State of the Urban Forest State of the Urban Forest 20052005

City of MissoulaCity of Missoula

Parks and Recreation DepartmentParks and Recreation Department

Urban Forestry DivisionUrban Forestry Division

State of the Urban ForestState of the Urban Forest NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities MonoculturesMonocultures Tree-Sidewalk ConflictsTree-Sidewalk Conflicts

ParksParks Pruning CyclePruning Cycle Greenough and other Conservation LandsGreenough and other Conservation Lands

DowntownDowntown Cities RoleCities Role BudgetBudget Business Owner ResponsibilitiesBusiness Owner Responsibilities

NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

Issues Within NeighborhoodsIssues Within Neighborhoods

Tree species and age classificationsTree species and age classifications Tree health issuesTree health issues Tree / sidewalk conflictsTree / sidewalk conflicts Tree / Utility line conflictsTree / Utility line conflicts

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

City Ordinance 3043City Ordinance 3043 Section 12.32 Missoula Municipal CodeSection 12.32 Missoula Municipal Code

Property OwnersProperty Owners Cities RoleCities Role

MMC Chapter 12.32.070MMC Chapter 12.32.070Responsibility for trees.Responsibility for trees.

A. The abutting property owner shall be A. The abutting property owner shall be responsible for the regular watering, care and responsible for the regular watering, care and maintenance of the boulevard or parking strip maintenance of the boulevard or parking strip per MMC section 12.48.030. The City per MMC section 12.48.030. The City Council and or City Parks Department may Council and or City Parks Department may require any property owner to treat or remove require any property owner to treat or remove any woody vegetation in a parking strip any woody vegetation in a parking strip abutting upon the owner’s property.abutting upon the owner’s property.

MMC Chapter 12.32.070MMC Chapter 12.32.070Responsibility for trees.Responsibility for trees.

B. The City Parks Department may take action to B. The City Parks Department may take action to remove, or treat any tree on public land if it:remove, or treat any tree on public land if it:

1. is diagnosed to have an epidemic insect infestation 1. is diagnosed to have an epidemic insect infestation or disease that would prove to be detrimental to the or disease that would prove to be detrimental to the Urban Forest; orUrban Forest; or

2. creates a hazard or an immediate threat to public 2. creates a hazard or an immediate threat to public safety, and assess the cost of such action against the safety, and assess the cost of such action against the abutting property owner; orabutting property owner; or

3. is identified as a tree that would be either an 3. is identified as a tree that would be either an obstruction or would not live after a street, sidewalk, obstruction or would not live after a street, sidewalk, curb and gutter, alley or public utility construction or curb and gutter, alley or public utility construction or maintenance project is implemented.maintenance project is implemented.

Property OwnersProperty Owners

Responsible for the maintenance, watering and Responsible for the maintenance, watering and care of Rights-of-Ways (ROW) within the city care of Rights-of-Ways (ROW) within the city limitslimits

Required to obtain a permit from urban Required to obtain a permit from urban Forestry prior to any new landscaping, pruning Forestry prior to any new landscaping, pruning and or removal of vegetation on ROW.and or removal of vegetation on ROW.

Must hire an ISA Certified Arborist to perform Must hire an ISA Certified Arborist to perform tree work on ROW.tree work on ROW.

Urban Forestry’s RoleUrban Forestry’s Role Maintenance and removals of trees located on City property Maintenance and removals of trees located on City property

such as Parks, city lots and Conservation Landssuch as Parks, city lots and Conservation Lands Maintain downtown trees and tree gratesMaintain downtown trees and tree grates Enforce and educate citizens on ordinance complianceEnforce and educate citizens on ordinance compliance Issue permits for arboriculture and landscape work done on Issue permits for arboriculture and landscape work done on

ROWROW Contract and oversee block pruning effortsContract and oversee block pruning efforts Hazard tree assessment and removal on ROWHazard tree assessment and removal on ROW Branch cleanup post wind stormsBranch cleanup post wind storms Remove limbs blocking stop signs and street lightsRemove limbs blocking stop signs and street lights Clear line of site from intersectionsClear line of site from intersections

MonoculturesMonocultures

65% of the Urban Forest consists of 65% of the Urban Forest consists of Acer Acer platanoidesplatanoides – Norway Maple – Norway Maple

The majority of these trees are between 50-90 The majority of these trees are between 50-90 years old.years old.

General life span is between 60-75 yearsGeneral life span is between 60-75 years

Replacement PlanReplacement Plan

Trees removed from the ROW will be replaced Trees removed from the ROW will be replaced if the location is conducive to a positive if the location is conducive to a positive growing environmentgrowing environment

Species selection will be dependent on Species selection will be dependent on constraints of the particular propertyconstraints of the particular property

Tree/Sidewalk and Utility ConflictsTree/Sidewalk and Utility Conflicts

Responsibility of property owner to replace Responsibility of property owner to replace sidewalk panelssidewalk panels

University sidewalk replacement projectUniversity sidewalk replacement project Property owners are responsible for their Property owners are responsible for their

sewer and water lines feeding their housesewer and water lines feeding their house City takes care of main line sewer and waste City takes care of main line sewer and waste

waterwater Mountain Water will repair main water linesMountain Water will repair main water lines

ParksParks

Complete inventory has been completed for Complete inventory has been completed for 20052005

68 Parks and medians have been prioritized 68 Parks and medians have been prioritized based on pruning needs and hazard potentialbased on pruning needs and hazard potential

Hazard tree removals will supersede pruning Hazard tree removals will supersede pruning needsneeds

7-8 year trim cycle is the goal7-8 year trim cycle is the goal

Greenough ParkGreenough Park

Greenough Park Advisory CommitteeGreenough Park Advisory Committee Norway/Cottonwood Management objectivesNorway/Cottonwood Management objectives

Hazard Tree RemovalsHazard Tree Removals Resistance based on emotionResistance based on emotion

Conservation LandsConservation Lands

Hazard tree removalsHazard tree removals Mountain Pine Beetle removalsMountain Pine Beetle removals Fuel reduction projectsFuel reduction projects

High ParkHigh Park Elk Ridge CourtElk Ridge Court

DowntownDowntown

Complete inventory completed in March of Complete inventory completed in March of 20052005

City prunes all trees annuallyCity prunes all trees annually Tree grate expansion and repairs are done as Tree grate expansion and repairs are done as

neededneeded 21 trees purchased this year with MRA Funds 21 trees purchased this year with MRA Funds

and planted by Urban Forestry crewand planted by Urban Forestry crew

DowntownDowntown

BudgetBudget Parking Commission pays $10,000 annuallyParking Commission pays $10,000 annually Money will be gone post FY 2006Money will be gone post FY 2006

Tree ValuesTree Values

EnvironmentalEnvironmental CulturalCultural FinancialFinancial

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Air QualityAir Quality 1,000 trees remove 100 tons of CO2 and around 5 1,000 trees remove 100 tons of CO2 and around 5

tons of pollutants per year including 4,000 lbs. of tons of pollutants per year including 4,000 lbs. of ozone and 3,000 lbs. of particulatesozone and 3,000 lbs. of particulates

Pollutants are collected on leaf and bark surfacesPollutants are collected on leaf and bark surfaces CO2 sequestering in woody tissues and rootsCO2 sequestering in woody tissues and roots

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Erosion controlErosion control Bank stabilization with root massBank stabilization with root mass Reduction in rain velocityReduction in rain velocity Slows moving waterSlows moving water Reduces the rate and quality of surchargeReduces the rate and quality of surcharge

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Temperature moderationTemperature moderation Keeps water cooler in streams improving fish Keeps water cooler in streams improving fish

habitathabitat Reduces sun infiltration leading to algae bloomsReduces sun infiltration leading to algae blooms

Wildlife habitat for birds, squirrels, raccoons Wildlife habitat for birds, squirrels, raccoons etc.etc.

Cultural ValuesCultural Values

Trees improve our quality of lifeTrees improve our quality of life Trees reduce stress and anxietyTrees reduce stress and anxiety Provide shadeProvide shade Improve medical recovery timeImprove medical recovery time Many species draw wildlife to an urban settingMany species draw wildlife to an urban setting Increase privacy from neighbors and peopleIncrease privacy from neighbors and people

Financial ValuesFinancial Values

Energy conservationEnergy conservation Trees reduce a/c cooling costs by 30% annually and winter Trees reduce a/c cooling costs by 30% annually and winter

heating costs by 10-25%heating costs by 10-25% Actual Costs – ISA Guide for Plant AppraisalActual Costs – ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal

Replacement Cost MethodReplacement Cost Method Installed Plant Cost x Location x Condition x SpeciesInstalled Plant Cost x Location x Condition x Species

Trunk Formula MethodTrunk Formula Method Same variables as replacement cost methodSame variables as replacement cost method

40 year old tree in good condition pays back property 40 year old tree in good condition pays back property owners $60 per yearowners $60 per year

10,000 trees = $600,000!10,000 trees = $600,000!

Financial ValuesFinancial Values

Other BenefitsOther Benefits 20% canopy cover improves pavement condition 20% canopy cover improves pavement condition

by 11%by 11% 60% savings on resurfacing in a 30 year time 60% savings on resurfacing in a 30 year time

periodperiod

Final ThoughtFinal Thought

Trees are worth more than a dollar figureTrees are worth more than a dollar figure Tree health is a product of their environmentTree health is a product of their environment

Quality Trees = Quality of LifeQuality Trees = Quality of Life

SourcesSources

http://www.isa-arbor.comhttp://www.isa-arbor.com http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/ International Society of Arboriculture. Guide International Society of Arboriculture. Guide

For Plant Appraisal 9For Plant Appraisal 9thth Addition. ISA 2000. Addition. ISA 2000.