The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
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August 14, 2009
Hyperspectral image of Milwaukee.
Courtesy of RFP Mapping LLC
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Planting Trees with Borrowed Money
- City Seeks Money for Trees - Austin Post-Bulletin
- Seattle Moves to Save Trees - Seattle PI
- Black & Decker Power Trimmer Recall
- Tires Made from Trees - Science Daily
Specifically Wisconsin
- Dr. Charles F. Koval Passes Away
- New Remote Sensing Technology Utilized in Wisconsin
- Arborist Sean Gere Promotes the Profession - Wisconsin State Journal
Emerald Ash Borer
- EAB Found in Kenosha
- EAB Invading Northeast WI -WBAY-TV
- EAB Impact Could Be Wide - WBAY-TV
- Impact Of EAB - WLUK-TV
- USDA EAB Website
- City adds EAB to List for Tree Removal - SCTimes.com
- Ash Trees and More-Utilization Newsletter
Tools For Your Job
- West Central Region Forest Pest Update
- Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic Update
- Job Opportunity-Part-time forest outreach position
- Job Opportunity-City Arborist - Franklin, IN
- Job Opportunity-USDA Forest Service
Conferences & Seminars
- DNR Urban Forestry Workshops
- 'Planning' Your Way to the Best Urban Forest
- Street Tree Master Planning - Webcast
Planting Trees with Borrowed Money
In an unprecedented move, the City of Worcester, MA wants to borrow money for planting new trees. The City Council authorized the city to file a home-rule petition with the Legislature, seeking permission to borrow money for a tree replacement program citywide to make up for the thousands of trees that have been lost from public ways because of the Asian longhorned beetle infestation and damage from a December ice storm.
Planting Trees with Borrowed Money [Exit DNR]
City Seeks Money for Trees - Austin Post-Bulletin
Austin, MN city officials hope to get $100,000 from the Hormel Foundation for projects next year to replace hundreds of trees lost in the June tornado. Kim Underwood, director of Austin's Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department, wrote in a letter to the foundation's board that, "We can be grateful that this tornado spared human tragedy," she stated. "Trees can be replaced but it's gaining back their value that will take many years."
Seeking Money for Trees [Exit DNR]
Seattle Moves to Save Trees - Seattle PI
The Seattle City Council passed two measures designed to protect trees in Seattle, a goal members said is not in conflict with plans to increase the number of people and buildings in the Emerald City as well. By two 8-0 votes the council approved a resolution directing the Department of Planning and Development to come up with tree protection legislation by May 2010 and an ordinance creating an Urban Forestry Commission to advise the mayor and City Council on tree issues.
Seattle Saves Trees [Exit DNR]
Black & Decker Power Trimmer Recall
Power tool maker Black & Decker is recalling about 200,000 grass trimmers because of safety concerns, according to federal officials. The GH1000 Grasshog XP String Trimmer/Edgers can cause "serious" lacerations and burns, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Tires Made from Trees - Science Daily
Automobile owners around the world may some day soon be driving on tires that are partly made out of trees – which could cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy.
Tree-Tire Connection [Exit DNR]
Dr. Charles F. Koval Passes Away
Dr. Charles F. Koval, professor emeritus, UW-Madison Department of Entomology passed away on Monday, August 3, 2009. Dr. Koval was an Honorary member of numerous organizations including the Wisconsin Arborist Association and Wisconsin Nursery Association and worked closely and was revered by many in the horticulture and turfgrass industries. Dr. Koval served as chair of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council from 1995-1996.
New Remote Sensing Technology Utilized in Wisconsin
For the first time, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a cutting-edge remote sensing technology, was applied to a species-specific forestry application.With the support of RFP Mapping LLC and its partners, David Sivyer, Forestry Services Manager for Milwaukee, WI, was able to map all of the ash trees within his jurisdiction. Read on to find out how the project was conceived and how the results are being put to work.
Why Hyperspectral Imaging?
- A remote sensing approach is fast and cost-effective
- All trees are surveyed, including residential areas
- Geospatial format streamlines outreach
- Data seamlessly integrates with existing GIS
Watch a video interview with Milwaukee Forestry Services Manager David Sivyer [Exit DNR]
Arborist Sean Gere Promotes the Profession - Wisconsin State Journal
Certified Arborist Sean Gere, owner of Gere Tree Care in Madison shares with readers of the Wisconsin State Journal what it means to be an arborist.
"What child doesn’t like to climb trees? I’ve loved climbing trees since I was 5 and now I get paid to climb and take care of these giant living organisms."
EAB Found in Kenosha
One adult EAB beetle was discovered on a survey trap on the east side of the city of Kenosha on Monday, August 10, 2009. The beetle was sent to federal identifiers on Tuesday, August 11, and subsequently confirmed as EAB on Wednesday, August 12. The beetle was discovered during a routine inspection of the trap.
EAB has been discovered so far in six Wisconsin counties, including the latest discovery in Kenosha County. The other counties are Brown, Crawford, Ozaukee, Vernon and Washington. EAB quarantines currently exist in Crawford, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Vernon and Washington counties. Quarantines are pending for Brown and Kenosha counties.
Additional information regarding EAB can be found on the web at www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
EAB Invading Northeast WI -WBAY-TV
City foresters are giving a gloomy outlook for the future of Northeast Wisconsin's millions of ash trees. A day after it's confirmed the Emerald Ash Borer is present in Green Bay, city and village foresters from around the region meet in Greenville...trying to get a handle on what's to come.
EAB in Northeast WI [Exit DNR]
EAB Impact Could Be Wide - WBAY-TV
Higher utility bills and a loss in property values. City foresters say that could be just some of the effects tied to the recent discovery of a tree-killing beetle in Green Bay. In fact, they expect the EAB will wipe out the majority of ash trees in most northeast Wisconsin neighborhoods. On Vista Circle in De Pere, ash trees are king.
Impact Of EAB - WLUK-TV
The emerald ash borer was recently found in Green Bay by state agriculture inspectors during a routine trap check along the Fox River. Only one adult emerald ash borer was found in the trap, but its discovery could mean others are already here. Many said they are concerned about what it will mean for popular, outdoor recreational activities.
USDA EAB Website
The new USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station EAB website is up and running! Check it out!
City adds EAB to List for Tree Removal - SCTimes.com
St. Cloud, MN City Council members unanimously approved adding the invasive Asian beetle to the list of infestations that would allow the city to condemn and remove a tree. "This is just devastating to the forestry community of St. Cloud and many other areas," City Council member Sonja Hayden Berg said.
Ash Trees and More-Utilization Newsletter
Ash Trees and More: Your Source for Urban Wood Use News is a report from the Southeast Michigan RC&D Council's Ash Utilization Options Project. For the last five years they have been helping local communities find value in their dead trees. They have been working to provide quality educational tools, workshops, grant opportunities, and demonstrations to help their region make sustainable choices that will help improve the local economy as well as the environment.
West Central Region Forest Pest Update
The latest area forest health update presented by Todd J. Lanigan.
Topics covered:
- Eastern Pineshoot Borer
- Fall Webworm
- Cherry Scallop Shell Moth
- Poplar Borer
- Pine Planting Failure
- White Pine Plantation Problem
WC Forest Rest Update [Exit DNR]
Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic Update
What plant diseases are appearing within Wisconsin landscapes? The UW-Extension/Madison Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic (PDDC) receives many plant samples from around the state. The following diseases/disorders have been identified at the PDDC since July 29, 2009:
Job Opportunity-Part-time forest outreach position
Town and Country Resource Conservation and Development, Inc is seeking candidates for the position of Emerald Ash Borer Public Outreach Coordinator. This is a part-time limited project position (20 hours a week /12 months) based at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office at Pike Lake Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest near Hartford, Wisconsin. Application deadline is August 31. Please see the attached job description for information and application instructions.
Job Opportunity-City Arborist - Franklin, IN
The City of Franklin, IN (20 miles south of Indianapolis) has a position open for City Arborist/Street Maintenance Worker. This is a regular, full-time, working supervisory position, requiring a combination of supervisory, public relations, clerical, and manual labor skills. The City Arborist/Street Maintenance Worker performs work individually as well as directing and/or exercising supervision.
Submit a completed City of Franklin Application for Employment to the City of Franklin Street Department Office, 951 Hamilton Ave., Franklin, IN 46131, by 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 21, 2009.
Job Opportunity-USDA Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service will soon be seeking candidates to fill the Assistant Director's position for the Urban and Community Forestry Program. Detailed information is provided in the attached document.
Anyone interested in applying for the position is asked to complete the brief form on the last page of the attachment and send it to rmonroe@fs.fed.us by close of business August 27th. For additional information contact: Paul Ries, Director, Cooperative Forestry, (202) 205-6283 or email at pries@fs.fed.us.
DNR Urban Forestry Workshops
DNR Urban Forestry Regional Coordinator have received inquiries about whether or not the DNR Urban Forestry program will be offering workshops again this fall as we've done every year since 1994 on topics such as tree planting, pruning, identification, risk assessment & pest diagnosis. Though we do plan to offer a set of workshops again, it's possible they may not occur until winter or spring. The workshops will further depart from our typical format in that there will likely be only 5 or 6 sites statewide rather than the usual 12-15, and they will be part of a suite of harvesting/utilization workshops for various audiences. Budget reductions, workload constraints and urgent needs related to emerald ash borer necessitate a different approach. The workshops for municipalities tentatively include:
- reviewing urban ash management guidelines (a soon-to-be-published document to assist municipalities with ash tree decisions)
- summary of EAB quarantine regulations and the compliance agreement process
- how-to's of traditional timber harvesting; timber sale contract basics; how to determine whether or not you have enough wood for a timber sale; where do you start; the timber sale process; how to have a successful timber sale; timber sale contract; hiring a consulting forester; etc.
- marketing options for ash: current, small niche and new emerging
- tips from harvest to product—how to cut, handle, and utilize logs in various ways
- skidding or moving logs from stump to centralized location; special handling or processing required for specific products, for safety or compliance? Waxing logs, sprinkling logs? Proper stacking/piling etc.
- processing options: how do you get the material into compliance?
Additional information on the workshops will be provided as it becomes available.
'Planning' Your Way to the Best Urban Forest
The Alliance for Community Trees will be hosting the webcast, 'Planning' Your Way to the Best Urban Forest, August 20 from 12 noon to 1:00 PM CST. The informal training provides an opportunity for community forestry practitioners to learn about successful programs and how they can be adapted to their communities. The August webcast features planners Jim Schwab, American Planning Association (Chicago, IL) and Cheryl Kollin, VP for Urban Ecosystems, American Forests (Washington, DC).
The physical framework of a community is called its infrastructure, and can be divided into two types: green and gray. Gray infrastructure refers to areas of buildings, roads, utilities, and parking lots; green infrastructure includes areas covered with trees, shrubs, and grass. A community can accurately measure its green infrastructure and calculate the public utility functions these areas perform. For local public policymakers making decisions affecting urbanization, the problem is not solely about planting more trees, but rather about balancing gray and green infrastructure.
Planning the Urban Forest [Exit DNR]
Street Tree Master Planning - Webcast
Join the Urban Natural Resources Institute on Wednesday, August 19th at 12 noon (Central) for a webcast introducing a new tool for urban forestry. Perhaps now more than ever for many communities, there’s a great opportunity to reevaluate and redesign streetscapes. Invasive pests and slim budgets are taking a toll on existing street trees and re-teaching us lessons about the dangers of dependency on a few species and not specifying the right plants for various sites.
An exciting, new publication, “The Road to a Thoughtful Street Tree Master Plan” was co-authored by Ken Simons, a landscape architect, and Gary Johnson, a professor of urban forestry, as a primer and guide of sorts for communities that have the opportunity to develop or change, yet may not have the expertise or background to do it effectively.
This webcast will serve as an introduction to the primer and its potential as a resource for communities that are striving to create more resilient street tree designs and programs.
Master Planning Webcast [Exit DNR]
More Conferences & Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest website.
About the Insider
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is intended as a quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin.
Items that cannot wait for our quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear here.
The Insider is produced biweekly by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Past issues will be archived on the UF pages on the WDNR web site.
We are happy to accept your suggestions and contributions. Send them to the editor, at Laura.Wyatt@Wisconsin.gov. Or call her: 608/267-0568.
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