Park Hills Tree Survey Report

7/22/2019 Park Hills Tree Survey Report

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Park Hill Neighborhood Tree Survey

Louisville, KY

July 31, 2013

Report Prepared by:

Peter Barber, Urban Forestry Program Specialist, Division of Forestry

Data Collected by:

Sean Godbold, Forester, Division of Forestry

Cody Mundy, Geologist, Division of Waste Management


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INTRODUCTION

At the request of the Kentucky Division of Waste Management, the Division of Forestry was

asked to perform an analysis of trees in the Park Hill neighborhood in Louisville, the site of theformer Black Leaf Chemical Company. A survey of trees on residential property in the

neighborhood was performed by employees of the divisions of forestry and waste management

in June and July, 2013.

This report includes the data collected from the survey, analysis of population, metrics and

specifications regarding individual tree protection and protection of groups of trees found

within the project area. Also provided are estimations of the environmental services lost from

the removal of trees surveyed and an estimation of future environmental service values

obtained from trees planted within the project area.


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Tree Population Metrics

144 Trees

17 Species

18 Trees Identified for Potential Protection

5

1

910

5

1

10

1

4

1 1 1

8

27

19

17

23

1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Total

Total


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Tree Diameter Distribution

American ElmBoxelder Maple

Dead

Hackberry

Tree of Heaven

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

5 8 12 16 18 21 24 26 30 39 48

American Elm

Ash

Black Cherry

Black Walnut

Boxelder Maple

Callery Pear

Catalpa

Crabapple

Dead

Dogwood

E. Redcedar

Goldenraintree

Hackberry

Mulberry

Siberian Elm

Silver Maple

Tree of Heaven

Yellow Poplar


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Tree Condition Rating Distribution

Tree condition ratings were based on observations of decay, missing wood, poor branch

architecture, excessive sprouting, dieback, as well as sight condition observations including

presence of compacted soils, exposed roots, imbedded fencing, vines and other conditions

known to be deleterious to tree health. A 30 percent threshold was established for each

condition class regarding decay and missing wood. Species tolerance to the above conditions

and observations on tree vigor were all taken into consideration on each tree when

determining the condition rating. Trees suitable for protection must be at least in fair

condition, and any engagement with utility wires should be minimal.

Good Fair Poor Dead

American Elm 1 4

Ash 1

Black Cherry 1 2 5 1

Black Walnut 6 3 1Boxelder Maple 5

Callery Pear 1

Catalpa 5 3 2

Crabapple 1

Dead 4

Dogwood 1

E. Redcedar 1

Goldenraintree 1

Hackberry 4 3 1

Mulberry 14 13

Siberian Elm 3 16

Silver Maple 1 12 4

Tree of Heaven 1 5 17

Yellow Poplar 1

0

2

4

6

8

1012

14

16

18

American Elm

Ash

Black Cherry

Black Walnut

Boxelder Maple

Callery Pear

Catalpa

Crabapple

Dead

Dogwood

E. Redcedar

Goldenraintree

Hackberry

Mulberry

Siberian Elm

Silver Maple

Tree of HeavenYellow Poplar


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Tree Protection Specifications

Critical Root Zones for Groups of Trees

Trees found clustered tightly together in fence rows can be protected as one area instead of

protecting individual stems. For all fencerows in Park Hill where trees are to be protected,operators should maintain a Critical Root Zone (CRZ) consisting of a five foot buffer of

undisturbed soil on either side of the fence. No soil excavation, storage or piling of soil, and no

vehicular traffic should be allowed in the Critical Root Zone (CRZ) for groups of trees.

Critical Root Radius

A Critical Root Radius (CRR) for protected trees shall be established based on the trunk

diameter, condition of tree, and species tolerance to soil removal within or near the drip line of

the tree. For reference, the CRR of trees was derived from the ANSI A300 Part 5: Management

of Trees and Shrubs during Site Planning, Site Development, and Construction along with the

corresponding Best Management Practices manual.

No soil, vehicles, equipment or debris should be stored for any period of time within a CRR. The

original soil grade of the CRR should be maintained as much as possible. No vehicular or

equipment traffic of any kind should allowed in the CRR.

See Appendix A for a list of trees to be protected and the critical root radius for each.

Barriers

A physical barrier, such as plastic fencing or silt fencing, can be used to identify the CRR of

individual trees, and can be used to demarcate CRZs for groups of trees in fencerows. Stakes

may be used as a barrier and shall be placed no more than six feet apart, and shall be markedwith high visibility paint or flagging. No equipment shall operate within the CRR or CRZ of

protected trees. No soil or other excavated material may be stored within the CRR or CRZ of

protected trees. Barriers or fencing shall be maintained at all times during soil excavation. It is

advisable for equipment operators to be informed of tree protection measures they are to

adhere to before work begins.

Root Pruning

Soil excavation will tear and rip roots. Tree response to this type of injury typically does not

produce new roots or callus growth over exposed cambial tissue, and is often associated with

poor wood compartmentalization and decay. Root injury to trees should be mitigated withproper pruning cuts on all exposed roots whose diameter is greater than 0.5 inch. The pruning

cut should, when possible, be made back to a living lateral root, or to the parent root. The cut

should be perpendicular to the contour of the root and bark should remain attached at the cut

end of the root. Sharp hand tools are the preferred method for root pruning.


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Post Excavation Care of Trees

The area inside of the CRR should be covered with a layer of hardwood mulch no more than 2 inches

deep. Homeowners should water the trees at a rate of five gallons of water per week during the

remainder of the 2013 growing season, and the entire growing season in 2014, whenever rainfall is less

than an inch for that week.


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Recommendations for Replacement Tree Planting

Replacing removed trees to mitigate the loss of environmental services should be coordinated to plant

appropriate species in appropriate places in Park Hill. This tree planting opportunity also addresses

and corrects many conflicts between overhead power lines and trees, as nuisance trees are removed

from power lines, and replaced in a more suitable location. It is advisable for local and stategovernment, in conjunction with non-government organizations, to leverage their resources to

establish a re-planting plan in the project area.

Site Preparation

Tree growth and survival are heavily influenced by soil type and structure. Every attempt should be

made to match the existing sub soil with a similar texture and type soil. It is recommended that the

first four inches of new fill soil be tilled into the existing sub soil to break up the hydrologic interface

created by two different soil types.

Species Selection

Following is a list of small, medium, and large trees suitable for planting in Park Hill. Every attempt

should be made to match the mature size of the tree to the site in which it is planted to avoid

infrastructure conflicts. Species were selected based on tolerance to soil disturbance, tolerance to

storm damage, tolerance to drought, and native to the region. Individual tree selections should use

other criteria, such as shade tolerance and visual screening effects.

SMALL TREES MEDIUM TREES LARGE TREES

Redbud Honeylocust Sycamore

Smoketree Sweetbay Magnolia White Oak

Dogwood Littleleaf Linden BlackgumArborvitae Yellowwood Baldcypress

Tree Planting

Trees should be planted following ANSI A300 specifications, and use the current ANLA standards for

plant material. Following these standards and recommendations is essential to the long term health of

replacement trees.

Tree Maintenance

Trees should be watered every week with at least one inch of water for the first two growing seasons.

This is roughly equivalent to 5 gallons of water per tree. Trees should be mulched to the drip line ofthe newly planted tree, using hardwood mulch to a depth of two inches. It is advisable to establish an

agreement with recipients of replacement trees to water their new trees. The agreement is an

opportunity to inform the new tree owners of the importance to water their tree, and an opportunity

to provide the tree owners with resources to better care for their trees. Although enforcement of this

type of agreement is unnecessary, it does instill a sense of responsibility to the recipient of the tree.


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Future Benefits of Replacement Trees

Every effort should be made to replace removed trees with better species in better locations.

Appropriate species and site selection will reduce long term maintenance costs of trees and extendtheir service life in a healthy condition. One hundred forty-four trees were surveyed and most likely

need to be removed. An iTree Streets analysis provides an estimate of future environmental benefits

of 144 trees.

EAST EAST EAST

SOUTH SOUTH SOUTH144

WEST WEST WEST

Cooling kWh

Heating therms

Energy Use kWh

CO2 lbs

O3 lbsNO lbsSO lbsSPM


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APPENDEX A

List of Individual Trees for Potential Protection and Prescribed Critical Root

Radius (CRR)Tree # Address Species DBH Condition Utilities CRR in Feet

BL4 1726 Wilson Ailanthus 48 Fair No 48

BL6 1726 Wilson Catalpa 22 Good Yes 16

BL12 1534 Wilson Catalpa 39 Good Yes 29

BL25 1760 Wilson Mulberry 14 Fair Yes 10

BL26 1760 Wilson Mulberry 18 Fair No 13

BL27 1760 Wilson Black Walnut 12 Fair No 12

BL35 1701 St. Louis American Elm 8 Good No 6

BL40 1701 St. Louis Black Walnut 16 Good No 20BL43 1703 St. Louis Hackberry 26 Good No 26

BL53 1736 St. Louis Black Walnut 30 Fair No 37

BL81 1738 Wilson Dogwood 20 Fair No 25

BL82 1740 Wilson Black Walnut 22 Good No 27

BL86 1706 Wilson Black Cherry 24 Fair No 24

BL89 1614 Wilson Yellow Poplar 25 Fair No 31

BL90 1614 Wilson Siberian Elm 30 Fair No 30

BL92 1608 Wilson Silver Maple 20 Fair No 25

BL95 1608 Wilson Mulberry 12 Fair Yes 9

BL204 1728 Wilson Catalpa 28 Good No 21

Documents

Park Hills Tree Survey Report