City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/648999
Fargo Quick Facts Human population: 115,800 Street Tree population: 53,000 City UF Budget: $2,200,000 UF Staff FTEs/Number of staff: 11 • I've met some individuals who don't know where North Dakota is! What gives you extra pride when you think about your city forestry program? • The City and Park District Forestry staff—they are the best at what they do. • Recognizing the need early on, the Fargo Park District has their own forester and staff. They used to contract with the city forestry department until about 12 years ago, when the volume of work (street and park trees) became too much for the city forestry department to handle. • We are also fortunate to have strong administration support for our UF program. How do you evaluate your street trees? What are your best performers? • We evaluate street trees during routine and as-need- ed pruning, or when we get calls from the public. • We also conduct an annual risk assessment during the winter months. We will inspect the north side of the city one year, then the south side the next; the cycle repeats. Priority needs that arise from the inspection are dealt with and completed before spring. • Some of our best per formers include hack- berry (Celtis occidentalis), Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), elm (Ulmus spp.), Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), American linden (Tilia ameri- cana), 'Northern Acclaim' honeylocust (Gleditsia), maples (Acer spp.), and Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus). Hybrid elm, alder (Alnus spp.), crabapple (Malus spp.), chokecherr y (Prunus virginiana), lilac (Syringa spp.), and birch (Betula spp.) are also incorporated into our street tree plantings. What are some technologies you are employing? • CU structural soil was recently used in one of our downtown street renovation projects. It's too early to evaluate and determine success, but I'm confi- dent. • Several years ago, we selected ArborPro for our tree inventory program. For our address-based system, it works well. Do you grow your own trees or buy in? • We do not grow our own trees. Every year, we solicit proposals from area wholesalers. We'll order approx- imately 1000-1200 trees in the spring—primarily bare root, and some container grown. These are for prior-season replacements. • Another 400-600 trees are consistently planted between main ar terial roadway projects and buyout/ levee improvement projects. Par tnering with forestry, these are projects that are bid through our city engi- neering depar tment and managed by forestry staff or an approved project manager. What are some specific ways you involve the public? • Annually, our Arbor Day celebration includes 260+ middle school students and another 40 or so vol- unteers. A program, speakers, educational activity, and food are all part of the celebration. Rain or shine, we're typically a go! • Reforest the Red is an annual event with several agency partners. With the help of 50-100 volun- teers, approximately 1000 seedlings are planted in park and green space areas along the Red River. Green space and reforestation opportunities are more abundant now due to the acquisition of prop - erty in flood-prone areas of the community. What do you wish you had more time for in your job? • I would like to work more in the field with our staff, contractors, and project managers. Most of my time is spent on administration and coordination, and I have to delegate the majority of the field interac - tion. What do you like to do outside of work? • Hanging out with my wife and best friend Cindy is my favorite—I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for her support and encouragement. I enjoy talking with my kids, biking and other forms of exer - cise, camping and more camping, tinkering around the yard and house, and lounging. 36 City Trees