Bowie staff to remove 15 diseased beech trees along Bel Air Drive after safety review

City of Bowie staff reported to the City Council on Oct. 6 that 15 American beech trees lining Bel Air Drive will be removed in a phased approach after disease and structural assessments identified a public‑safety risk. The staff presentation identified brittle cinder fungus affecting 11 trees and four additional trees judged structurally unstable; staff recommended removing one particularly risky tree adjacent to the Bel Air Stables as Phase 1, followed by removal of the remaining identified trees in Phase 2.

City forester Paul Schutz told the council, “Over 50 American beech trees line Bel Air Drive from Spangler Lane to Sunway,” and that the city had inventoried each specimen with metal tags. He said brittle cinder fungus is a root and trunk rot that “can cause sudden tree failure” and “it cannot be treated.” Bartlett Tree researchers attending the meeting noted an additional, spreading threat: beech leaf disease, caused by foliar nematodes.

The city’s plan calls for targeted removals to reduce immediate hazards, a replacement plan that would use two to three alternate species, and a schedule of preventative treatment if needed. Dr. Kevin Chase of Bartlett Tree Experts described the limits of available treatments for beech leaf disease: “If we wanted to keep beech trees forever … we would be talking about doing 4 chemical applications a year, for every single young beech tree planted.” He added that brittle cinder fungus typically enters through wounds and that stump and chip removal will be used to limit spread.

Why it matters: Council members framed the item as a public‑safety decision that also affects neighborhood character and the historic approach to the mansion near the stables. Several council members asked staff to prioritize communications so residents understand the safety rationale and replacement strategy before removals occur. Mayor Adams and Councilman Estab said the city will “saturate” its media channels and post signage “before they actually do the cutting.”

Budget and timelines: Staff gave an estimated treatment schedule and cost for beech leaf disease—treatment is planned for July–August 2026 with an estimated cost of $39,000. Staff also presented an estimated removal and replacement cost of $43,000 for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 removals. During Q&A a staff member later stated a per‑tree replacement-and-maintenance figure of $5,000 for the group of trees; the presentation materials and verbal answers did not reconcile those totals. The transcript records both figures; staff did not provide a single consolidated final budget in the meeting.

Replacement approach and species: Staff proposed diversifying species to limit future disease vulnerability rather than replanting all beeches. Species identified in the presentation for consideration included white oak, black gum, northern red oak, shagbark hickory, American hornbeam and red maple. Bartlett and city staff recommended two to three species be used in the replacement planting.

Community and next steps: Councilmembers pressed for extensive advance notice and resident engagement. Councilman Estab asked staff to coordinate communications and provide opportunities for residents to ask questions; the city manager and staff committed to social‑media, newsletter, and signage outreach and to post clear timelines before work begins. No formal council vote to authorize removals was recorded during the meeting; staff presented the plan and received direction to proceed with detailed planning and public notice.

Ending: Staff said tree removals and replacement are being proposed in phases with public notification ahead of work; they will return with more detailed scheduling, cost reconciliation, and outreach plans before any removal begins.