Urban Tree Inventory
With the increased threat to urban forests across the state of Idaho from invasive pests such as Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the need for Inventory Based Community Forestry Master Plans in our communities is greater than ever.
Tree inventories allow a community to determine the value, economic and environmental benefits of individual trees or the entire urban forest. They aid in planting plans, help in engineering and identifying planting spaces, and allow us to diversify the species of trees growing in the community. Tree inventories can also be an indispensable tool for preparing for and managing the threat of invasive pests like EAB.
By definition, a tree inventory is a detailed accounting of all publicly owned trees within a community, usually keyed to a specific location like a street address, block or GPS coordinate. Information such as size, condition, species, maintenance, tree health needs, and even site information such as the existence of overhead lines or if the tree is causing sidewalk damage can be included in an inventory.
The development of a tree inventory is something that should be included in every Comprehensive Plan with a goal to more strategically address possible infrastructure issues by maximizing the benefits from the urban forest. Trees reduce the amount of storm water that goes to treatment facilities, prolong the life of asphalt and decrease energy consumption with their shade, and provide many other quantifiable benefits to the city.
When considered simply as a visual amenity, trees lose considerable value. When we consider the quantifiable benefits that save other infrastructure costs and improve the environment and economy, an investment in the urban forest begins to make very good sense (and cents).
Tree inventories can be expensive to develop, and because trees grow or are removed and replaced, inventories will require regular updates and maintenance, or they soon become obsolete.
A city can complete a tree inventory for between $1.00 and $1.50 per tree by hiring a qualified college intern or other person with the education and experience necessary to complete data collection. In 2014, the City of Blackfoot completed an inventory of trees located on all publicly owned property. The intern collected data on more than 3300 trees with a compensation of $3165.00.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) program makes available to Idaho communities a tree inventory program called TreePlotter™. The comprehensive cloud based program is a product of PlanIT GEO and IDL maintains a license with them to provide user profiles for up to 50 Idaho municipalities.
 A screen shot of the Treeplotter tree inventory platform, showing the Douglas fir in Coeur d'Alene
Tree inventories are a crucial element in understanding and managing urban forests, many Idaho communities are rural with limited community resources and services and therefore do not have systematic, detailed records of green infrastructure resources. With invasive pests on the doorsteps of Idaho, it has become necessary for communities to have a clear picture of their urban forests.
Public tree inventories provide city managers with critical data to assist in developing management plans that assess risk potential, inform invasive pest response planning, build species diversity, create equity of service, and identify and assess management issues to improve urban forest resilience and health.
You can visit the Idaho TreePlotter Tree Inventory here and view some of the progress being made building the database in many of our communities across the state.
Fall Tree Care
"Do the Rot Thing"
As long as Americans love their landscapes, yard waste will be generated. In fact, many municipalities have too much of it. Many Idaho cities and counties do not have a collection program for green waste and it forms a high percentage of trash disposed of in landfills. Reducing the amount of solid waste entering landfills is an important reason to recycle yard wastes at home. Your efforts benefit the entire community, and they ultimately benefit your landscape.
This autumn, plan to recycle leaves instead of raking and bagging them and putting them by the curb to be removed with the trash. Where there is only a light layer of leaves, you can shred the leaves with your lawnmower and leave them on the lawn to decompose.
Like lawn clippings, decomposed leaves form water holding humus and add nutrients to the lawn reducing fertilizer and water needs. When grass clippings or leaves become heavy enough to warrant removal from the lawn, compost them instead of sending them to the landfill. Do the “Rot Thing”, and improve your garden soils for better root growth.
When performing fall pruning, rent a chipper and turn waste wood into valuable mulch that will help to retain water around your trees, reduce weed growth, and make your garden more attractive. If you don’t have a large amount of limbs and branches to chip, organize a neighborhood project and share expenses and labor with the neighbors.
Larger diameter branches can be used as firewood to reduce heating costs this winter, or turned into valuable lumber for furniture, fencing, or other wood products. If you have no fireplace, consider giving the wood to a friend or needy family, or selling it and using the money to buy a new tree to plant.
 Mulch and leaves can be reused throughout the landscape and garden to promote healthy soils and discourage weed growth. Photo credit M Perkins
Don’t forget to deeply water your trees before winter sets in. A good soaking before frost enters the ground will help the tree avoid desiccation (drying out) of the growth the tree put on this year. It also helps support an actively growing root system. Most root expansion happens after the leaves fall from the tree. Roots aren’t busy supporting leaves and tree growth in the fall and so grow fastest when the top of the tree is dormant. If we have a dry, warm winter, water once a month throughout the season.
For more information about the benefits of using mulch in the garden and landscape, check out this great resource: The Garden Professors
Idaho Power 26 Years as a "Tree Line USA"
This year, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Urban and Community Forestry Program was happy to recognize Idaho Power for 26 years as a Tree Line USA utility. Providers like Idaho Power must follow five core standards to receive this recognition. Currently Idaho Power is the only utility service provider in Idaho to earn this status, and they are one of 145 Tree Line USA utilities nationwide that combined, serve nearly 90 million customers.
Vegetation Management and Line Maintenance Engineering Leader Brett Van Patten, P.E. said, "we are extremely proud to be part of this initiative. Our successful vegetation management efforts would not be possible without the professionalism and outstanding work our employees and contractors do every day".
Idaho Power contributes to IDL's Arbor Day Grant program providing funds to cities across the state to help them celebrate Arbor Day. The events engage members of the public from all age groups in the simple but powerful act of planting a tree.
 Contrary to the expression on Ron Mahler's face... (second from left) haha! Idaho Power was proud to receive recognition for 26 years as a TreeLine USA. Photo credit - Sven Berg
Municipal Foresters Institute 2022
Each year IDL sponsors two Idaho candidates with scholarships to attend the "Municipal Foresters Institute" (MFI). This year the workshop was held at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
MFI was developed by a team of urban forestry professionals and educators with many years of experience in leading local, state, federal and non-profit level urban forestry programs.
The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) puts on the intense week long program that combines presentations from experienced instructors, small group discussions, exercises, and real life problem solving sessions. The program is designed specifically to help people who plan manage and administer urban forestry programs become more effective leaders and managers.
Chance Munns (left), Twin Falls, ID Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, and ISA Certified Arborist discussing urban forestry issues with a member from his peer group at MFI 2022.
Photo generously provided by SMA MFI
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Casey Branning (left), Boise Community Forestry Urban Forestry Specialist/Inspector and ISA Certified Arborist discussing an assignment with members from his peer group at MFI 2022.
Photo generously provided by SMA MFI
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Past MFI classes have included over 500 city foresters, municipal arborists, planners, tree wardens, state urban forestry staff, municipal tree advocates and non-profit program managers from all over the nation.
 Society of Municipal Foresters Municipal Forestry Institute Class of 2022. Photo credit Karla Nagy
Tree Tips:
Artistic Afterlife: "Diver Down!"
A personal note from Matthew Perkins
 A few weeks ago I was in northern Idaho visiting with the urban forestry programs and came across this tree sculpture at Sandpoint City Hall. It really struck a chord with me.
When trees finally move on to the great forest in the sky and the space they occupy is no longer viable for a new tree due to limited growing space or other unfavorable conditions, one option to consider is turning the old tree into a piece of public art.
This type of tree art can be part of a greater effort to find sustainable end uses for wood that is generated by the trees in our urban forests.
I would love to see more of this kind of art throughout urban forests. I believe it is a viable option for carbon sequestration. Rather than turning the tree into firewood, it can continue to beautify the city streetscape and help raise awareness of the different uses for urban wood.
For more information about the effort to find sustainable end uses for urban wood visit: Urban Wood Network or visit the Idaho Chapter of the Urban Wood Network here.
Calendar of Events
Regional
PNW ISA - Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Renewal on-line training workshop Dec 9. Register here.
Arbor Day Foundation 2022 Partners in Community Forestry Conference - Seattle, WA, Nov 16-17 with partnering events on Nov 15.
North Idaho
Spokane Conservation District – Farm & Food Symposium Regenerative Ag, Nov 9-10
Inland Tree Conference - presented by Spokane Conservation District Jan 5-6
Kaniksu Land Trust/ Pine Street Woods - Ties to the Land Workshop , Nov 5
"Get Plowed" fundraising event at Pine Street Woods Nov10
Post Falls, ID - PNW ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) Course February 6-8. Register here.
Post Falls, ID - University of Idaho Forestry Shortcourse - multiple dates. More information here.
Central Idaho
Moscow, ID - University of Idaho Master Gardener class schedules
Moscow, ID - Heritage Orchard Conference Series Nov16
Moscow, ID - Turning Trees into Wreaths Nov 18
Lewiston, ID - Lewis Clark State College Arboretum Tree Tour
Southwest Idaho
Boise, ID - Boise City of Trees Challenge on-going learn more here
Boise, ID - Boise Tree Captains on-going series learn more here
Boise, ID - City of Trees Master Naturalist series (see the volunteer section)
Boise, ID - City of Boise Parks and Recreation Horticulture series. Free classes register here
Boise, ID - Idaho Botanical Gardens events calendar
Boise, ID - Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) 2023 Horticulture Expo Jan 18-20
Boise, ID - Idaho Municipal Arborists Meeting @ INLA Hort . Expo, Jan 19
Nampa, ID - Tree Care Classes (date & time tbd)
Southeast Idaho
Wood River Valley - Sawtooth Botanical Gardens events calendar
Various cities - Idaho Power Shade Tree Program Fall enrollment is open for the following counties: Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls. Follow this link to learn more Idaho Power Shade Trees.
Other great resources:
https://www.treestuff.com/webinars
USDA Forest Service Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/products/multimedia/webinars/urbanforestconnections
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