Natural Environment & Climate Change in Lakewood

---

Planning Commission convening NECC Program Task Forces

The Planning Commission has convened four task forces to gather technical expertise and lived experience information regarding climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, extreme heat, and urban forestry issues. The task forces include:

• TF1: Developing 10 year and 3-5 year implementation and work plans
• TF2: Drafting new climate resiliency and greenhouse gas (GHG) subelements for the Comprehensive Plan
• TF3: Creating an Urban Forest Management Plan
• TF4: Developing heat mitigation strategies

You can watch the April 1, 2026 Planning Commission discussion regarding each task force here starting at 2:00. You can view more information about the task forces here.

Natural Environment & Climate Change (NECC) Program Kicks Off

Following action by the City Council in recent years to prioritize tree protection and energy & climate change planning, the City of Lakewood is beginning its work to take that planning and put it into action. The following items are the initial focus of the Natural Environment & Climate Change (NECC) Program:

• Create a 10 year NECC Implementation Plan;
• Create a 3-5 Year NECC Work Plan;
• Develop the Lakewood Urban Forest Management Plan to help implement the City’s 2050 tree canopy goal of 40%;
• Develop Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies focused on improving the health and quality of life in areas of the city historically underserved.
• Update the City’s Planning Policies and related Development Regulations to reflect climate resilience and greenhouse gas emission reduction priorities; and
• Identify no-cost and low-cost opportunities for Lakewood’s residents and businesses to start participating in efforts to improve the City’s tree canopy and climate change resiliency.

Visit the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Climate Dashboards to see how climate change is affecting our health

Sign up for updates

Fill out the form below with your email and contact information to receive updates from the City about the NECC Program as they are available .

Historic Lakewood Energy & Climate Change Research and Planning

In 2024, Lakewood participated with TPCHD and Pierce County in the CAPA Heat Watch program, and had wonderful local volunteers from Lakewood map urban heat islands in the City on one of the hottest days of the year. View the results below:

• 2024 Heat Island Maps for Lakewood, WA from TPCHD/Pierce County Project
• 2024 TPCHD/Pierce County Urban Heat Island Study in Lakewood Compiled Report
• 2024 Pierce County/CAPA Tree Canopy Analysis

The Lakewood City Council accepted the 2023 Climate Change Action Plan Update report on June 7, 2023. Read the report here.

On Oct. 17, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance 776 that establishes a three-year, 15-item Energy & Climate Change Work Plan. Highlights include:

• Develop a five-year plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• Update the City’s Nonmotorized Transportation Plan;
• Incorporate an environmental justice assessment into the Energy & Climate Change Chapter work plan; and
• Advocate for improvements to the I-5 corridor the Nisqually Delta at both the state and federal levels that would address I-5 traffic congestion, sea level rise leading to increased flood risk, salmon habitat degradation, military readiness and national security, environmental remediation, and Treaty rights of the Nisqually Tribe.
• Develop/promote an urban forest management/master reforestation plan.

View the full work plan here.

In 2021, the Lakewood City Council adopted the addition of an Energy & Climate Change Chapter in the city’s Comprehensive Plan through Ordinance 756. The chapter contains 89 action items. The City Council expressed concerns that the action items should be more focused. In 2022 the City Council directed the city’s Planning Commission recommend a work plan with fewer prioritized items and develop cost estimates for each.

Click here to see what types of climate change effects will be experienced in Lakewood and what the city is doing to prepare for – and to reduce – those effects.

Tree Preservation

Tree cover is fundamental to Lakewood’s climate change preparation and mitigation efforts. Trees help reduce ambient temperature and improve air quality. Trees also sequester carbon, helping to offset emissions. The city is committed to protecting them.

Tree removal is regulated in Lakewood by municipal code and state shoreline, critical area, and SEPA guidelines. These regulations form the legal foundation to protect Lakewood’s canopy. Tree protections often conflict with property rights, so having sound legal protections is essential.

Urban Forestry Program

See a summary of the 2022 and 2025 Lakewood Tree Assessment Reports here.

See the full 2025 Lakewood tree assessment report at https://cityoflakewood.us/trees/

On May 22, 2023, the City Council accepted a report from the UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance regarding the establishment of an urban forestry program over a five-year period. On May 31, the Council obligated $340,000 of ARPA funds to help fund the report’s recommendations for a certified arborist, tree assessment, and public outreach efforts through 2026.

Tree Regulations

Following an intense planning process that included a tree advisory committee, the Lakewood City Council adopted Ordinance 775 on Nov. 7, 2022. The ordinance updated the city’s development regulations to increase tree protections. The changes took effect in March 2023.

The 2023 Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle included the adoption of a citywide tree canopy goal of 40% by 2050.

Climate Change Perception Survey

In 2021, the City of Lakewood worked with students at the UW Evans School to survey residents about their opinions on climate change. The survey assessed residents’ degree of concern and what evidence and effects they have noticed.  The report was presented to the Planning Commission and City Council on May 23, 2022. View the discussion here. The meeting materials are available here.

Nisqually River Delta & I-5

The current design of Interstate 5 over the Nisqually River Delta is a looming liability to the environment and to regional transport. The interstate’s current design may be compromised by flood or the wandering riverbend at Wah-He-Lut within 15 years. Salmon populations are also suffering, as the areas where salmon typically acclimate to seawater are shrinking and desalinating.