State of the Urban Forest 2005

1. State of the Urban Forest 2005 City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry Division

2. State of the Urban Forest • Neighborhoods • Responsibilities • Monocultures • Tree-Sidewalk Conflicts • Parks • Pruning Cycle • Greenough and other Conservation Lands • Downtown • Cities Role • Budget • Business Owner Responsibilities

3. Neighborhoods Issues Within Neighborhoods • Tree species and age classifications • Tree health issues • Tree / sidewalk conflicts • Tree / Utility line conflicts

4. Responsibilities • City Ordinance 3043 • Section 12.32 Missoula Municipal Code • Property Owners • Cities Role

5. MMC Chapter 12.32.070Responsibility for trees. • A. The abutting property owner shall be responsible for the regular watering, care and maintenance of the boulevard or parking strip per MMC section 12.48.030. The City Council and or City Parks Department may require any property owner to treat or remove any woody vegetation in a parking strip abutting upon the owner’s property.

6. MMC Chapter 12.32.070Responsibility for trees. • B. The City Parks Department may take action to remove, or treat any tree on public land if it: • 1. is diagnosed to have an epidemic insect infestation or disease that would prove to be detrimental to the Urban Forest; or • 2. creates a hazard or an immediate threat to public safety, and assess the cost of such action against the abutting property owner; or • 3. is identified as a tree that would be either an obstruction or would not live after a street, sidewalk, curb and gutter, alley or public utility construction or maintenance project is implemented.

7. Property Owners • Responsible for the maintenance, watering and care of Rights-of-Ways (ROW) within the city limits • Required to obtain a permit from urban Forestry prior to any new landscaping, pruning and or removal of vegetation on ROW. • Must hire an ISA Certified Arborist to perform tree work on ROW.

8. Urban Forestry’s Role • Maintenance and removals of trees located on City property such as Parks, city lots and Conservation Lands • Maintain downtown trees and tree grates • Enforce and educate citizens on ordinance compliance • Issue permits for arboriculture and landscape work done on ROW • Contract and oversee block pruning efforts • Hazard tree assessment and removal on ROW • Branch cleanup post wind storms • Remove limbs blocking stop signs and street lights • Clear line of site from intersections

9. Monocultures • 65% of the Urban Forest consists of Acer platanoides – Norway Maple • The majority of these trees are between 50-90 years old. • General life span is between 60-75 years

10. Replacement Plan • Trees removed from the ROW will be replaced if the location is conducive to a positive growing environment • Species selection will be dependent on constraints of the particular property

11. Tree/Sidewalk and Utility Conflicts • Responsibility of property owner to replace sidewalk panels • University sidewalk replacement project • Property owners are responsible for their sewer and water lines feeding their house • City takes care of main line sewer and waste water • Mountain Water will repair main water lines

12. Parks • Complete inventory has been completed for 2005 • 68 Parks and medians have been prioritized based on pruning needs and hazard potential • Hazard tree removals will supersede pruning needs • 7-8 year trim cycle is the goal

13. Greenough Park • Greenough Park Advisory Committee • Norway/Cottonwood Management objectives • Hazard Tree Removals • Resistance based on emotion

14. Conservation Lands • Hazard tree removals • Mountain Pine Beetle removals • Fuel reduction projects • High Park • Elk Ridge Court

15. Downtown • Complete inventory completed in March of 2005 • City prunes all trees annually • Tree grate expansion and repairs are done as needed • 21 trees purchased this year with MRA Funds and planted by Urban Forestry crew

16. Downtown • Budget • Parking Commission pays $10,000 annually • Money will be gone post FY 2006

17. Tree Values • Environmental • Cultural • Financial

18. Environmental Values • Air Quality • 1,000 trees remove 100 tons of CO2 and around 5 tons of pollutants per year including 4,000 lbs. of ozone and 3,000 lbs. of particulates • Pollutants are collected on leaf and bark surfaces • CO2 sequestering in woody tissues and roots

19. Environmental Values • Erosion control • Bank stabilization with root mass • Reduction in rain velocity • Slows moving water • Reduces the rate and quality of surcharge

20. Environmental Values • Temperature moderation • Keeps water cooler in streams improving fish habitat • Reduces sun infiltration leading to algae blooms • Wildlife habitat for birds, squirrels, raccoons etc.

21. Cultural Values • Trees improve our quality of life • Trees reduce stress and anxiety • Provide shade • Improve medical recovery time • Many species draw wildlife to an urban setting • Increase privacy from neighbors and people

22. Financial Values • Energy conservation • Trees reduce a/c cooling costs by 30% annually and winter heating costs by 10-25% • Actual Costs – ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal • Replacement Cost Method • Installed Plant Cost x Location x Condition x Species • Trunk Formula Method • Same variables as replacement cost method • 40 year old tree in good condition pays back property owners $60 per year • 10,000 trees = $600,000!

23. Financial Values • Other Benefits • 20% canopy cover improves pavement condition by 11% • 60% savings on resurfacing in a 30 year time period

24. Final Thought • Trees are worth more than a dollar figure • Tree health is a product of their environment • Quality Trees = Quality of Life

25. Sources • http://www.isa-arbor.com • http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/ • International Society of Arboriculture. Guide For Plant Appraisal 9th Addition. ISA 2000.