The future of tree health is now

Tree management is an ecological science.

Collins, where many trees planted are not native to that ecosystem,” Herms said. While not native, “they are valuable trees, so we need management in response to increasing drought.”

It requires an ecosystem-level view and approach. Education is a big part of that.

Weather continues to change

Climate scientists have noted a change in weather patterns has increased storm intensity. Whether it’s a hurricane in the Southeast or fl oods in the West, weather events are becoming stronger and more damaging. With warming winters certain pest and insect populations, such as bark beetles, can grow. Colorado has seen this with mountain pine beetle. Professionals are anticipating greater effects and trying to get in front of increased threats to the landscape.

Wildfi res are also a great concern. As fi res become more frequent and more sustained, it’s important to fi nd better wildfi re abatement. Davey is involved in fi nding ways to mitigate the damage from wildfi res.

Using scientifi c models created by researchers, Davey can look ahead at the dangers trees will face in the future and work on programs and services to help them survive these new or intensifi ed threats.

Continuous education

“Tree management is an ecological science. It requires an ecosystem-level view and approach,” Herms said. “Education is a big part of that.”

To help increase understanding of the value of trees, Davey collaborated with the US Forest Service to create iTree, a suite of software that can be used to help manage tree inventory for a city. The forest service did the research to quantify the value and Davey developed the software. The scientifi c studies

detail the ecosystem services trees provide and the economic value of trees, which include: • Stormwater reduction • Carbon sequestration • Heating/cooling benefi ts of shade • Mitigating air pollution - fi ltering of particulates.

The suite includes software for homeowners and professionals alike and is available for free at www.itreetools.org.

It’s essential that the public understand the value of trees and the contribution trees make to the health of a community. More education helps people both understand potential tree problems to expect, and appreciate the purpose of services offered by professionals. | CG

Bielins-Hock project helps mitigate future flood damage

WSRI restores stability with bio-engineering and plants

By Joe Schneider

Left Hand Creek before construction

The unusual multi-day heavy rain event of September 2013 in Colorado, caused widespread flooding and subsequent evacuations through Front Range communities. Some areas received the equivalent of one year’s annual rainfall within a few days.

When flooding subsided, the impact was seen throughout the river and stream systems. New channel alignments and profiles, disconnected floodplains, unprotected infrastructure and unstable conditions were just a few of the significant changes that had occurred. Experts would later call it call a 1,000-year rain and a 100-year flood.

Without intervention, some of the newly

Coffer dam

Constructed soil lift

created conditions would negatively impact the function and overall sustainability of the rivers and streams. Affected municipalities began to identify and prioritize sections of rivers and streams that required treatment to mitigate future issues. The Bielins-Hock site in Boulder County was one of the sites identified as requiring treatment.

Located southwest of Longmont, on public land along the Longmont-to-Boulder (LoBo) Regional Trail, Bielins-Hock restoration project is an 850 linear foot stretch of Left Hand Creek. In March 2017, Boulder County hired Western States Reclamation, Inc. (WSRI) to provide professional construction services for the restoration of the site. Project goals were to stabilize streambanks, create a floodplain, restore the natural riparian ecosystem and protect adjacent and downstream infrastructure.

Soil lift construction

WSRI used several bio-engineering practices, including the installation of 850 linear feet of constructed soil lifts. The soil lifts provided new shape and stability to the stream banks as well as helped seed mixes, containerized plant material and live willow cuttings become established. The fabric of the soil lifts will degrade over time, and the root systems of the plants will begin to hold the new bank in place.