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i <br /> I <br /> Removal f Hazardous Trees Scheduled in Downtown Area <br /> Four ince a cedar trees with extensive internal decay are scheduled to be removed from the <br /> downtown area in late November. The 60- to 100-foot-tall trees are located in the West Park <br /> block, on he west side of Oak Street and the south side of Eighth Avenue. City tree <br /> maintenan a staff will remove them during the week of November 28. <br /> The trees ere examined by Mari Kramer, the acting forestry agent for the local office of <br /> the OSU tension Service, and by Jan Staszewski, the City's urban forester. Both tree <br /> I~ experts ag eed that four of the 16 trees in the park blocks are in hazardous condition due to <br /> it extensive rown rot and other unsafe conditions, such as open cavities, broken tops, and <br /> weakened op limbs. Most likely, high winds or heavy accumulations of snow or ice caused <br /> the origina tops of these trees to break off, allowing decay-causing fungus to enter the <br /> heartwood. The evaluations found two of the trees with hazard ratings of 8 and two of the <br /> trees with azard ratings of 9. The trees were ranked using a hazard rating scale of 1 to 9, <br /> with 9 ra ed the most hazardous. <br /> During the inspections, signs of brown rot were found in the remaining 12 trees in the park <br /> blocks. O e of these trees may have to be removed and replaced within two years due to <br /> ~I advancing ecay. Other trees may need to be removed and replaced over the next 15 to 20 <br /> <br /> ~ years as th rot slowly progresses through their trunks. There are no cures or preventive <br /> measures at can be taken to stem the advancement of the decay. <br /> Four eight oot-tall incense cedars will be planted to replace the trees being removed this <br /> year. Ince se cedars generally have a long life and, with reasonable care, the replanted trees <br /> should last 100 years or more. Unless young trees are damaged, the fungus should not be <br /> ~ transmitted to the new trees. <br /> The comm pity will receive information about the tree removal through a number of ways. <br /> The trees ill be posted on November 18, and a booth will be staffed at the Saturday Market <br /> ~I on Novem er 19 to provide information about the tree removal and the NeighborWoods <br /> program. his is the last scheduled Saturday Market of the year. A news release will be <br /> sent out N vember 18, and downtown businesses with a view of the park block are scheduled <br /> to receive ' formation on November 21. <br /> For more i formation about the tree removal, contact Jan Staszewski or Bob Hammitt at 687- <br /> 5220. <br /> I <br /> i <br /> ~I <br /> ~ C ~~sc <br /> <br />