous trees.
Biotech environmental scientist Evan Quigley said the goal is not just data collection, but actionable strategies.
"The canopy data will add to historical information, giving a sense of how the canopy has grown and identifying areas for future planting," he said.
City leaders expect the work to yield a comprehensive management plan that will guide both short-term decisions and long-term strategies for tree care and planting.
"This will provide staff today and staff years down the road an effective management plan to not only preserve the current urban canopy ... but to help our staff identify where we should be planting trees in the future."