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

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

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

Responsibilities City Ordinance 3043 City Ordinance 3043 Section Missoula Municipal Code Section Missoula Municipal Code Property Owners Property Owners Cities Role Cities Role

MMC Chapter Responsibility 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 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. A. The abutting property owner shall be responsible for the regular watering, care and maintenance of the boulevard or parking strip per MMC section 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.

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

Property Owners Responsible for the maintenance, watering and care of Rights-of-Ways (ROW) within the city limits 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. 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. Must hire an ISA Certified Arborist to perform tree work on ROW.

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

Monocultures 65% of the Urban Forest consists of Acer platanoides – Norway Maple 65% of the Urban Forest consists of Acer platanoides – Norway Maple The majority of these trees are between years old. The majority of these trees are between years old. General life span is between years General life span is between years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tree Values Environmental Environmental Cultural Cultural Financial Financial

Environmental Values Air Quality 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 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 Pollutants are collected on leaf and bark surfaces CO2 sequestering in woody tissues and roots CO2 sequestering in woody tissues and roots

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources International Society of Arboriculture. Guide For Plant Appraisal 9 th Addition. ISA International Society of Arboriculture. Guide For Plant Appraisal 9 th Addition. ISA 2000.