A healthy tree canopy is necessary to maintain quality of life, manage stormwater and water quality, and minimize the impacts on natural resources that come with growth. The City wanted to find out what percent of Clemson is currently covered with trees in order to protect what we have and to grow the canopy in the future. To this end, the City completed an Urban Tree Canopy Assessment in Clemson in October 2022 with assistance from the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the Green Infrastructure Center. This is an important step towards environmental sustainability in Clemson.

Here are some key findings from the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment:
• Current Tree Canopy is 48%
• 2 of the City’s watersheds are at 24% impervious surfaces. Anything over 25% will severely impact the habitat and water quality.
• Potential Planting Area is 189 acres
• 11,978 more small trees (20 ft diameter crowns) can be planted
• 9,226 more large trees (40 ft diameter crowns) can be planted
• Potential Tree Canopy could be 53%

The City will use this new baseline data to prioritize tree planting efforts on public lands and to inform policy and planning decisions to protect our habitat and water quality. The City’s goal is to maintain this 48% canopy cover and aim to increase the canopy cover to 50% over time. The community is strongly encouraged to protect their existing trees and plant new ones on their private property. The City and Trees Upstate hosted a tree giveaway in January with plans for future tree giveaways in the fall.