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• <br /> 2. Replanting the park with native species in the right places can be accomplished without a irrigation <br /> system given water is provided during a three year establishment period. Without replacing the irrigation <br /> system additional trees not accustomed to dry summers will decline and possibly die. If there is no <br /> irrigation system, these trees would need to be replaced by native species or species that due well in heavy <br /> soil and a lack of summer water. <br /> WESTMORELAND PARK <br /> Many of the Coast Pine trees in this park are dead with a few other trees like Birch and Red Maples that <br /> are in decline. The Coast Pine is not well suited to the heavy clay soils of this park and their health <br /> problems are mainly due to site conditions. They have been further stressed by infection with a bark borer <br /> that has damaged these trees leaving many of them dead. These trees would have possibly done slightly <br /> better with consistent irrigation but watering isn't the primary cause of their poor condition. The Birch and <br /> the Red Maples, in decline, were accustomed to summer irrigation and they do much better with it. <br /> The following are my conclusions and recommendations for the trees in this park. <br /> 1. If the Coast Pines are replaced, the replacement tree should be a Ponderosa Pine or another evergreen <br /> tree that can adapt and grow in the heavy clay soils without summer water. I would recommend the <br /> removal of all of the Coast Pines in the park even if they are not yet dead. It would present a better public <br /> image to remove them now and replace with a species that will grow well on this site. This would allow us <br /> to remove a source of insects that may spread to additional trees as well. <br /> 2. Without irrigation, the replacement trees should be species that grow well in heavy clay soils and do <br /> not need summer irrigation like Green or White Ash. If the irrigation system is replaced and functions <br /> effectively, the replacement trees can be selected from a wider list that is only limited by type of soil. <br /> For the most part the trees in decline in these parks will not become healthy trees again if the irrigation <br /> systems are turned back on. They are simply too far into decline to be revived. The Red Maple, Birches, <br /> and perhaps a few Cherries may show some minor improvement in health with regular summer water. <br /> I hope this information is useful to you. Let me know if you need further information or assistance in these <br /> parks. Thanks Scott <br /> Page 2 <br />