 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| In This Issue
- Snow Falls in Portland, Branches and Trees Fall Too
- Tips for Caring for Storm Damaged Trees
- Updated Local Tree Care Provider List
- New Urban Forestry Staff
- Parks is Hiring! Youth Conservation Crew Member and Adult Crew Leader Applications Now Available Online
- Upcoming Urban Forestry Events
| |
| | Snow Falls in Portland, Branches and Trees Fall Too
| |
|
An aerial view from an Urban Forestry bucket truck on the South Park Blocks as crews worked to clear debris during January's heavy snow fall.
| |
| | In the days between December 9, 2016 to January 18, 2017, Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry responded to over 900 tree emergencies. To put that in perspective: there were 1,192 tree emergencies in the entire calendar year of 2015.
| |
|
When the January snow storm first hit, Urban Forestry crews worked to clear trees that were blocking TriMet tracks in four locations. This allowed trains to continue their vital service at a time when car travel was severely impacted by the road conditions. By mid-day on January 13, there were more than 200 calls to the City's emergency tree line, (503) 823-TREE (8733).
As the snow continued to stick around, 823-TREE kept ringing. Calls included everything from trees in the rights-of-way, on buildings and vehicles, and even a landslide! Urban Forestry crews are still hard at work cleaning up sites across the city. We thank you for your patience. Have a look at some of the photos below to see a sampling of emergency tree situations!
| |
|
Downed limbs and whole tree failures were reported throughout the city.
| |
| | Tips for Caring for Storm Damaged Trees
| |
|  | Broken central leader on an evergreen magnolia. Should it stay or should it go? |
|
With the snow gone for now, you may be wondering what you can do about some of those storm damaged trees out there. (For a helpful article from the Oregon State University Extension Service, click here.)
Whether you are inexperienced with tree care, or a proud graduate of the Neighborhood Tree Steward Program, a great first step in dealing with non-emergency situations is to gather information. - What's wrong with it!? Check the Arbor Day Foundation Storm Recovery Kit if you need help identifying the problems.
- What kind of tree is it? If you're not sure, check out the Street Tree Inventory Map. If your tree isn't in there, maybe a tree like yours is nearby and has already been identified. The type of tree you have can strongly influence what you end up doing to correct storm damage.
- Is it a street tree? If so, do you have a Pruning Permit? Remember, some street tree pruning permits can be self-issued online for free. Other situations may call for an inspection first. Either way, don't be afraid of the process! Urban Forestry staff are here to make it as painless as possible!
- Decide on a course of action! Does your tree require corrective pruning, staking, or even removal and replanting? Write out the steps that you will need to take to care for your tree in a timely manner, and then put your plan in place. Neglecting your tree now may turn an easy fix into a permanent defect.
We encourage you to talk to your neighbors, especially if you think you may have spotted a tree problem that they haven't seen. For larger trees or any risky situations, always contact a professional arborist. See the article below for information on arborists in the Portland area.
| |
|
Some trees are more prone to storm damage than others! Choosing trees for reasons other than their spring flowering habit or autumn color makes a big difference when the weather turns.
| |
| | Updated Local Tree Care Provider List
| |
| | This winter has been a busy one for the Portland arborist community. However, not all private tree care companies are the same. Some are new to the area and bring with them innovative techniques, and others have been here for decades and know what has worked in the past.
| |
| To make the process of selecting an arborist a little easier, Urban Forestry maintains a list of Local Tree Care Providers. While we do not make any representation or warranty for any of the companies on the list, we have checked the following criteria: - A company representative has attended a Local Tree Care Provider Workshop within the past year, which is an opportunity to learn about Portland's tree regulations
- There is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff
- The company has an active Portland business license
- The company does not have any violations of the Tree Code within the last year, and turns in acceptable permit applications
| |
|
In 2016, Urban Forestry held three Local Tree Care Provider workshops. 60 professionals representing over 40 arborist companies were in attendance. Though not all of the companies were eligble to be included on the list, we appreciate everyone's participation. Workshops covered topics such as the tree code, permits, replanting requirements, and trees in development situations. Be sure to check the Urban Forestry Event Calendar for future workshops!
| |
| | Please help us to welcome Kasey Yturralde, a new Botanic Specialist II.
| |
|  |
Kasey Yturralde, Botanic Specialist II. |
|
Kasey joins us from Washington, D.C., where she was an Urban Forester with the Department of Transportation for the past three years. Kasey’s additional experience includes work at the National Science Foundation, Gila River Indian Community, and the US Forest Service in a variety of natural resource positions.
Kasey is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. She holds a Ph.D. in Forest Science from Northern Arizona University, where her thesis focused on bark beetle behavior. She also holds M.S., M.A., and B.A. degrees in Biology.
| |
| | Parks is Hiring! Youth Conservation Crew Member and Adult Crew Leader Applications Now Available Online
| |
|
The Youth Conservation Crew (YCC) provides summer employment opportunities for a diverse population of Portland-area youth, ages 14-18. Adult crew leaders guide youth as they protect, restore, and manage Portland's parks and natural areas while developing essential job skills and exploring environmental career paths. Visit the YCC website to download Crew Member and Adult Crew Leader applications!
| |
|
YCC involves hard work, both physical and mental, and lots of opportunities to explore Portland!
| |
|
Upcoming Urban Forestry Events
February 11th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Street Tree Pruning Work Party. Meet @ Flavel Park SE Flavel and SE 75th St. In Partnership with the Lents and Brentwood-Darlington Tree Teams.
February 18th, 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Decode the Tree Code, Focused Training. Meet @ Grant Park Church, 2728 NE 34th Ave. In Partnership with the Grant and Hollywood Tree Teams.
February 25th, 9:30 am – 11:30 am: Roseway Parkway Tree Walk. Meet @ Ira’s Deli, 7215 NE Prescott St. In Partnership with the Roseway Tree Team.
March 11th, 9:00 am – 11:00 am: Tree History in Hillsdale. Meet @ St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 3228 SW Sunset Blvd. In Partnership with the Hillsdale Tree Team.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
