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Tree operations report: 10 removals, 41 safety prunes; staff monitoring spotted lanternfly
Summary
City tree operations removed 10 trees and performed 41 safety prunes in the reporting period; staff said they have not seen a spike in tree-of-heaven infestations this season but will remove city-owned trees if infested and continue monitoring.
Chris Torrey, tree operations staff for Norwalk, reported to the Public Works Committee on July 1 that crews removed 10 trees in the reporting period — seven on public property, two in parks and one on school property — and completed 41 safety prunes (33 in city right-of-way, three on school property and five in parks).
Torrey said the total removals were lower than past months and that crews have not observed a surge of tree-of-heaven infestations this season compared with last year. Committee members raised questions about spotted lanternfly nymphs and management; Torrey said the city will remove problematic city-owned trees and encouraged constituents to report infestations. "If there is a tree of heaven in your district and your constituents reach out, we certainly will take it down if it's on city property," Torrey said. He noted that only one inch of a tree within city right-of-way qualifies it as a city tree covered under the municipal tree ordinance.
The committee heard that the city is not insured to perform tree work on private property, and tree removals on private lots require private contractors unless the tree encroaches on city right-of-way. Torrey said staff will continue tracking conditions this season and will provide updates if removal needs increase.
