Stand on one of the many foothills surrounding Denver and one feature dominates the view: the beautiful canopy created by millions of trees growing throughout the city. It’s difficult to imagine this area without trees, and it’s also hard to believe that there were almost no trees in the area prior to the arrival of settlers around 1858. With the exception of some native cottonwoods lining the creeks flowing eastward out of the foothills, no trees grew here naturally.
As prospectors and settlers in covered wagons, on horseback, and even traveling on foot flooded the Front Range in response to rumors of the discovery of gold, the population in the area exploded. While the Gold Rush was somewhat disappointing and short-lived, in the following years settlers continued to travel to the area, some bringing their own trees with them.
Because of the surrounding topography, the Denver basin lies in a semi-arid “rain shadow,” meaning that much of the moisture moving over the mountains falls at higher elevations, leaving little precipitation as the weather moves eastward over the city. Denver is high and dry.
But trees need water to survive. We all want the beauty of trees that cool the environment, add interest to the landscape, and provide refuge for local wildlife, including small mammals, birds and insects. With precipitation rates decreasing in recent years and water possibly becoming more scarce as demand outstrips supply, it makes sense to plant trees that can provide beauty and shade but require relatively less water…