Month: April 2018

The long-awaited data layers for all cities in San Diego County are finally uploaded to SanGIS (in the “ecology” set).  Local GIS experts are working with arborists, planners, health professionals, and communities to map and analyze the data. Please join us for a workshop on Wednesday morning, June 6 at the War-Memorial Building in Balboa Park, same location as the two workshops in 2016. Register at https://treecanopy-june6.eventbrite.com.   

• How do I use maps to see the trees in my community?
• How can professionals use tree canopy layers for plans and projects?
• Where can trees be planted to improve public health, provide ecosystem services, and meet Climate Action Plans?

Draft agenda:

• 9:30 Registration, coffee, and introductions
• 10:00 Recap of workshops in April and October 2016 (data collection and results)
• 10:15 Tree canopy data analysis (results and how to access and use data)
• 10:45 Tree canopy maps, where are the trees and where can more be planted (how to access and use maps)
• 11:00 Break
• 11:15 Case study with District 8 (City of San Diego)
• 11:40 Trees, shade and cooling, and public health benefits
• 11:50 Interim report and next steps
• 12:00 Adjourn

The data layers for all cities in San Diego County are available at SanGIS (San Diego Geographic Information Source, www.sangis.org). Access to data is free, more information at http://www.sangis.org/download/index.html.  The layers are in the “Ecology” section, all named as TREECANOPY.  

Workshops were held on April 5 and October 5, 2016 (also at the War-Memorial Building), attended by 60 and 110 colleagues on the respective dates. University of Vermont scientist Jarlath O’Neill-Dunne outlined the planned assessment and share preliminary results. Since then, the data has been transferred to SanGIS; the City of San Diego is developing maps to display the tree canopy with other map layers; and scientists at UCSD are analyzing the data from a regional perspective.  The turnover of City Forester caused some delay, as Jeremy Barrick took a job in his home state of Minnesota, and Brian Widener started as City Forester in September 2017. A report will be prepared after the workshop, to include analyses and how to access and use the tree canopy layers.

The Mayor’s proposed FY 2019 budget for the City of San Diego was released on April 12, and funding reductions are again proposed for urban forestry. Please help us restore the shade tree pruning and tree planting funds, and add essential urban forestry professionals.

Trees are a critical, very underfunded, and unrecognized element of the Mayor’s three budget goals to “put neighborhoods first, create a better quality of life for all communities, and maintain restored services throughout the city.” (from FY 2019 budget webpage, https://www.sandiego.gov/fm/proposed/). Trees contribute directly to all three!

Please join us in the “Save the Tree Budget” campaign. Send messages to Mayor and Council to fund tree care.

• Restore $900,000 for shade tree pruning.
• Continue $300,000 for “free tree” initiative.
• Add $200,000 for two urban forestry professionals.

Send messages to KevinFaulconer@sandiego.gov, myrtlecole@sandiego.gov, barbarabry@sandiego.gov, chrisward@sandiego.gov, markkersey@sandiego.gov, loriezapf@sandiego.gov, scottsherman@sandiego.gov, davidalvarez@sandiego.gov, georgettegomez@sandiego.gov, slomedico@sandiego.gov, KMcFadden@sandiego.gov, kreeser@sandiego.gov (with cc to afege@sdrufc.com)

How will San Diegans benefit from Tree Budget restoration?

1. Trees are a critical, very underfunded, and unrecognized element of the Mayor’s three strategic budget goals to “put neighborhoods first, create a better quality of life for all communities, and maintain restored services throughout the city.” Trees contribute directly to all three!
2. The “free tree program” is a small but visible and measurable implementation step for the Climate Action Plan.
3. Urban forestry professionals provide quality oversight of tree contracts, inspect and protect trees, and respond to tree complaints. Fifteen staff are needed to implement the Five-year Urban Forest Management Plan, and there are currently seven staff.

What are the impacts of the budget cuts?

1. Shade tree pruning maintains tree health and increases tree canopy for climate action. Scheduled tree inspection and pruning can immediately reduce litigation payments for tree damage.
2. “Free tree” program was set up in FY 2018, with outreach, process to request trees, and contract planting of 2,000 trees. If discontinued, the momentum and future tree canopy investments will be lost.
3. There simply is insufficient capacity to respond to tree complaints, issues, and inspections. This will (and does) cause more tree losses and increases City exposure to liabilities and lawsuits,
4. Contract oversight to ensure quality work to prune, inspect, replace, and preserve existing trees is jeopardized by having only one (very qualified and competent) field arborist.
5. The Invasive Shot Hole Borer is spreading locally, one of several tree pests that need to be evaluated and addressed by the City’s urban forestry professionals.
6. Budget direction includes transfer of code compliance officer position, which shifts but does not add staff.

Transportation & Storm Water proposed FY 2019 budget, https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/fy19pb_v2tsw.pdf .

For more information, contact Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., Chair, Community Forest Advisory Committee for City of San Diego, afege@sdrufc.com.

• Carson Crossing to the Waterfall, northside
• Waterfall to Sycamore Crossing, northside
• Sycamore to West End, northside
• Ridgewood Community Park to I-15 and Cara Knot Way and Memorial Garden (half done), southside
• Pump Station east to the dam
• Dam east to Trailhead near Waterpoint
• Trailhead east to Springbrook southside
• Springbrook east to Springhurst southside
• PQ Creek Crossing east to ranch  house (if County not taking responsibility)

• Trailhead at west end to Old Lopez Rd\
• Old Lopez Road to Lopez Ridge Park
• Lopez Ridge Park to Montongo St.