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

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 the former 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.

Tree Population Metrics

144 Trees 17 Species 18 Trees Identified for Potential Protection

Total
30 27 25 23 19 17 15 10 10 8 5 1 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 Total

20

10 5 5

Tree Diameter Distribution

American Elm 7 Ash Black Cherry 6 Black Walnut Boxelder Maple 5 Callery Pear Catalpa 4 Crabapple Dead 3 Dogwood E. Redcedar 2 Goldenraintree Hackberry 1 Tree of Heaven Hackberry Dead Boxelder Maple American Elm 39 48 Mulberry Siberian Elm Silver Maple Tree of Heaven Yellow Poplar

0 5 8 12 16 18 21 24 26 30

Tree Condition Rating Distribution

18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 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 1 1 4 3 14 3 12 5 1 1 1 1 1 13 16 4 17 5 1 3 2 1 4 1 6 2 3

American Elm Ash Black Cherry Black Walnut Good 1 Fair Poor 4 1 5 1 5 1 Dead Boxelder Maple Callery Pear Catalpa Crabapple Dead Dogwood E. Redcedar Goldenraintree Hackberry Mulberry Siberian Elm Silver Maple Tree of Heaven Yellow Poplar

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.

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 marked with 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 with proper 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.

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.

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 state government, 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 Redbud Smoketree Dogwood Arborvitae MEDIUM TREES Honeylocust Sweetbay Magnolia Littleleaf Linden Yellowwood LARGE TREES Sycamore White Oak Blackgum 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 of the 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.

iTree Analysis
Urban foresters manage trees to provide people with a diversity of benefits beyond their aesthetic appeal. These benefits are related to air quality, water quality, and climate change and are often referred to as environmental benefits, or ecosystem services. The U.S. Forest Service developed a software program, known as iTree, which estimates environmental services associated with trees growing in developed areas. Data collected during the Black Leaf project was analyzed using iTree Streets. Current Environmental Services of Trees Surveyed in Park Hill Average Annual Benefits: Replacement Value:
Replacement Value of Public Trees by Species DBH Class (in) Species Mulberry Tree of heaven Siberian elm Silver maple American elm Catalpa Black walnut Black cherry Boxelder Flowering dogwood White ash Eastern red cedar Goldenrain tree Tulip tree Apple Callery pear Citywide total 0-3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3-6 0.00 0.00 278.74 0.00 0.00 329.06 329.06 283.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 297.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,518.14 6-12 12-18 18-24 24-30 30-36 36-42 >42 Total 2,398.84 8,933.17 9,174.29 1,975.29 0.00 7,089.91 3,928.94 33,500.44 2,289.34 6,252.71 1,981.69 1,478.27 2,087.56 5,258.72 2,910.95 22,259.24 381.56 4,376.90 3,963.37 2,956.54 6,262.67 2,629.36 0.00 20,849.14 1,236.06 3,583.32 1,173.63 7,131.66 2,544.52 9,665.32 0.00 25,334.51 2,837.70 2,698.35 4,617.60 2,392.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 12,545.85 558.06 3,302.63 5,745.31 3,000.74 0.00 5,564.53 0.00 18,500.33 0.00 4,403.51 7,660.42 0.00 4,357.79 0.00 0.00 16,750.77 824.04 3,583.32 0.00 1,782.91 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,473.78 945.90 1,798.90 1,539.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,284.00 0.00 0.00 2,058.37 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,058.37 0.00 0.00 1,682.47 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,682.47 0.00 486.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 486.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 297.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,696.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,696.84 604.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 604.40 519.29 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 519.29 12,595.19 39,419.61 39,596.34 23,414.45 15,252.53 30,207.84 6,839.89 168,844.00

$10,665 $168,844

Average Annual Benefits of Public Trees by Species Air Stormwat Aesthetic Energy CO2 Quality er /Other Total ($) 249.45 29.52 85.81 914.56 1,063.23 2,342.56 205.91 27.26 70.27 542.38 755.17 1,601.00 166.17 26.67 69.87 669.68 848.17 1,780.57 154.95 25.83 53.09 543.51 520.54 1,297.92 69.28 15.94 29.92 287.55 663.60 1,066.29 92.75 13.01 31.63 249.19 323.03 709.61 58.21 12.49 28.54 226.93 304.28 630.44 62.01 10.74 21.15 157.94 337.76 589.60 36.29 4.27 11.78 103.26 198.42 354.01 35.70 5.59 13.70 119.01 118.52 292.52 1,130.71 171.31 415.76 3,814.02 5,132.72 10,664.52 Standard % of Error Total $ (0) 21.97 (0) 15.01 (0) 16.70 (0) 12.17 (0) 10.00 (0) 6.65 (0) 5.91 (0) 5.53 (0) 3.32 (0) 2.74 (0) 100.00

Species Mulberry Tree of heaven Siberian elm Silver maple American elm Catalpa Black walnut Black cherry Boxelder OTHER STREET TREES CITYWIDE TOTAL

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 extend their 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.

Small Trees
# STREET TREES

Medium Trees
# STREET TREES

Large Trees
# STREET TREES

YEARS OF GROWTH

20
Enter only multiples of 5, from 5-40

# YARD TREES

# YARD TREES

# YARD TREES

EAST SOUTH WEST

EAST SOUTH WEST

EAST SOUTH WEST 144

SMALL TREE BENEFITS

$0

MEDIUM TREE BENEFITS

$0

LARGE TREE BENEFITS

$179,489

Energy Savings
Cooling Heating kWh 368,640.00 therms (24,192.00)

$25,068 ($23,539) $9,871 $2,818 $1,464 $1,403 $8,700 $1,126 $138 $461 $75,859 $76,579
Street Trees refers to # of trees planted in public right of way Yard Trees refers to # of trees planted on private, residential property and the aspect of the side of the building the tree is planted near. If you don't know the aspect, use EAST for private property trees. Years of Growth refers to the # of years in the future you want to calculate benefits

Climate Effect
Energy Use CO2 O3 NO SO SPM <10 microns VOC's BVOC's kWh lbs
1,267,200.00

Carbon Sequestration
843,840.00

Air Pollution Mitigation

lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs lbs
gallons

Total Cumulative Benefits All Trees $179,950

1,785.60 1,710.72 5,800.32 1,137.60 1,137.60 460.80

12643200

Hydrology
Rainwater Capture

Aesthetics
Property Value
$$ 76579.2

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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 20 BL43 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

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