On May 22, 2011, an EF2 tor- nado hit the north side of Minneapolis.
It destroyed an estimated 2600 public trees (street and park).
Cleanup has been intense and is expected to go on well into winter. City Forester Ralph Sievert says, "The political complications have been the most challenging part. Everyone wants to reforest the area but doesn't grasp the recovery time that is needed before that can happen."
Sievert says that his department has been mandated to plant 3000 trees in spring 2012 and is currently getting that plan in place. In the meantime, he says that it is challenging, to say the least, to provide full routine services along with ongoing storm cleanup.
www.urban-forestry.com 33
