Failed tree on 35th Ave NE, February, 2008. Photo by Darren Morgan.

Snow, ice, or wind storms often result in fallen tree limbs, which can be a minor nuisance or a major problem.  Residents eager to clean up can expose themselves to life threatening conditions.  A primary concern with fallen limbs is electricity.  If there are any wires on the ground and/or tangled up in fallen branches, do not even approach them.  Even if you don’t touch the wire itself, the entire length of the branch or even the ground nearby could be electrified.  If there are limbs lying across or hanging from electrical wires do not attempt to free them without first contacting City Light.  If you suspect for any reason that wires are involved in a downed limb or tree, call Seattle City Light at (206) 386-1733.   For more information visit the City Light Vegetation Management page: http://www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_trtr.htm. 

 SDOT Urban Forestry staff members do not recommend that homeowners use chainsaws to remove downed branches.   Fallen branches can be under considerable pressure, causing the branches to react in unpredictable ways when cut; the saw operator can be injured by the logs or cut by the saw.  Slippery footing and unexpected shifts in the fallen branch can cause the operator to lose balance or fall.  Small mistakes while using a chainsaw can cause serious injuries before the operator can react.  For more information about storm safety and chainsaws: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/chainsaws.asp .

 If a tree or limb has fallen and is blocking a street or sidewalk, call the SDOT 24-hour dispatch at (206) 386-1218.  City crews will take action to ensure the safety of the right-of-way, regardless of tree ownership.  If the tree is an SDOT-maintained tree, SDOT Urban Forestry will remove fallen limbs, clear debris, and prune or remove the tree as necessary.  If the tree is privately-maintained, SDOT crews will ensure the safety of the right-of-way but will not necessarily remove all debris.  It is up to the adjacent property owner to remove debris from privately-maintained trees.  Property owners are encouraged to hire a tree care company to prune or remove damaged street trees, with a free permit.  To check the maintenance responsibility of a tree, refer to the Street Tree Map: http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/.   If your tree is not on the map or have questions, email SDOT Urban Forestry at seattle.trees@seattle.gov.  For more information on tree pruning and removal permits: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/treepruning.htm

 Please be careful during and after storms!

Screenshot of the street tree map

Have you ever wondered about the type of tree in front of your house and whether you are supposed to take care of it?  Have you been curious about a certain species of tree or wondered whether it grew in your neighborhood? There is a new way to answer these questions, because for the first time ever, SDOT has published an interactive street tree map!  Here is the link: http://web1.seattle.gov/SDOT/StreetTrees/ . The map reveals species, maintenance responsibility, size class, diameter (if available), tree identification number, date it was added to the inventory, and the date the information was last updated, if available.  Over 122,000 street trees are in the inventory, making this a great tool to learn about your urban forest.  SDOT GIS Analyst, Dana Trethewy developed the map based on existing web-based maps, such as the pothole map. 

The maintenance responsibility of individual street trees is determined by the entity that planted it.  If a homeowner or a volunteer group planted the tree, the abutting property owner must maintain it.  If the Seattle Department of Transportation planted the tree, we are responsible for maintenance.  Street trees that are on Parks Department boulevards or adjacent to parks are the responsibility of the Seattle Parks.  On the map, maintenance responsibility is represented by color—different shades of green indicate responsibility.  Heritage trees, both in the right-of-way and on private property, show up on the map in orange.  For more information on heritage trees, here is an article: http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2011/07/21/heritage-tree-program-recognizes-seattle%e2%80%99s-best-trees/

The map isn’t perfect.  The data is taken from SDOT’s street tree data, first collected in 1991. In 2007 SDOT-maintained trees, which account for 40,000 of the City’s street trees, were comprehensively updated.  New trees planted by SDOT are routinely added to the inventory.  Privately-maintained trees have not been updated since the 1991 inventory; if they were planted after 1991, they are probably not on the map.  If the information on a particular tree has not been updated, the diameter is null, as it is likely that the 1991 data is no longer correct.  If a tree is not in the inventory, it is most likely privately-maintained.  There is a form you can fill out to request tree additions.  Emailing a photo of the tree(s) helps.  The “contacts and links” section at the right of the tree map has links to request forms for adding a tree to the inventory.     

When you first open the map, click the check box for “public right of way trees” to view all street trees. To identify a single tree, zoom in until you can see individual property parcels.  Click on a tree to display its information.   You can search for a particular address or a neighborhood.  You can also search for a species of tree, by entering either the common or scientific name for the tree, and clicking find trees. The trees of that species will appear with a blue square around them.  There are currently some bugs in the species search, but our GIS expert is working on it. More information is available under the tab “How to use this map” at the right side of the page.  Have fun exploring the urban forest!

Access Road Area - AFTER

Access Road Area - BEFORE

Opening last Saturday with a ribbon cutting and community event led by Mayor Mike McGinn and Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, this new segment of trail is writing a new chapter in the life of the East Duwamish Greenbelt. 

The cutting of the ribbon October 29, 2011 was a joint effort by the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Executive Director Cynthia Welti; Beacon Alliance of Neighbors Representative Craig Thompson; SDOT Project Manager Terry Plumb; and Mayor Mike McGinn. 

Following the snip of that appropriately “green” ribbon, Mayor McGinn led a tour of the new multi-use Beacon Hill trail that extends from Jose Rizal Bridge west along the south side of I-90 and south along I-5 to the South Holgate Bridge.  The Washington Department of Transportation designed the trail with oversight from SDOT and also managed the construction contractor.  All who participated in the trail tour got a first-hand look at some of the amazing “after” views.  Of course, they are even more compelling when compared to the “before” shots, such as the photos from under the Jose Rizal Bridge, shown directly below.

As mentioned earlier, the before and after pictures are startling, in a good way, showing the effectiveness of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.  These include natural surveillance allowing people to see and be seen.  To that point, this is the first City of Seattle trail to utilize street lights; placed every 160-feet or so, they illuminate the entire area.  Add to that open fencing and landscaping and this urban forest becomes an accessible and usable neighborhood greenspace.  Features of the new ¾ mile of trail include: 

• 12 feet wide paved and level surface for walking, biking, and running

• Fencing along both sides of the trail (fencing to be completed now that configuration for 4.1 acre off-leash area is finalized)

Approaching Bridge - BEFORE

Approaching Bridge - AFTER

Before and after photos to the left show the trail area near the Holgate entrance – yet another stunning comparison of how access is greatly improved.

The purpose of this project was to extend the multi-use trail to connect with transit, other trails, and Seattle communities.  It is also part of the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan.  The majority of funding ($1.8 million) for this $2.58 million project came from the City’s eight-year Pro Parks Levy, which passed in 2000.  WSDOT also provided funds during design.  Then an $810,000 federal grant through the Puget Sound Regional Council made up the remaining difference, allowing construction to move forward.

The Mountains to Sound Trail is part of the larger Mountains to Sound Greenway effort that has helped create 100 miles of trail along I-90 from Central Washington to Seattle.  

Thank you WSDOT for the majority of the photos!

Happy Trails…

Construction of the Mountains-to-Sound Trail from the southwest end of the Jose Rizal bridge south along I-5 to Holgate is substantially complete!!!  The grand opening is scheduled for this Saturday, October 29.   Join Mayor Mike McGinn, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith and a host of partners for the ribbon cutting and community event to celebrate this new trail through Beacon Hill! 

What: Ribbon Cutting & Community Event

When: Saturday, October 29 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: At approximately 900 Sturgus Ave. S – adjacent to Daejeon Park

Click here to view event flyer (PDF)

Come hear from Mayor McGinn, Deputy Mayor Smith, Mountains to Sound Greenway Executive Director Cynthia Welti and others about the collaborative work that is creating a new chapter for the East Duwamish Greenbelt. 

Discover volunteer opportunities for this area and participate in a tour with City Staff and community members to learn in greater detail about all of the improvements on and along the trail.

All modes of travel are welcome! Parking is available along 12th Avenue S and on S Charles Street as well as Sturgus Avenue S near Daejeon Park, where the event will take place. 

This event is part of Mayor McGinn’s Walk Bike Ride initiative launched in 2010.

Bring your bike or running shoes to take advantage of the new trail after the event is over!

Construction of this section of the Mountains-to-Sound Trail, which travels through Jose Rizal Park and state-owned right-of-way property, began on June 20, 2011. The only remaining project element is installing final fencing around the off-leash area to create a four-plus acre site.

Gardeners load brush pruned from median

Last week SDOT Urban Forestry gardeners responded to neighborhood safety concerns and conducted a work party on the West Government Way medians in Magnolia from 34^th-36^th Ave W-with excellent results.  The median is home to a variety of plants including maples, arbutus, hawthorns, viburnum, salal and ferns.  The medians soften the streetscape, provide a transition into Discovery Park, and provide food and habitat for birds.

Due to limited resources, SDOT Urban Forestry only maintains this median in response to unsafe conditions.  We rely on community members to alert us to blocked visibility and we respond as needed.  Some plants had overgrown the median and were blocking views of oncoming traffic and pedestrians, so the gardeners pruned trees and shrubs and removed weeds.  Gardeners pruned and thinned the larger trees to improve views under the canopies, and reduced the height of shrubs so drivers can see over the lower vegetation.  While median maintenance doesn’t traditionally generate headlines, it is critical to street safety and aesthetics.  It is also labor intensive-the landscape crews closed the parking lanes to redirect traffic while they worked, pruned, weeded, and hauled many pickup loads of plant material off-site.  As anyone who has tended a garden knows, even low-maintenance plants need care to keep them growing where and how we want.   While the gardeners worked, several neighborhood residents thanked them for their efforts.

Broken branch on a street tree

Fall is upon us and winter is just around the corner; it’s a good time to check the health of your trees.  Large trees are important assets and shouldn’t inspire fear, but it is wise to hire an arborist for pruning and/or inspection periodically.   In all cases, knowledge of tree species and familiarity with their weaknesses is important.  It is also important to hire an ISA-certified arborist.  Beware of tree companies that canvass your neighborhood; they may lack the knowledge, experience, or insurance to work safely and may instill fear in residents for their own gain.  For more information about finding an arborist:      

http://www.isa-arbor.com/faca/findArborist.aspx  

Below is list of tree defects or signs of stress in each portion of the tree.  Arborists inspect trees methodically and can recommend mitigation if defects are found.  Note that this is a simplified list, each tree is different, and experience is an important factor in identifying tree defects.

Read more »

Question: What types of permits does SDOT Urban Forestry issue?

 Answer: We issue tree planting, pruning, and removal permits.

 Question: Why are permits required for right-of-way tree work? 

 Answer: SDOT Urban Forestry is charged with stewardship of urban forest within the right-of-way; permits enable us to work with adjacent property owners to properly manage trees growing in public places.  Permits also help us to maintain safe rights-of-way, as tree work can involve large equipment operating over streets and sidewalks. We make sure that qualified companies are doing this work to protect people and property in the right-of-way.  Improper tree work, such as topping (which is not permitted), can result in decayed, unsafe trees.  Planting permits ensure that appropriate species are planted for the site.  When large trees are planted under overhead wires or in narrow spaces, they may damage infrastructure and increase future maintenance costs.    

Read more »

Concerned about how Bridging the Gap (BTG) levy funds are being used in Seattle? Then you will be pleased to know that a citizen-led Bridging the Gap Levy Oversight Committee ensures that these vital funds are appropriately spent on addressing Seattle’s maintenance backlog and enhancing its transportation infrastructure.

This committee is made up of members of the community, your neighbors, who work to ensure that BTG delivers on the promises made when it was approved by voters in 2006. It consists of 15 members – five who are appointed by the mayor, five who are appointed by the Seattle City Council and five members set by the legislation. Those five statutory members include the city budget director, the chair of the council’s Transportation Committee and one member each representing the Bike, Pedestrian and Freight Advisory boards.

They meet quarterly to review the BTG program. They are charged with monitoring revenues, expenditures, and program and project implementation. The committee also reviews the annual work plans for Bridging the Gap’s program and project priorities, along with spending and revised financial plans. They also make recommendations to the mayor and city council regarding the spending of levy proceeds.

All BTG Levy Oversight Committee meetings are open the public and the next meeting will happen on October 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the City Hall Boards and Commissions Room (L-280). The committee encourages members of the community to come and hear about BTG, and the work that is happening across the city. There is also time for public comment at the beginning of each meeting.  If you would like more information about BTG or the oversight committee, please visit our web page.

Don't do this to your tree; from blog.caseytrees.org

It’s time to go out and mow the lawn.  Almost done, there are just a few tufts of taller grass right up against a tree trunk.  It only takes a second with a weed whacker (or string trimmer) to remove the offending grass, but the tree might never recover.  Hitting a tree with a weed whacker results in an ugly gash and can lead to disease and eventual death of the tree.  The tree’s circulatory system is just under the bark; injuries to the area interfere with water, nutrient and starch transport between the roots and leaves.  As a result, the tree may decline, leaving it more susceptible to pests and diseases.   The injury opens the door to fungus, which can cause wood decay and tree death.   If the wound completely encircles the trunk, death is inevitable.

Arborists call this damage “weed whacker blight,” and a recent survey of an SDOT corridor of young trees found that close to 60% of trees were victims.  So what can you do to protect your trees (besides going easy on the weed whacker or lawn mower)? Simply prevent turf grass from growing at the base of the tree.  Gently remove turf and create a ring of mulch 2-3” thick around the tree roots.  Don’t pile up mulch around the base of the tree, which encourages decay.  Instead of lawn, you can plant groundcovers or perennials which don’t need to be mowed near the base of the tree.  If nothing else works, a flexible plastic sleeve around the base of the tree can prevent the worst of the damage.

Planting and mulching around base to prevent weed whacker blight

A plastic sleeve protects the trunk. From http://www.rainbowtreecare.com