Published: September 02, 2008 08:46 pm            

NIAGARA FALLS: Effort grows to identify bad trees

Niagara Falls spending $40,000 to compile tree inventory

Officials will soon have a better grasp on the amount of dying or damaged trees in the city.

Niagara Falls has been awarded a $20,000 matching grant through the state Department of Environmental Conservation to help conduct an inventory of the approximate 12,000 existing trees located on street right-of-ways. The study will also identify potential tree planting spaces.

Trained volunteers supervised by city personnel will conduct the inventory and the results will be used as a planning and management tool for the city forestry department, Mayor Paul Dyster said. A database will be created detailing each tree’s classification, location, age, condition and size.

“Greenspace and a healthy growth of trees are key to the future of a city because they are major factors affecting real estate values, quality of life and potential new development,” Dyster said, adding the inventory is an accord with the city’s strategic master plan and project proposals made to the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

Dyster said the grant requires the city to put forward $20,000 in matching funds, but the inventory will allow for a proactive approach in identifying trees in need of repair and ones that need to be replaced by new plantings. It will also help the city maintain its tree canopy.

Public Works Director David Kinney said he doesn’t know how long its been since the city’s done a comprehensive inventory of its trees. Such a task would not be possible with his current workforce, he added.

“You’re talking about a massive job and the personnel we have are busy doing other projects,” he said.

Still, Kinney acknowledged the study is needed, pointing out the forestry department receives numerous calls a day to either trim, remove or stump trees. Currently, the only way the city has of identifying problem trees is by receiving complaints, Dyster added.

Once the inventory is complete, the city will need to establish a system to address needed repairs, but it will have the advantage of knowing where the priority areas are, Dyster said. Meanwhile, the forestry department is expecting the delivery of a $142,000 lift truck that will assist in trimmings. The truck was approved earlier this year as part of a $7.6 million capital project.

“We need to strengthen our effort in forestry,” Dyster said. “We know we’re very far behind when it comes to tree trimming.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.