Short Summary
Monroe is the county seat of Green County and located in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin. With a population of over 10,600, Monroe is a city with a small town feel, an hour away from Madison and two hours from Milwaukee. Known as the “Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA”, Monroe is recognized for its cheese manufacturing and high concentration of dairy product sales. The city also flourishes in mail-order gifts, truck equipment manufacturing, as well as health care. Monroe has 16 city parks over 110 acres as well as a nearly 90-acre park with trails. The Parks and Recreation Department offers a Terrace Tree Planting Program for residents who would like a tree planted on their terrace. Monroe experiences a typical Midwestern, humid continental climate with significant rainfall. Understanding tree species vulnerability in consideration with a changing climate is critical to adapting for the future.
Tree Species Vulnerability
Species distribution modeling suggests that the changing climate will shift suitable habitat and heat and hardiness zones for various tree species in the Monroe region. In the tree species list identified for Monroe, 40 species have a low adaptability score, 68 species have a medium adaptability score, and 18 species have a high adaptability score. Climate change vulnerability of urban trees, including adaptive capacity and zone suitability under low and high emissions scenarios, is outlined in the tree species handout below.
Climate Change Impacts
The state of Wisconsin has warmed by 2-3°F since 1950 and is projected to warm by an additional 2-8°F by 2050. The state has also become 10-20% wetter since 1950 and the annual average is projected to increase. Extreme precipitation events may lead to flooding, which can result in runoff, erosion, infrastructure damage, and transportation issues. Human health impacts include heat-related illness, worsening chronic illnesses, mental health issues, injuries from dangerous weather events, infectious diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes, and illnesses from contaminated food and water. A changing climate also impacts habitat and survivability of plants, fish, and wildlife, threatening the state’s annual $2 billion fishing industry. For example, warming water temperatures in lakes and streams will cause the loss of species such as Walleye, Northern Pike, and Brown Trout, while warm-water species such as Bluegill and Largemouth Bass will be favored.
Work With Us
To learn more about this project, contact Leslie.