Residents, conservation groups urge 12-inch tree-protection threshold in Century Code update

On Monday, July 7, during the public comment portion of an Eau Claire City Council meeting, residents and conservation advocates urged the council to adopt a 12-inch diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) threshold for tree protection in the Century Code update, saying an 18-inch threshold would protect fewer than one in five mature urban trees.

The appeals came from a range of speakers, including neighborhood residents, members of local conservation groups and a university student. Jane Moller, chair of the Chippewa Valley Biodiversity Partnership, said she reviewed urban forestry research and found that “most of Eau Claire's mature urban trees fall between 10 inches and 24 inches … trees 18 inches and above account for less than 20% of our urban forest.” She added that a single 12-inch tree “removes 70% more air pollution, 1,500 gallons of storm water, cools…