New Map Shows Georgetown’s Lack of Tree Coverage

by Kelsey Nyland

Last year, American Forests and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a new map that shows the “Tree Equity Score” of urban areas across the state. According to the Seattle Times, the score takes into account a census block group’s “tree canopy need and socioeconomic context.” The highest possible score is 100, and the higher the score, the better an area’s tree coverage.

The map proves what Georgetown communities have long known: We have some of the worst tree coverage in the city. South Georgetown, which covers most of the residential area below Corson Ave S, has a tree equity score of 61 and a current canopy cover of four percent. North Georgetown has a score of 79, which represents a tree canopy cover of six percent. According to the tool, goal tree coverage for South Georgetown is 50 percent, and North Georgetown is 30 percent. As a point of comparison, better resourced neighborhoods like Montlake have a tree equity score in the high 90s.

According to the map, both census block groups in Georgetown are overburdened by heat disparity - which could obviously be remedied in part by increased tree coverage. From the Seattle Times article: “A fuller tree canopy comes with a host of benefits: It makes an area cooler, cleans the air, reduces stormwater runoff and makes streets safer for people with higher health risks, like seniors and children.”

One way we can start to remedy this is by increasing Georgetown participation in the City’s “Trees for Neighborhoods” program, which provides free trees for Seattle residents, along with a water bag, mulch, and tips for how to plant and maintain your tree! I’ve gotten a tree through this program before. The application process is quick and easy, staff are very responsive, and there are a ton of trees to choose from! Sign up to get notified when the 2026 application period opens.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Trees for Neighborhoods website.

You can explore the tree equity map in further detail to learn how Georgetown compares to neighborhoods across our region.