Natural Resources and Ecosystems

Tree Canopy/Urban Forest Management

The City of Sammamish aims to preserve the aesthetic, ecological, and economic benefits of forests and tree-covered areas in Sammamish.

• Tree City USA
  • Sammamish received Tree City recognition for the first time in 2024 and again in 2025. The city is working towards recognition in 2026. Read more about the four standards here.

• Urban Forest Management Plan
  • A policy guide for managing, enhancing, and growing trees in the City of Sammamish over the next twenty years.
  • Canopy Assessments quantify canopy percentage and potential planting areas to help track progress over time, ensuring a sustainable urban forest.

• Tree management
  • Removal permits
  • Mitigation for unlawful tree removal.

• Past Tree Inventory Data
  • Including tree health and more information can be viewed on TreeKeeper.

Water

The comprehensive management of surface and stormwater promotes public health, safety and welfare, especially that which preserves and utilizes the many values of the City’s natural drainage system. This includes open space, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and education. 

• Stormwater management
  • Facilities for wastewater treatment and runoff
  • Community resources

• Beaver Lake Management District
  • Advisory board 

• George Davis Creek Culvert Fish Passage
  • Supports stormwater flows and salmon populations 

• Wetland and Stream protection
  • Restoration Projects

• Pollution mitigation and environmental cleanup 
  • Report spills
  • Source control
  • Water quality monitoring

Ecosystems and Resiliency

The City promotes education and understanding of the importance of the natural environment, including regulating, supporting, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services.

• Land Acquisition
  • Between 1999 and 2025, the City acquired 676 acres of public land to protect habitat, retain tree canopy, and preserve the natural beauty and character of the community.

• Critical Area Ordinance
  • Environmentally sensitive areas are protected through the City's Critical Areas Ordinance. More information is available here. 

• The Bee City initiative
  • Is focused on improving habitat for native bee species and other pollinators.

• Integrated Pest Management 
  • Provides guidelines for the use of pesticides and other methods for addressing weeds and pest animals.
  • Environmentally sensitive pest management

• Green Infrastructure
  • An environmentally-conscious approach to managing development and stormwater runoff.

• Shoreline Management Regulations
  • The City’s Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) is a set of goals, policies, and regulations developed by the City as required by the state’s Shoreline Management Act (SMA). In Sammamish, our SMP sets goals and policies pertaining to the shores of Lake Sammamish, Pine Lake, and Beaver Lake.
  • https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Sammamish/?SammamishCP/SammamishCP.html