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Carbondale arborist reports risk assessment, $32,400 inventory estimate and seasonal project ideas
Summary
Town arborist Carl reported a contracted tree risk assessment that identified a high-risk branch on a large cottonwood (work planned to reduce and cable the branch), a proposed tree-inventory contract with an estimated cost of $32,400, and recommended seasonal projects including Arbor Day activities and tree walks.
Carl, the town arborist, briefed the Carbondale Tree Board on maintenance work, risk assessment findings, an inventory contract estimate, and proposed seasonal outreach projects.
Carl said a contracted tree risk assessment (performed by Earthwise Horticulture) on a large cottonwood near the gazebo identified internal decay in a canopy branch and recommended shortening and dynamic cabling to reduce failure risk. "They gave it a high risk rating," Carl said; he added that contractors will perform the pruning and cabling and that the work was scheduled for the end of the month.
On data and planning, Carl said he and Kevin are negotiating a contract to update the town tree inventory; the total cost estimate was reported as $32,400. He described options for the contract including a Level 2 risk assessment add-on and a planting-site inventory to identify candidate planting locations.
Carl also reported program-level items: he submitted the town’s Tree City USA application (noting 32 years of recognition as a reference point) and said the town earned a Tree City USA growth award for staff training, tree planting, and adding board members. He reported a tree board balance of roughly $816.80 remaining from an annual $1,000 allocation.
Carl proposed a menu of seasonal projects (pruning and code/ordinance work in winter; Arbor Day or Dandelion Day in spring; tree walks and mulching in summer and fall) and recommended the board focus on a single major spring activity to limit member burden. He explained pruning choices for cottonwoods: rather than remove a 15-inch branch, the arborist recommended a slower reduction strategy because cottonwoods do not compartmentalize wounds well, and advised not cutting branches larger than 4 inches in diameter when possible.
Next steps: arborist will proceed with the contracted mitigation work on the high-risk branch, continue negotiating the inventory contract for board review, and pursue Tree City USA and growth-award documentation.
