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| Budget Reductions & Urban Forestry
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The City of Portland has minimized the spread of DED and avoided the decimation of the American elm (Ulmus americana) with a successful elm monitoring and treatment program. Without advanced warning, rapid detection and removal, the American elm could ultimately vanish from our landscape. Eastmoreland, Ladd’s Addition, the South Park blocks, Lents Park, Laurelhurst Park, and Overlook Park are areas where elms play a significant role in neighborhood identity.
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"Many communities have been able to maintain a healthy population of mature elms through a vigilant program of identification and removal of diseased elms and systematic pruning of weakened, dying or dead branches" -Linda Haugen, Plant Pathologist, USDA Forest Service
Eliminating this program will also require adjacent property owners to cover the cost of removing DED-infected street trees themselves. The cut will also reduce citywide 24/7 emergency response to clear roads of trees which have fallen during storms, and reduce regular maintenance of publicly-owned trees- additional activities performed by some of the same staff .
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Additionally, a $65,000 reduction in the Natural Areas Maintenance program is proposed. This program funds management, maintenance and restoration of natural areas and trails in Portland. These areas provide important educational and recreational opportunities for people of all ages to interact with nature in a healthy way. A reduction would also impact wildlife corridors which contribute significantly to healthy ecosystems.
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While there are proposed cuts to Urban Forestry’s budget, there is also a proposal for a one-time allocation of $100,000 to Title 11 Tree Code revisions. This would facilitate more effective and efficient implementation of the City Tree Code by funding a temporary, dedicated staff position to partner with BDS and BPS on the revisions.
Budget cuts present difficult times and tough decisions. Budget priorities, as well as community dialogue, are part of the process. Be sure that your voice is heard by attending upcoming Budget Advisory Committee meetings, writing to Director of Parks Mike Abbaté, or Commissioner Amanda Fritz.
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| Learning Landscapes Plantings
The Learning Landscapes program, where school children plant trees at their schools with the assistance of Urban Forestry staff and volunteers, accomplishes many goals. Among them, the program helps to increase canopy coverage for the entire city as large property locations are thoughtfully researched and planted. Further, kids have a firsthand opportunity to learn about trees and earn a sense of accomplishment in establishing a new young tree. Additionally, the program allows school districts, teachers, parents, volunteers, private companies, and the City to work together on projects with both short and long-term benefits.
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This planting season has already included one school planting on November 21st at Lynch Wood Elementary School in outer SE Portland with the Centennial School District. As part of a special collaboration with the Neighborhood Tree Stewards (NTS) Program, the graduating Stewards helped to establish phase 1 of an ambitious school arboretum. Phase 2 of the planting plan will begin on April 1st, definitely a site to keep your eye on! For more information on the NTS Program, please visit www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/nts.
January 15th will feature a planting at Peninsula School in North Portland with Portland Public Schools. This exciting project is a collaboration with Depave, a company that sports the tagline: From Parking Lots to Paradise. Depave removed asphalt to create 9 new tree wells south of the school building. Urban Forestry will provide 9 trees and planting materials for kindergarteners, along with their 5th and 6th grade friends, to assist them in bringing new life to their school grounds. A big thank you to Portland Public Schools for their diligent assistance in the tree selection process, and to Horticultural Services for acquiring such great specimens.
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At Woodlawn School in NE Portland, Urban Forestry will host a small planting on January 26th. Kindergarteners, with kid-sized shovels in hand, will supplement their science class with an outdoor lesson on trees. You’re never too young to learn the benefits of a healthy urban forest!
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| Hiring Youth Conservation Crew (YCC) Summer Crew Leaders
Portland Parks & Recreation and the YCC are actively seeking crew leaders for their summer youth crew program. If you wish to apply for this opportunity you must submit your cover letter and resume to Kelly Rosteck, Program Coordinator on or before 5pm on Thursday, March 3, 2016.
Position: Crew Leader for Youth Conservation Crew: Trails Crew (2 positions); No Ivy League Crew (2 positions); Tree Crew (1 position); Teen Naturalist Team (1 position)
Compensation: $14-17/hour DOE
Hours: Part-time (36 hours /week) from June 22 – August 24, 2016
Reports to: Youth Conservation Crew Program Coordinator
Mail or e-mail all application materials to:
Kelly Rosteck
Portland Parks and Recreation
2909 SW 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97201
E-mail: Kelly.Rosteck@portlandoregon.gov
Phone 503-823-3601 "My favorite part of the job was getting to work with amazing people and learn skills while helping the environment" -YCC teen crew member
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Upcoming Urban Forestry Workshops
Learn to prune street trees or simply sharpen your skills at one of our upcoming pruning events, led by ISA certified arborist instructors:
January 16th, 8:30am- noon: St. Johns Pruning; St. Johns Community Center (8427 N Central St); register here
January 23rd, 8:30am-noon: Eastmoreland Pruning (Berkeley Park, SE Bybee & SE 39th- by tennis courts); register here
February 6th, 8:30am-noon: King-Sabin Pruning (Whole Foods, 3535 NE 15th Ave); register here
February 13th, 8:30am-noon: Sunnyside Pruning (Aletheia Bible Fellowship, 4511 SE Main St); register here
Or discover how to research historic trees in your neighborhood at this free workshop led by local environmental historian, Dave Hedburg:
January 30th, sign up for one of the following, 10am-noon or 1pm-3pm: "Researching Historic Trees in Your Neighborhood" (Portland State University, Cramer Hall 494, 1721 SW Broadway); register here
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