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Centennial council approves grant-funded hazard-tree work along High Line Canal
Summary
The Centennial City Council approved intergovernmental agreements to use an Arapahoe County grant and a SEMSWA match to remove and prune hazardous trees along the five-mile city portion of the High Line Canal, citing public-safety and flood-risk concerns.
The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-18 to accept a $343,000 Arapahoe County grant and execute intergovernmental agreements with Arapahoe County Open Space and the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) to complete a hazard-tree mitigation project along the city’s five-mile portion of the High Line Canal.
City staff said the work targets trees identified as risks to the trail and adjoining property, and will be carried out by a contractor overseen by SEMSWA. Jenny Holney, Centennial’s community development director, told council the city applied in partnership with SEMSWA after Arapahoe County’s pilot grant program opened last year and that the total project cost is $402,000, including a $59,000 match from SEMSWA.
The project follows a 2022 tree assessment of the canal property. Ashley Beyerly, environmental resources manager with SEMSWA, summarized the assessment and said, “The bottom line for the trees in the city is that they're in a state of decline.” The assessment covered about 926 trees in Centennial; staff said roughly 68% were cottonwoods and that 63 medium-hazard trees remain: 35 are recommended for pruning (estimated $3,800 per tree) and 28 for removal (estimated $7,500 per tree). Beyerly told council Denver Water mitigated the highest-hazard trees last year and that remaining work focuses on medium-hazard trees within Centennial’s limits.
Council members asked how the $402,000 budget is allocated and who owns other canal segments. In response, staff and SEMSWA explained the per-tree cost math and said Denver Water still owns roughly 30 miles of the canal; Arapahoe County Open Space and SEMSWA will coordinate work on the county-owned sections. Council member Carnes pressed for the budget breakdown; Beyerly and Holney explained pruning and removal cost estimates and the grant/match structure. Council member Scholl flagged the prospect of recurring tree declines and asked about replanting plans; Holney and Beyerly said the conservancy and county have separate planting programs to replace removed trees with more water-wise species.
Staff said the work is expected to occur in August, and that property-owner notifications have not yet been issued; Holney said staff will coordinate notifications with the conservancy and county. The resolution authorizes the city to receive the grant funds from Arapahoe County and pass them through to SEMSWA, which will oversee contractor work on the ground.
Mayor Pro Tem Sutherland moved approval of Resolution 2025-R-18, and Council member Alston seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 roll call; the motion carried.
The council discussion distinguished between the tree assessment findings and the formal action: staff presented the assessment and funding plan, answered council questions about costs, ownership, and notification, and the council then approved the IGAs to implement the mitigation project. No property-specific contracts or construction schedules beyond “August” were adopted at the meeting.
