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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20. TR_Arborist_Report_220217_V2.pdfFORESTRY AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS WFCI 3601943-1 723 FAX 3601943-4 1 28 1919 Yelm Hwy SE, Suite C Olympia, WA 98501 URBANIRURAL FORESTRY TREE APPRAISAL HAZARD TREE ANALYSIS RIGHT-OF-WAYS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CONTRACT FORESTERS Member of International Society of Arboriculture and Society of American Foresters October 5, 2021 Shahla Bowen Core Design, Inc. 12100 NE 195th Street Suite 300 Bothell, WA 98011 RE: Tree Assessment for Road Easement on the Canopy Site. Dear Ms. Bowen: We have assessed 24 trees in the footprint of the proposed NE 40th Street improvements on the Canopy development site in Renton, WA. The purpose of this inspection was to determine the condition of the trees, assess their potential impact from sidewalk construction and recommend cultural care to accommodate this project. A Level II Tree Risk Assessment was conducted on September 21, 2021. The evaluation used methodology developed by the International Society of Arboriculture and Matheny and Clark (1998)1. Findings and Recommendations The project area includes the northern edge of the NE 40th Street and a small portion of Lincoln Avenue NE rights-of-ways in Renton, WA. A sidewalk is proposed to be constructed along this area of the rights-of-way for the Canopy site project. The tree species include Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Tree diameters range from 8 to 30 inches DBH. Tree condition ranges from ‘Dead’ to ‘Good’, with most trees described as being in the ‘Fair’ condition class. The location of the proposed sidewalk is shown on the back of the rights-of-way in Attachment 1. Most of the trees along NE 40th Street are located towards the middle of the rights-of-way. The roots of these trees more than likely do not extend under NE 40th Street due to soil compaction/poor aeration. The main portion of the tree’s roots will be growing north into the 1 Nelda Metheny and James R. Clark. (1994). A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas (2nd Edition). International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, IL. Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 2 native soil. The large trees and small space to move the sidewalk around make it very difficult to retain trees in the project area without damaging roots. If the sidewalk is placed to the north of these trees a very significant portion of the root systems will be impacted by construction. This impact will adversely affect the health and structural stability of the trees. Seventeen trees will need to be removed prior to the construction of improvements. A list of the trees in the project area is listed in Table 1. Their locations are shown on the site plan in Attachment 2. Table 1. Summary of trees in proposed 40th Street Improvements. Tree # Species DBH (in.) Condition Save Based on Condition- Yes/ No Save Based on Site Plan- Save/ Remove Drip Line Radius (ft.) Critical Root Protection Zone- Radius in feet- direction Comments 10640 Douglas-fir 23 Poor No Remove 47 multiple structural roots cut 10641 Douglas-fir 12 Fair Yes Save 20 8-NS, 3-EW* 10642 Douglas-fir 19 Fair Yes Save 40 13-NS, 3-EW 10643 Douglas-fir 11 Fair Yes Save 20 8- NSEW 10644 Douglas-fir 18 Poor No Remove 30 poor co- dominant stems, poor form 10645 Douglas-fir 14 Fair Yes Remove 25 10- NEW, 5-S 10646 Douglas-fir 17 Fair Yes Remove 30 12-NEW, 8-S 10647 Douglas-fir 15 Fair Yes Remove 25 11-EW, 4-NS 10648 Douglas-fir 19 Fair Yes Remove 30 13-E, 3-N, 6- W 10649 Douglas-fir 12 Fair Yes Remove 18 12-NEW, 3-S 10650 Douglas-fir 18 Fair Yes Remove 35 18-N, 8-W, 6- E, 5-S 10651 Douglas-fir 26 Poor No Remove 35 Poor butt growth structure 10652 Douglas-fir 21 Fair Yes Remove 35 15-NEW, 5-S 10653 Douglas-fir 22 Good Yes Remove 30 15-NEW, 9-S 10654 Douglas-fir 25 Good Yes Remove 35 18-NEW, 7-S 10655 Western Hemlock 21 Fair Yes Save 30 15-NSEW 10656 Incense Cedar 19 Poor No Remove 10 strap wrapped around tree 10657 Douglas-fir 20 Dead No Remove Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 3 Tree # Species DBH (in.) Condition Save Based on Condition- Yes/ No Save Based on Site Plan- Save/ Remove Drip Line Radius (ft.) Critical Root Protection Zone- Radius in feet- direction Comments 10658 Western Redcedar 30 Good Yes Save 35 21-NSE, 15-W 10659 Pacific Dogwood 11 Very Poor No Remove 20 significant butt decay 10660 Western Hemlock 13 Fair Yes Save 20 9- NSEW 10661 Douglas-fir 23 Fair Yes Save 25 16-NSE, 12-W 10662 Douglas-fir 24 Dead No Remove 10663 Bigleaf Maple 8,9,14,17 Poor No Remove 25 dead bark on stem, cankers, and decay in branches *Means 3 ft. to the east and west; Tree protection fences should be installed around save trees and are to remain in place during road construction. Soil from the excavation should not be side-cast onto the roots of the save trees. Summary Seventeen (17) trees will need to be removed to accommodate the proposed sidewalk improvements for the Canopy site. Tree protection fences for the save trees should remain in place until construction is completed. Please give us a call if you have questions. Respectfully submitted, Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Galen M. Wright, ACF, ASCA Joshua Sharpes ISA Bd. Certified Master Arborist PN-129BU Professional Forester Certified Forester No. 44 ISA Certified Arborist®, ISA Tree Risk Assessor Qualified Municipal Specialist, PN- 5939AM ASCA Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualified Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 4 Attachment 1. Aerial Photo of Project Area (King County iMap 2019) Area of Assessment Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 5 Attachment 2. 40 Street Improvements Site Plan Tree to Retain Tree to Remove* Tree Protection Fence Location *not all unhealthy trees shown 10661 10658 10660 10655 10654 10653 10652 10651 10650 10649 10648 10647 10646 10645 10642 10641 10643 Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 6 Attachment 3. Tree Protection Fence Detail Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 7 Attachment 4. Glossary of Forestry and Arboricultural Terminology DBH: Diameter at Breast Height (measured 4.5 ft. above the ground line on the high side of the tree). Crown: Portion of a trees stem covered by live foliage. Crown Position: Position of the crown with respect to other trees in the stand. Dominant Crown Position: Receives light from above and from the sides. Codominant Crown Position: Receives light from above and some from the sides. Intermediate Crown Position: Receives little light from above and none from the sides. Trees tend to be slender with poor live crown ratios. Suppressed Crown Position: Receives no light from above and none from the sides. Trees tend to be slender with poor live crown ratios. Live Crown Ratio: Ratio of live foliage on the stem of the tree. Example: A 100’ tall tree with 40 feet of live crown would have a 40% live crown ratio. Conifers with less than 30% live crown ratio are generally not considered to be long-term trees in forestry. Root Protection Zone/Critical Root Zone: A radius from the trees stem of 1 foot for each 1 inch of DBH unless otherwise determined by WFCI. For example, a 7 inch DBH tree would have a critical root zone radius of 7 feet. Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 8 Condition Class Descriptions CONDITION CLASS CHARACTERISTICS Excellent Single stem; Normal foliage color; No branch dieback; No apparent insect or disease problems; No other apparent problems; Very Good Single stem; Normal foliage color; No branch dieback or only a few minor branches died back; No apparent insect or disease problems; No other apparent problems, or they are minor and do not impact the long-term survival of the tree; Good Single stem; Normal foliage color; Minor branch dieback; Minor problems such as crown unbalanced; Minor foliage problems; Expected to be a long-term tree; Fair Single stem or double stem that is not expected to fail soon; Crown may be slightly thinned due to exposure or reduced vigor; Minor branch dieback and 1 or 2 major branches died back; Minor insect or disease problems; Tree expected to survive; Poor Single or Multiple stem tree; Thinning crown; Foliage color yellowed; Inadequate live crown ratio; Major and minor branch dieback; Not a long-term tree or quality tree for development; Very Poor Single or Multiple stem tree; Severe thinning crown; Yellow foliage; Major branch dieback; Expected to die within 5 years or so; Hazard Tree Dead, dying, diseased, defective; Would be hazardous to new development or if other targets are placed within reach of tree; Canopy Site – NE 40th Street Improvements Tree Evaluation Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. Page 9 Attachment 5. Assumptions and Limiting Conditions 1) Any legal description provided to the Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. is assumed to be correct. Any titles and ownership's to any property are assumed to be good and marketable. No responsibility is assumed for matters legal in character. Any and all property is appraised or evaluated as though free and clear, under responsible ownership and competent management. 2) It is assumed that any property is not in violation of any applicable codes, ordinances, statutes, or other governmental regulations, unless otherwise stated. 3) Care has been taken to obtain all information from reliable sources. All data has been verified insofar as possible; however, Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. can neither guarantee nor be responsible for the accuracy of information. 4) Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. shall not be required to give testimony or to attend court by reason of this report unless subsequent contractual arrangements are made, including payment of an additional fee for such services as described in the fee schedule and contract of engagement. 5) Loss or alteration of any part of this report invalidated the entire report. 6) Possession of this report or a copy thereof does not imply right of publication or use for any purpose by any other than the person to whom it is addressed, without the prior expressed written or verbal consent of Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. 7) Neither all or any part of the contents of this report, nor copy thereof, shall be conveyed by anyone, including the client, to the public through advertising, public relations, news, sales or other media, without the prior expressed written or verbal consent of Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. -- particularly as to value conclusions, identity of Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc., or any reference to any professional society or to any initialed designation conferred upon Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc. as stated in its qualifications. 8) This report and any values expressed herein represent the opinion of Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc., and the fee is in no way contingent upon the reporting of a specified value, a stipulated result, the occurrence neither of a subsequent event, nor upon any finding in to reported. 9) Sketches, diagrams, graphs, and photographs in this report, being intended as visual aids, are not necessarily to scale and should not be construed as engineering or architectural reports or surveys. 10) Unless expressed otherwise: 1) information contained in this report covers only those items that were examined and reflects the condition of those items at the time of inspection; and 2) the inspection is limited to visual examination of accessible items without dissection, excavation, probing, or coring. There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that problems or deficiencies of the tree or other plant or property in question may not arise in the future. Note: Even healthy trees can fail under normal or storm conditions. The only way to eliminate all risk is to remove all trees within reach of all targets. Annual monitoring by an ISA Certified Arborist or Certified Forester will reduce the potential of tree failures. It is impossible to predict with certainty that a tree will stand or fail, or the timing of the failure. It is considered an ‘Act of God’ when a tree fails, unless it is directly felled or pushed over by man’s actions.