TITL TLE: TREES: AREAS O OF S SHADE O OR P POTE TENTIAL D DISASTE TER? SPEAKE KER: DON S SWARTZB ZBAUGH, H, P PRESID IDENT, CALIF IFORNIA A ARBORIST The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CASBO.
A B C and D of Trees in the School Yard Don Swartzbaugh President California Arborist
Trees in the School Yard Attractive Beneficial Direction
Attractive Add Color Break Monotony Soften Landscape Peaceful Setting
Beneficial • Shade • Wind shelter • Erosion control • Habitat wildlife • Add value to property …and even used to make play yard equipment
1990 – Towering Eucalyptus branch fell and killed a 4-year-old girl in a Highland Park school yard. Reason: tree had not been pruned or maintained in recent memory. 1998 – Eucalyptus tree fell onto a car stopped on the Pomona College campus in Claremont killing two Pomona College sophomores. Reason: roots weakened by heavy rainfall.
2015 – 85-foot Italian stone pine fell on a group of children and summer camp counselors in front of the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena. 8 children injured, 2 hospitalized in critical condition. Reason: poorly developed root system resulted in tree being inadequately anchored to the ground. Photos from Arborist Report: A—shows overview of root plate of failed Italian stone pine. The circled area is shown in Photo B B—shows lack of root crown indicated by the yellow dashed line and evidence of burn on the underside of the tree
2016 – Tree fell on a campus of the East Whittier School District and landed in front of a class room. This tree was approximately 60 years old, a volunteer, and had never been properly planted or maintained. Reason: combination of the drought and a compromised root system.
2016 – Eucalyptus tree fell on a wedding party taking pictures underneath it at Penn Park in Whittier. Injured 5 including a 4-year-old girl. Killed the mother of the bride. Reason: still under investigation.
COMMON CAUSES FOR CATASTROPHIC TREE EVENTS • Lack of maintenance • Inadequate water / too much water • Diseases and pests • Environmental factors • Pesticides
Direction Starting point – take an inventory of your trees • Location, type, size, health, risk • Keep it simple! Reassess each of the high risk trees • Identify the risk; e.g. dying, leaning, diseased, low - hanging branches, etc. • Document a recommendation to reduce the risk
Direction Develop a plan to address each of the high risk trees • Determine best resources…inside, contracted, partnership • Plan should include specific tree identification, location, actions to be taken, schedule, labor, special skills required, and reporting expectations
Direction Develop or augment existing maintenance plan to include the active management of the trees. Update the tree inventory with actions taken
QUESTIONS?
TITL TLE: TREES: AREAS O OF S SHADE O OR P POTE TENTIAL D DISASTE TER? SPEAKE KER: DON S SWARTZB ZBAUGH, H, P PRESID IDENT, CALIF IFORNIA A ARBORIST The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CASBO.
Recommend
More recommend
