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Environmental Services

Stormwater Tree Wells

The City is planting trees in Gresham neighborhoods and building tree wells to help filter stormwater naturally.

  • What is a Stormwater Tree Well?
  • Benefits
  • Maintenance
What is a Stormwater Tree Well?

How it works

  • An inlet carries stormwater runoff from the street into a tree well, where it soaks into the soil.
  • The soil and microbes around the tree roots filter and break down pollutants.
  • The tree and soil absorb some of the water and the extra water flows back out into the catch basins.
Benefits

Benefits of a stormwater tree well:

  • Naturally filters street pollutants to reduce the amount of toxins reaching streams. 
  • Provides more shade to streets that don't have enough during hot weather.
  • Supports the growth of healthy trees.

Find out where trees are most needed in Gresham. Check the Growing Shade Tree Canopy map

Maintenance
  • The City's stormwater staff design, plan and maintain stormwater tree wells.
  • City staff water and trim trees as needed. 

Current projects

Rockwood tree planting

We are planting 40 trees in the Rockwood neighborhood. The Rockwood neighborhood was chosen because it has very few trees. Planting more trees will add shade and help cool the area during hot weather.  Project work includes:

  • Building stormwater tree wells along the streets. 
  • Planting 32 trees in the new tree wells and eight more trees in existing planters.

Schedule

  • Fall - Winter 2025
  • Work hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Friday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

What to expect

  • Construction equipment
  • Street lane closures
  • Sidewalk closures

Go slow in construction areas.

Project funding

The City received grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD).

Contact

For more information, call the Department of Environmental Services at 503-618-2525. 

1 of 3

  • Stormwater tree wells on NE Burnside Road at NE Cleveland Avenue are helping filter pollutants from the street and provide shade.

  • Stormwater tree wells along East Burnside.

  • Stormwater tree wells in the North Central neighborhood.