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ISA arborist presents DNR-funded Nashville tree inventory, flags 45 at-risk trees
Summary
Consultant Andy Norman presented a DNR-funded inventory of 428 public trees: 60 species, ~80% native; he identified 4 imminent-risk trees and 41 probable-risk trees and recommended level‑2 assessments and a multiyear management plan including removals, pruning and replanting.
Andy Norman, the consultant who conducted Nashville’s DNR-funded tree inventory, told the council the project cataloged 428 trees inside town limits and produced a management plan intended to prioritize limited maintenance funds.
“I’m Andy Norman. I’m an ISA certified arborist, and I conducted the inventory project,” Norman said as he summarized the study and its data outputs. Norman said the inventory lists 60 species; about 80% are native, 12% are non‑native non‑invasive and 8% are invasive. He reported four trees rated “imminent” and 41 rated “probable” for failure or significant decline, and recommended level‑2 risk assessments for the probable trees to guide removal and treatment decisions.
Norman described the three parts of the project—inventory, a level‑1 risk assessment on every inventoried tree, and a management plan—and said the management plan includes a five‑year template for prioritizing work, with the caveat that some elements may take seven to 10 years to complete. He said the spreadsheet with detailed data, tabs for imminent and property trees, and cost estimates for the five‑year framework will be shared with council and staff.
Council members asked how the plan treats invasive species and budget timing. Norman explained why the town should remove species such as callery (commonly spelled “cowhery” in the transcript) pear and multiflora rose—both of which he described as aggressively displacing native trees and reducing biodiversity. “What an invasive is, like the cowhery pears…they spread rapidly,” he said, adding that removal plus herbicide and stump grinding is part of the recommended approach followed by replanting with native species.
The tree board and staff outlined next steps: the tree board will issue an RFQ for removal and replanting work, with bids due Feb. 4 and a review meeting Feb. 5. Staff said grant funding and matching in‑kind work will cover most costs. Council discussed timing around the March 31 removal moratorium and asked staff to ensure legal review of RFQs and contractor scopes before work begins.
The council did not take a final funding vote during the presentation; members asked for the spreadsheet, level‑2 assessment estimates, and clearer cost estimates before committing budget dollars.
