Street Tree Inventory Report

1
Street Tree Inventory Report
Shenandoah, Texas

• Presented by
• John Warner, CF
• Urban District Forester
• Texas Forest Service
• Conroe, TX
• September, ?? 2007

2
System Basics

• Texas Community Tree Inventory system (TXCTI)
• Based on MCTI and STRATUM models developed by the
  USDA Forest Service

• Sample of street trees
• Focused on basics (species, size, safety)
• Counts what isnt there (planting sites)

3
Methods

• 5-15 random sample of street segments
• Uses TIGER files or local GIS layer

• Attach image or close-up of blockside for field
  crew

• For Shenandoah, 100 of blocksides surveyed

4
Methods

• Survey strategy
• TFS Forester collects data, in cooperation with
  municipality, tree board volunteers, or other
  local group

• Depending on sample mileage, 1-3 crews can finish
  in a day or two.

5
Methods

• Data collected
• Species

• Size (6 classes)

• Condition

• Maintenance needs

• Clearance/safety
• Planting sites

6
Results

• Statistics
• N/A for Shenandoah actual tree counts provided

• Stocking

• 999 total street trees
• 73 stocking

• Up to 566 public planting spots
• Up to 292 private planting spots

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Results

• Species

• 38 total
• Top five species make up two-thirds of trees
• Crapemyrtle is most common non-native species

• Genus

• Pines and oaks make up over half of trees

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Results

• Size

• Over 50 young trees
• Only four (4) old trees
• Loblolly pine, water oak, and sweetgum are
  maturing

9
Results

• Condition

• Two-thirds of trees are in good condition
• 27 of trees rate as fair
• Few poor or dead trees

10
Results

• Maintenance

• 59 need routine care
• 36 need training
• 40 trees need removal

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Results

• Clearance

• Only three (3) trees obstruct traffic signals or
  signs
• Only eight (8) trees have limbs that encroach
  into safety zones over streets

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Results

• Replacement Value

• Total value is almost 1 million
• 981 average
• Crapemyrtle values are low (98/tree)
• Loblolly pine values will increase dramatically
  over time

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Recommendations

• Short-term (1-3 yrs.)

• Plant species other than pines

• Train staff to prune young trees

• Craft a public tree ordinance

• Conduct annual Arbor Day event

• Attain Tree City USA status

• Long-term
• GIS inventory of public trees

• Street tree master plan

• Create green infrastructure funding mechanism

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Next Step?