Carbondale Tree Board reports on plantings, ash‑borer removals and Arbor Day plans

The Carbondale Tree Board updated the Board of Trustees on March 12 about last year’s activities and plans for the coming year, focusing on plantings, emerald ash borer removals and inventory work.

Board members Dan Bullock and Joanne Tippel reported the Tree Board organized an Arbor Day planting in Colorado Meadows and conducted a tree walk and public education events. The board advised on transplanting two locust trees from the aquatic center site into Soper's Park and reviewed aquatic center landscape plans; Tree Board members said they had been approached by a group interested in funding landscape work around the aquatic center and suggested coordinating plantings with Arbor Day celebrations.

Trustees and the Tree Board discussed constraints on replacement plantings in town right of way, including limited irrigation infrastructure in some blocks. Tippel noted that many tree removals (including ash trees) cannot be replaced immediately where irrigation is absent and that state rules are changing for nonfunctional turf on new development.

The board said it is assembling a tree inventory by blocks and recruiting volunteers to assist. Trustees thanked the Tree Board for its work and discussed prioritizing plantings for downtown and Chaco's Park, including the possibility of adding at least one tree early in the Chaco's Park construction schedule and protecting it to establish canopy sooner rather than later.

No formal action was taken; trustees encouraged continued coordination between the Tree Board, public works and parks staff on replacement planting priorities and irrigation planning.