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Home My WebLink AboutTR_Springbrook _Arborist Report_revised A Plus Tree, LLC 1 of 12 www.aplustree.com Arborist Report for Springbrook Apartments Prepared on October 28, 2024 Prepared by Sarah Gaskin ISA Certified Arborist #WE-9519A sarah@aplustree.com Background Information & Assignment This report was prepared on behalf of Springbrook Apartments, Managed by Sentinel Real Estate, and is concerning thirteen (13) trees, located at 5301 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA 9805. A Plus Tree was requested to assess the health, structure, and integrity of all 515 trees located on the property. Of all the trees across the property that were visually assessed, thirteen (13) considered to have hazardous leans in the direction where people or structures could be damaged in the event of a failure. These trees are recommended for removal and replacement. This visual inspection was from ground grade only. There were no soil, tree or other physical testings. A Plus Tree, LLC 2 of 12 www.aplustree.com Observations Observations are as follows, see attachments ‘Site Map’ for location and ‘Photos” for photos of each tree: Tree # Species DBH (in) Notes 1 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 26.4” Leaning towards building, high chance of impact in the event of major branch or stem failure. Species is known for major branch and stem failures. Snag at 20 feet to mitigate. 2 Red Alder, Alnus rubra 14.7” Leaning over road. in stream, but stream is not mapped as a CA by the city. Will need rvmp. All the crown is over road. Snag at 10 feet 3 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 10.8” Leaning over lawn. Poor taper, lean due to competition for light. Snag at 10 feet 4 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 13.5” Leaning over lawn. Poor taper, lean due to competition for light. Snag at 10 feet 5 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 10.5” Leaning over lawn. 10.5. Poor taper, lean due to competition for light. Part of 10 allowed removals. Snag at 10 feet. 6 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 19.9” Leaning over building. Poor taper, lean due to competition for light. Snag at 15 feet. 7 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 16.7” Leaning over building, likely to hit it in the event of a major limb failure. Snagging at 15 feet is recommended to mitigate risk. Tree is leaning over building, shouldn’t count towards 10 allowable removals. 8 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 14.5” Past evidence of failures. Tree is leaning over building, a future failure is likely to hit the building and do damage. Snagging at 10 feet is recommended to mitigate risk. Over building, shouldn’t count towards 10 tree allowance. 9 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 16.8” Tree is leaning over house, will hit and damage it in the event of major failure. Recommend snagging at 15 feet to mitigate risk. Leaning over building shouldn’t count towards 10 allowable removals. 10 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 15.4” Leaning over building. 11 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 20.5” Leaning over building. 12 Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 16.9” Leaning over building. Snag at 15 feet to mitigate. Doesn’t count towards 10 allowed removals: leaning over building. 13 Stump of Western Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa 7 sprouts: 1-5” Western cottonwood stump with weakly attached sprouts that are growing towards building. As the sprouts grow, their structural integrity will be compromised and they will likely hit the building. Removal of all sprouts is recommended to mitigate future hazard. 7 sprouts in total, ranging from 1 inch to 5 inches in diameter. A Plus Tree, LLC 3 of 12 www.aplustree.com Discussion Regarding the twelve (12) Western Cottonwoods, Populus trichocarpa -- Western Cottonwoods are known for their fast growth, which often leads to structural issues such as poor taper and weak wood. Poor taper is especially prominent in these particular trees, as the trunks do not proportionally thicken as they grow taller, resulting in a lack of stability under their own weight. In these cases, the trees exhibit a high degree of lean, which is uncorrected, creating a risk of failure in winds or under other stress conditions. Since these leans are directed over common areas and buildings, they pose an immediate hazard to both people and structures. Another issue contributing to the instability of these trees is their low crown ratio, especially among those affected by a dense understory. Limited light availability forces the trees to concentrate growth in their upper canopies, resulting in a high center of mass. The low crown ratio leaves them top-heavy, making them particularly vulnerable to wind events, which can easily cause breakage or uprooting. Additionally, the natural growth characteristics of Western Cottonwoods contribute to their vulnerability. They are shallow-rooted species, a feature that compounds the risk associated with leaning stems, as their roots provide less anchorage. The rapid growth of this species often leads to weaker wood that can easily break, especially under the conditions described. Considering the proximity of these trees to active areas, the risk of injury or damage is significant. Regarding the one (1) Red Alder, Alnus rubra— The Red Alder has a lean over an active roadway, with its entire canopy extending above the traffic area. Red Alders are commonly found in moist environments like stream banks, where they grow quickly but develop shallow root systems adapted to softer soils. Their rapid growth habit also contributes to weak wood structure, increasing the likelihood of limb or trunk failure. Given these characteristics and the tree’s full canopy lean over a roadway, its removal is necessary to prevent potential accidents and ensure roadway safety. Recommendations In summary, due to their poor taper, severe lean over high-use areas, low crown ratios from understory competition, and inherent characteristics of the species that limit stability, the removal of the twelve (12) Western Cottonwoods is recommended to mitigate safety risks effectively. The recommended removal of the one (1) Red Alder is based on its hazardous lean over an active roadway. Remove all thirteen (13) trees to prevent potential hazards to people, property, or nearby structures. Instead of full removals, for some, I recommend “snagging” where noted in the table above. These trees are in natural areas and can provide valuable habitat when retained as snags, removing only the canopy while leaving a portion of the trunk standing would maintain ecological benefits by supporting local wildlife, such as cavity-nesting birds and insects, while eliminating the immediate hazard. Replace trees in accordance with the City of Renton tree ordinance. Replace with various species, preferably native, suitable for each site and location. If a replacement plan is needed, attach it to the tree removal permit application. A Plus Tree, LLC 4 of 12 www.aplustree.com ATTACHMENTS Site Map A Plus Tree, LLC 5 of 12 www.aplustree.com Photos – Tree 1 Tree 2 A Plus Tree, LLC 6 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 3 Tree 4 A Plus Tree, LLC 7 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 5 Tree 6 A Plus Tree, LLC 8 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 7 Tree 8 A Plus Tree, LLC 9 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 9 Tree 10 ’ A Plus Tree, LLC 10 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 11 ’ A Plus Tree, LLC 11 of 12 www.aplustree.com Tree 12 ’ Tree 13 ’ Disclaimer Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree. Trees are living organisms that may fail in ways we do not fully understand. Conditions are often hidden within trees and below ground. Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe, or fail for that matter, under all circumstances, or for a given period of time. Likewise, remedial treatments, like any medicine, cannot be guaranteed. A Plus Tree, LLC 12 of 12 www.aplustree.com Treatments, pruning and removal of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of the arborist’s services such as property boundaries, property ownership, sight lines, disputes between neighbors, landlord- tenant matters, etc. Arborists cannot take such issues into account unless complete and accurate information is given to the arborist. The person hiring the arborist accepts full responsibility for authorizing the recommended treatment or remedial measures. Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled. To live near a tree is to accept some degree of risk. The only way to eliminate all risks is to eliminate all trees. This consultant does not verify the safely or health of any tree for any period of time. Construction activities are hazardous to trees and cause many short and long-term injuries, which can cause trees to die or topple. Even when every tree is inspected, inspection involves sampling; therefore some areas of decay or weakness may be missed. Weather, winds and the magnitude and direction of storms are not predictable and some failures may still occur despite the best application of high professional standards. I hereby declare that the above observations, discussion and recommendation are true to the best of my knowledge, belief and professional opinion. In addition, A Plus Tree is held harmless of any of these opinions from future tree failures. Sincerely, Sarah Gaskin Sarah Gaskin | A Plus Tree, LLC ISA Certified Arborist #WE-9519A