Spirit

Tree Inventory and Management Plan Near Completion

Davey Tree has assessed more than 61,000 trees as part of the City’s tree inventory, with 3,000 of those trees identified as high-risk. The inventory includes trees only on City property.

“High-risk trees are trees that will require high priority removal or prunings,” said Elgin Parks Superintendent Jim Bell. “We’ll be putting together a schedule to handle removals or prunings, but nothing will be done without first communicating to impacted residents with high-risk trees on the City’s tree banks.”


The City and Davey Tree will inform residents with high-risk trees on the City property that the tree must be removed or properly pruned. If residents are concerned about what is planned for a tree, they may contact the City to discuss those concerns prior to the work being done at
(847) 697-3160.

Additionally, residents can learn about the City’s tree inventory and management plan at a special website www.cityofelgin/trees.

"Neighborhood meetings will be held and written notification will be given to residents about problem trees in their tree banks or on nearby City property,” said Bell. “Generally, residents will be notified two weeks prior any removal.”

The inspection, assessment and tree management plan is part of a recent $300,000 contract the City of Elgin has with Davey Tree to better understand the type, species and varieties of Elgin trees.

The actual replacement of high-risk, diseased trees is part of a $1.8 million award to the City and Davey from the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Forest Service from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As Davey Tree moved through the inspection, it also identified 10,900 trees or 18% of the City’s inventory as ash trees. How many of those trees suffer from the Emerald Ash Borer will be part of Davey’s complete report scheduled for mid-spring.

Back in August, the Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed that Emerald Ash Borer was found in three Elgin locations. The City had those trees removed in compliance with the department’s Emerald Ash Borer Compliance Agreement.

“Davey Tree is completing the field review and will provide us with a complete report,” said Bell. “That report will also provide an overall assessment of the community’s forest while also providing a management plan and a five year budget outline for funding.