Also Offering Stump Removal, Tree Pruning, Tree Trimming a Various Tree Management Services

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Adelaide, Australia -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/14/2020 -- Leading tree removal services business offers top-notch tree removal and stump removal in Adelaide. When it comes to tree removal, it is always better to trust the professionals who completely understand the process and what it takes to complete the job. The expert arborists here are qualified, licensed, insured and certified to offer all types of tree removal in Adelaide along with a host of other services. Also offering tree assessment services wherein the experts here provide great advice on the status of the trees and help in determining whether the tree is considered regulated or significant.

"I was very happy with Michael's tree removal service. He was prompt, reliable and honest and did a great job at removing two large trees from my yard. I would be very happy to use his service again" says Julie D, a happy customer. The best thing about this team is that they tidy up the surroundings post tree services. They also handle the safe removal of fallen and storm-damaged trees on the property. In certain cases, the team also helps in lodging council applications; prepare backyards for fire hazard control; and also offer chipping mulch and firewood.

The company takes pride in their team which possesses the required knowledge and skills necessary for conducting a comprehensive tree management service. The tree management specialists can safely remove a tree from any kind of property residential, commercial, schools, hospitals, government departments, corporations, etc. Visit the links below to hire experts for tree stump removal in Adelaide or for any other tree services.

Tree removal Adelaide - https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/tree-services/tree-removal-adelaide/

Stump removal Adelaide - https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/tree-services/stump-removal-adelaide/

About https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/ The company is a family-owned and operated business with over 20 years of experience in tree and stump removal in Adelaide. The certified arborists also offer top notch tree pruning, shrub and hedge trimming, tree assessment and many other services.

Media ContactA Bark Up The Right TreePhone: 0413-945-749Website: https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/trusted-reliable-and-certified-arborists-offering-expert-tree-removal-in-adelaide-1309667.htm

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Trusted, Reliable and Certified Arborists Offering Expert Tree Removal in Adelaide - Press Release - Digital Journal

Jerry and Sigrid Oaklief were unable to watch the spectacular sunsets from their front porch over Mobile Bay for weeks after Hurricane Sally pummeled coastal Alabama. Piles of debris blocked the view.

Some of that debris remains, but piles upon piles continue to be pulled to the roadsides from Baldwin Countys coast to the northern part of the county. Residents in Mobile County have also been placing large tree trunks and shrubbery on the sides of roadways while waiting for overworked crews to remove it.

The existing debris is just part of the vegetative mess in coastal Alabama that was damaged from Hurricane Sally. Trees are visibly leaning, collapsed power lines are still laying on the side of streets and acres of farmland are still scattered with large limbs.

Im just wondering that if everyone starts cleaning up the woods and dragging it out to the highway, that this (cleanup) could go on for years, said Jerry Oaklief, while sitting outside the Fairhope bungalow that he and his wife are temporarily living in after having to evacuate their Magnolia Springs home flooded during the storm.

Few streets in Baldwin County are without some sort of piled-up debris more than four weeks after slow-moving Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores and created widespread damage throughout the county.

Crews are working to remove both vegetative and household debris left over in the storms wake, but there is not a set timeline for completion and the ending dates vary from city to city and county to county. In Baldwin County, officials anticipate it could take well into March 2021, before the debris removal is complete. Mobile County officials are alerting residents to bring their all their debris to the side of the road by October 25.

We are seeing the level of debris youd see during a Category 3 storm from a vegetative perspective, said Reid Loper, vice-president of Mobile-based CrowderGulf, a family-owned company with 50 years of experience in hauling debris from hurricane-damaged areas. The company has the contract to oversee debris removal for most of Baldwin County Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Bay Minette, and the unincorporated portions of the county. The company also has a contract through the Alabama Department of Transportation to handle debris removal along the interstates and state highways.

Said Loper, This was a much more significant debris event than what it has been displayed in the national media.

225 football fields of debris

Hurricane Sally damage to Dauphin Island, Alabama. Sunken boats and heavily damaged docks at the marina. In coastal cities around Alabama, the cleanup of marina debris is expected to last for awhile. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

And there are some indications that, once CrowderGulf and other contractors are finished, the amount of debris left over from Sally will exceed any hurricane that has hit Alabama in at least 40 years. The amount of debris is expected to exceed Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 storm that slammed into Baldwin County in 2004 and is often viewed as the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the county in recent years.

According to Loper, his company hauled 2.4 million cubic yards of debris following Ivan; and 23 days after Sally struck, the company has hauled an estimated 1.8 million cubic yards.

When people think that operations are not moving as quickly as it should, they need to put it into perspective, said Loper. Its been a long time since Baldwin County has been hit with a storm. Debris is a function of not only the intensity of the storm, but also the function and population and households. Baldwin County has grown quite a bit since 2004, when Hurricane Ivan hit. Its definitely boomed. So, as far as ranking comparative to Ivan, I think the debris totals will exceed Ivan by quite a bit.

The numbers that city officials throughout coastal Alabama are releasing are staggering. Some highlights:

In Bienville Square in the heart of downtown Mobile, one of the large oak trees ringing the central fountain broke off at ground level during the passage of Hurricane Sally.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

-Mobile, where scenic parks and historic neighborhoods were inundated with downed oak trees, city officials estimate that close to 70% of the estimated 381,360 cubic yards of trash and debris has been removed. According to a newsletter released Tuesday by Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, the amount of debris would cover more than 1 million square feet enough to fill up the Mobile Civic Center Arena four times.

-Gulf Shores, where Sallys eyewall made landfill, crews are about 70% completed with the clearing debris from residential areas. The city has 27 trucks working to complete the process which city officials hope is wrapped up in a few weeks. So far, 250,000 cubic yards has been removed by the city, which they estimate to be the equivalent of 225 football fields.

Related: Small town, big comeback: Gulf Shores celebrates homecoming and football after Hurricane Sally

-Orange Beach, where homes were heavily damaged by storm surge from Sally, 65% of debris has been removed from city streets and sidewalks, but only 20% has been removed from waterways. As of Monday, 327,000 cubic yards of debris had been removed including 18,000 cubic yards from the waterways. The typical storm-generated marine debris includes destroyed piers, decks and boat houses, and personal property inside them that includes vessels, coolers, tackles, nets, and downed trees. According to Phillip West, the city of Orange Beachs Coastal Resource Director, the city estimates that over 90% of all marine structures (such as docks, piers, and boat houses) suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Sally i.e., more than 50% of their value.

-Fairhope, where massive oak trees were toppled throughout the Fruit and Nut District, work is ongoing to have the debris removed by November 19, which is the traditional Lighting of the Trees event in downtown Fairhope. As of Monday, the city was reporting that 113,000 cubic yards of debris had been removed.

-Foley has contracted with Auburn-based D&J Enterprises Inc., for its post-storm cleanup. As of Monday, the city of Foley had removed 322,000 cubic yards of debris while removing 501 leaning trees and 4,139 limbs, according to City Administrator Mike Thompson.

-Robertsdale contracted with TFR Enterprises of Austin, Texas, for its cleanup. Mayor Charles Murphy, on Thursday, said he anticipated the company finishing up its work within the next seven days, after which city work crews will be charged with further debris removal.

Public safety concern

Officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties remain concerned about public safety as the mounds of debris continue to pile up. Mobile County officials are asking the public to be mindful when placing debris near the roads. They are also concerned over piles of debris building up in the ditches, which could block the flow of water during rain evens and lead to washouts of roads and driveways. County officials are also encouraging people report a dangerous situation through email at HurricaneSallyDebrisRemoval@mobilecountyal.gov or to call 251-574-4930.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack said while there hasnt been any public safety incident from the debris, he is concerned about it.

Most of this debris is put on the right of way and individuals need to make sure that they are keeping the debris away from the fog line of the roadway, said Mack. Theres also an increased concern as the debris continues to age of possible fires. Individuals need to make sure they are not throwing anything from their vehicles such as cigarette butts or any other trash into these piles.

A burn ban remains in effect until October 31.

Mack said that peanut harvest season in Baldwin County is also likely to create additional traffic hazards.

A lot of agricultural equipment is being moved on the roadways, said Mack. Due to the debris on the side of the road, this may cause an additional traffic hazard. Individuals are asked to pay particular attention to any agricultural equipment and when able to pull off the roadway and allow the agricultural equipment to get by.

Related: Pecan farming: Future of growing Alabamas state nut murky in Baldwin County after Hurricane Sally

FEMA-driven cleanup

The debris cleanup is being financed largely by the federal government after President Donald Trump declared a federal disaster for 13 counties in Alabama. The declaration allows for individual and public financial assistances from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For debris cleanup, 75% of it is reimbursed through FEMA assistance while the state and local governments pitch in an additional 12.5%.

Counties and cities are providing loose estimates on how much the cleanup will cost, acknowledging that they wont know the extent of the expenses until the project is completed. Gulf Shores, for instance, estimates their debris removal costing around $8 million. Mobile County is estimating a cleanup cost of around $6 million.

In Daphne, original estimates were around $2.5 million but Mayor Dane Haygood anticipates it could be higher. He said the costs to the city are expected to run around $350,000 to $400,000, which he describes as unexpected but very manageable.

We implemented a reserve policy and set aside $8 million, said Haygood. Between COVID and the hurricane, this is why we have a reserve to make sure we can make it through the rainy days.

The FEMA involvement in the cleanup is one of the reasons why the process of removing the debris can seem meticulous.

Loper, with CrowderGulf, said the company has set up 19 debris management sites (DMS) throughout Baldwin County where the debris is hauled, measured, and ground down into wood chips where its hauled to a landfill. At each DMS is a third-party monitoring firm hired through separate contracts by each governmental entity that measures the volume of the debris that is collected within each truck.

Thats how we are paid on volume of debris hauled, said Loper. We are not paid by the hour, but we are paid on the actual volume of debris that is hauled.

He said that CrowderGulf subcontracts with crews that the company has worked with us for 20-plus years and who are familiar with the rules and regulations set by FEMA.

CrowderGulfs trucks and its subcontractors, according to Loper, will handle approximately three passes through streets in the cities where they are working. Haygood, in Daphne, said he anticipated the first pass through his city to be completed by the weekend.

The time frames toward completion will vary, Loper said, based on a city governments desire and how robust a public works department is to handle the continued operations.

Some cities collect for a long time, other places want three straight passes and no matter what is left, they will say, go home.

Haygood said in Daphne that they want CrowderGulf to make additional passes, and to continue doing the work for at least 60 more days.

I want to make sure we are giving citizens time to get their debris, he said. For some, its a financial burden or a physical toll to get the trees cut up and taken out to the road. Our aim is to have a second and a third pass.

Loper, who has been with CrowderGulf for the past 10 years, calls Hurricane Sallys cleanup a citizen-driven event. He said that estimates on the amount of debris collected and hauled will change quite a bit as more of it is hauled to the roadways and removed during subsequent passes through the county.

All told, more than 300 trucks are rumbling through Baldwin County daily. Loper said the company is doing about 4,000 dump truck loads of debris each day.

Typically, for a total debris collection operation, people are looking along the lines of three to four months with the county taking a bit longer because there is a much (larger) area of debris in the unincorporated area, said Loper.

Document everything: Assessing the damage after Hurricane Sally

Reimagining Alabamas power grid after Hurricane Sally: Bury power lines, use solar, electric cars

Power outages compound Hurricane Sally agony in coastal Alabama

Long lines for fuel, boats damaged: Coastal Alabama cleans up from Sally

Its mighty bad, Ivey says after coastal flyover

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Tree trunks, limbs everywhere: Hurricane Sallys debris will exceed Ivan by quite a bit - AL.com

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sustainable Green Team, Ltd.(OTC: SGTM) (SGTM or the Company), a leading provider of environmentally beneficial solutions for tree and storm waste disposal, today announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mulch Manufacturing, Inc. was awarded a 1 year natural mulch supply contract with 2 additional 1 year extensions with the city of Vero Beach, FL. The contract was received shortly after the Company received a mulch contract from Circle K conventient store divisions.

SGTMs CEO and Director Tony Raynor states, We are pleased to be awarded this new government contract opportunity and it's all thanks to our recently completed construction in the Waste Management facility in central Florida.

About Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM)

Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM), through its subsidiaries, provides tree services, debris hauling and removal, biomass recycling, mulch manufacturing, packaging and sales. The Company was established with the objective of providing a solution for the treatment and handling of tree debris that has historically been disposed of in landfills, creating an environmental burden and pressure on disposal sites around the nation. The Companys solutions are founded in sustainability, based on vertically integrated operations that begin with collecting tree debris through its tree services division and collection sites and then, through its processing division, recycling and using that tree debris as a feedstock that is manufactured into a variety of organic, attractive, next-generation mulch products that are packaged and sold to landscapers, installers and garden centers. The Company plans to expand its operations through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions that are both accretive to earnings and are positioned for rapid growth from the resulting synergistic opportunities identified. The Companys customers include governmental, residential and commercial clients.

SGTM currently has two wholly owned subsidiaries to efficiently asses areas, recover, manufacture, and distribute:

National Storm Recovery, LLC

National Storm Recovery, LLC (NSR), is composed of a team that has expertise in dangerous tree removal, debris hauling and debris management. The Companys management team assesses storms by deploying its mobile command center to designated sites and then strategizing with its national partners, which include government agencies, prime contractors and subcontractors.

Central Florida Arborcare(CFA), a DBA of NSR has spent more than 40 years perfecting their technique for proper tree care, removal, and services. From tree removal, stump grinding, tree care, grapple hauling, and storm recovery, CFA ensures properties remain safe and businesses can continue as usual.

To learn more please visit: https://www.centralfloridaarborcare.com

Mulch Manufacturing, Inc.

Mulch Manufacturing, Inc. (MMI), being vertically integrated receiving large volume of wood fiber recovered from Central Florida Arborcare to feed raw material needs, MMI has the product line and distribution system to address a substantial customer base which can be expanded.

To learn more please visit: https://mulchmfg.com

For additional information regarding SGTMs operations, expansion plans and production facilities, view the Companys presentation.

SAFE HARBOR ACT: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, listing on the CSE, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No information in this press release should be construed in any matter whatsoever as an indication of the future performance of the Companys revenues, financial condition or stock price.

Company Contact:Anthony RaynorCEO & Director407.886.8733 Office

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Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM) Receives an Annual Mulch Supply Contract with the City of Vero Beach, FL - GlobeNewswire

Fire Size (All Zones):1,030,182Containment:78%Personnel (All Zones):3,130

Weather:A Red Flag Weather Warningfor the August Complex continues today with gusty NE winds to 25 mph, relative humidity in the low teens and very low overnight humidity recovery this morning.Fire behavior will increase with predicted weather, causing interior unburned islands and aligned terrain to experience higher fire activity. Strong and gusty winds may cause dead standing trees to fall at higher rates, increasing hazards to firefighters.The strongest winds will be through the morning and will start to taper down through the afternoon. They will be persistently out of thenortheast. By late Friday into Saturday, we can expect better relative humidity recoveriesand diminished windsheading into the weekend.Overnighthumiditylevelsacross the fire werevery low. As a result, fuel moistures are now at critically low levels, especially in the lighter fuels; grasses and brush.

Northwest ZoneYesterday, Red Flag weather conditions increased fire activity in the northwest zone,testingcontainment features. Humidity levels in the teens, temperatures 10 to 15 above average, and winds with gusts as high as 30-mph combined toincreasefire behavior.The fire spotted over the line above Kettenpom and near the West Fork of the Van Duzen River. Firefighters were pre-positioned, and aircraft were standing by his facilitated a rapid response and allowed firefighters to contain the spot fires before they could become established.The majority of fire activity occurred inside the fire area, as interior pockets of unburned fuels were consumed.

Today, Increased fire activity is expected, with the potential for torching and long-range spotting where ladder fuels and unburned canopy fuels exist. High flame spread rates are expectedwithin the fire perimeterwhere light fuels and timber litter align with winds.Teams continue to evaluate suppression repair needs in the Ruth Lake corridor area. The intent of suppression repair is to return the area to as close as possible to its natural state and prevent future erosion and damage.PG&E is actively repairing power infrastructure to ready the Ruth Lake area for repopulation. Approximately 130 power poles must be replaced before the system can be reactivated.

Northeast ZoneYesterday, hotshot crew cut out brush in very steep terrain west of Bear Wallow Mountain to connect and further secure fire lines.East of Irish Mountain, firefighters took advantage of favorable NE winds and completed a small firing operation to fortify fire line to prevent the fire from spreading further north. Helicopters supported this mission with water drops to cool hot spots near the fire edge.Night shift resources held the fire in place, and further secured fire line adjacent to this area.In Beegum Creek, strong winds caused firefighters to disengage their mop up operation due to numerous dead standing trees falling near the fire perimeter helicopters were used in this area to add cooling water to flare-ups and keep interior heat from moving towards the fire edge. Hotshot crews continued mopping up hot spots on the southeast side of the 2017 Buck Fire perimeter.

For today in this northeast zone, NE winds will continue to push the fire back into the main fire footprint. Firefighters will secure and fortify fire lines near Progeny, Bear Wallow Mountain, South Fork Trinity River, Rattlesnake Creek and Beegum Creek. Guard rail repair and hazard tree removal on Hwy 36 continues near Forest Glen by Cal Trans crews.

Evacuations and Closures Evacuation information can be found on countywebsites referenced below or atinciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/.Hwy 36 remains closed from Southfork Summit Mountain east to the Hwy 3 intersection.Hunting and recreation are prohibited within the August Complex Fire Closure areas.

TrinityCountyevacuation Information,contact: 530-276-8034 orhttps://www.facebook.com/TrinityCoOES/.

Trinity County Private Property Damage Assessment Info.,contact:530-623-8223 orhttps://www.trinitycounty.org/recovery

Humboldt County evacuation Information,contact: 707-268-2500 or visit:HumboldtCoSheriff.

Road Closures:For updated Road Closure information, visit Caltrans athttps://roads.dot.ca.gov/.

Forest Closures are still in effect and can be found here:

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August Complex: Red Flag Weather Continues Today as Spot Fires Went Past Containment Lines at Kettenpom and Near the West Fork of the Van Duzen River...

HOLLY HILL, Fla., Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Florida tree removal specialists, SB Tree Service, are joining the fight to help Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Laura. On Thursday morning, the agency's entire team of tree professionals hit the road, driving straight into Lake Charles to help with storm mitigation and tree removal. This was right on the tail of a hurricane predicted to leave "catastrophic" damage.

Hurricane Laura, a massive Category 4 hurricane, hit the Texas Gulf Coast at 1 a.m. on Thursday morning. City officials warned more than 580,000 coastal residents to evacuate their homes ahead of the storm, which was still a Category 2, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, a few hours after it landed.

And the center of where that storm hit? Lake Charles. SB Tree Service managerAngel Vanburgercommented: "We're going to where it hit the hardest because we want to help. This is a rapid-response tree service for the homes and businesses that need it the most."

SB Tree Service is a full-spectrum tree management agency, with a selection of maintenance services, from trimmingand tree removalto storm debris work for residential and commercial properties. Usually, this work takes place in Volusia County, FL but, as recently as 2018, the company was in North Carolina and Panama City, helping with Hurricane Florence and Michael, respectively.

"We'll be responding to reports of storms and hurricane damage, maybe moving North as things develop," said Vanburger. "We're encouraging homes and businesses where trees have been damaged, brought down, are hanging onto power lines, or otherwise need servicing to reach out to us as soon as possible."

Licensed and insured for liability and worker's comp, the SB Tree Service team is ready to help with tree service and removal projects of any size. For a consultation in the Gulf Coast area or any of the other cities currently being affected by Hurricane Laura, you can get in touch with them at (386) 275-3923.

"Lastly, we'd like to say we're sending our thoughts and prayers to the people of Louisiana and Texas. Stay safe out there and let's get through this, together."

About SB Tree Service

SB Tree Serviceprovides professional tree maintenance services, including tree trimming, hurricane mitigation, damage control, storm cleanup, land clearing, debris removal, stump grinding, and tree removal. With years of industry experience, a professional team, and comprehensive hurricane tree removal services, they are ready, no matter the size of the job.

Related Images

hurricane-tree-removal-services.jpg Hurricane Tree Removal Services SB Tree Services arrived in Lake Charles to provide hurricane tree removal services to homes and offices affected by Hurricane Laura.

Related Links

Ormond Beach Tree Removal

Port Orange Tree Removal

SOURCE SB Tree Service

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Tree Removal Experts Bring Hurricane Relief Work to Texas and Louisiana - PRNewswire

The city of Brookhaven is rewriting its tree ordinance to better preserve the tree canopy something that Brookhaven Heights resident Jon Margolis said hes noticed has been declining in his neighborhood.

The rewrite aims to take out ambiguities in the current ordinance and set clear expectations that builders should try to preserve trees, Councilmember John Park said. The rewrite comes after a tree canopy study shows the citys seeing a net loss in tree coverage.

A tree on the edge of a property at 2328 Colonial Drive facing Pine Grove has a large, orange X spray painted on it. (Erin Schilling)

Park said the ordinance rewrite is a complicated balance between environmental preservation and not infringing on the rights of the property owners.

City spokesperson Burke Brennan said the city has requested proposals from consultants for the ordinance. The city is set to have a proposal awarded by October and the rewrite should start in November, along with a public input process. Park said the rewrite would have happened earlier this year but was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents and city officials say theres a trend of developers taking down too many trees.

Margolis is worried about two large trees at the intersection of Pine Grove and Colonial Drive that have orange Xs spray painted on them. The trees are on the edge of a residential property at 2328 Colonial Drive, which is owned by Breezy Dayz Properties, LLC, according to the city property map.

I understand certain trees have to come down, but its just been horrible in metro Atlanta, Margolis said.

Allison Bible of AB Works Construction Consulting put in a variance request for the houses setbacks with the Brookhaven Board of Appeals in a Jan. 15 meeting for the 2328 Colonial Drive property on behalf of the homeowner Lisa Levison, she said. The variance was unanimously approved.

Bible told the board two trees would be removed for the proposed development, according to the meeting minutes.

A building permit has not been submitted yet for construction as of the end of August, Bible said, and the tree removal will be included in that permit request.

If we didnt have to take any trees down, we certainly wouldnt be, Bible said. In the city of Brookhaven, theres a very clear tree ordinance. If you follow it, youre following the rules, and were doing exactly what the tree ordinance states.

Bible said they plan to replant some trees as well to make up for the loss of trees and noted that tree removal is an expensive process and the life span of specific tree species have to be considered when judging whether a tree should come down or not.

Margolis said hes seen too many situations in which developers cut down trees without a good reason.

Park said a clearer tree ordinance would show builders that the city expects tree preservation to be a priority.

A new tree ordinance would hopefully give more power to the city arborist and speed up some processes regarding trees, Park said. For example, if a tree prohibits a builder from following the citys zoning ordinances, such as if the tree caused a setback variance, its easier for the builder to cut down the tree than go through a months-long rezoning process.

Park said the new ordinance may also value trees differently based on age and type.

The current tree ordinance allows homeowners on single-family residential property to remove three trees per year that are 6 inches or larger in diameter at breast height, or DBH, with a permit, as long as the property maintains a density of 60 DBH inches of trees per acre. Trees less than 6 DBH inches can be removed without a permit as long as the same density of 60 DBH inches is upheld.

Residents can also remove trees that are deemed hazardous by a certified arborist, according to the ordinance, and public utility companies can remove trees for utility easements.

Specimen trees, which are trees valued higher by the city because of size, location, type or historic value, have more protections and need to have the approval of the city arborist if a resident or developer wants to remove it, according to the ordinance. A fee is also required to take down a specimen tree.

Developers must maintain 120 inches in diameter of trees per acre or 45% of a sites tree-canopy cover unless the site already had less tree coverage than that before development started, according to the ordinance.

The tree ordinance was rewritten in 2014 and updated about a year later in 2015. The 2015 changes reduced the amount of trees homeowners could take down from five to three and outlined the current density requirements for developers.

Park said those changes werent enough.

In 2017, concerned citizens came to us saying the tree ordinance was not doing its job to protect the tree canopy, Park said. We realized a rewrite, starting from scratch, was the way to go instead of piecemealing something together.

In June, a PlainIt Geo study presented to the council said the 2019 tree canopy coverage in the city is 44%, compared to 47% in 2009. The city commissioned the assessment in part because of the planned rewrite. It also hired a tree canopy preservation manager, who Park said will oversee much of the new ordinance.

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New Brookhaven tree ordinance is on the way amid cutting controversies - Reporter Newspapers

Representatives from Custom Tree Care and Rostan attended a Tama City Council meeting to present on services their companies could provide to the cities following the August 10 derecho. Both Tama and Toledo have now contracted with Custom Tree Care and Rostan.Allison Graham/News Chronicle

The cities of Tama and Toledo have contracted with Custom Tree Care to assist with debris clean up and tree trimming following the August 10 derecho.

Custom Tree Care will be addressing trees as well as storm debris on city right of ways.

The goal is to insure safety for the public by removing hanging limbs and heavily damaged trees that pose a current and future risk. The bulk of the contracted cost projects are to be reimbursable under the FEMA Public Assistance Program that was granted to Tama County as part of the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration on August 17.

Custom Tree Care will not go on to your property to cut trees. They will only stay on the city right of way and will cut hanging limbs, trees that have been partially uprooted and are leaning beyond a certain degree, and trees with significantly cracked trunks.

The company advises that if you have a storm damaged tree that is on the berm or overhangs the street and you wish to not have removed, to attach a sign or a note on the tree instructing it not to be cut. The company nor the city will be going door to door prior to the clean up work being completed.

Custom Tree Care will take pictures of every tree cut for reimbursement purposes.

Some of the clean up work has been contracted but every sub contractor will have a placard on their vehicle identifying themselves with Custom Tree Care.

Rostan Solutions to do FEMA reimbursement monitoring for debris management. They will provide tracking and documenting services for every FEMA reimbursable load to lessen the burden on city staff as well as to help ensure a quick and accurate reimbursement claim.

The cities anticipate receiving around 75% reimbursement. Rostan Solutions will also assist with the grant application to help cover the difference.

Work is already underway in Tama and will begin soon in Toledo.

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Tama, Toledo contract with Custom Tree Care, Rostan Solutions for tree removal and FEMA assistance - Tama News-Herald - Toledo Chronicle

When you camp at your favorite State Park or plan a hunting a trip on your local State Wildlife Area (SWA), you likely havent given a second thought to natural resources that exist on those properties. However, you will notice when those resources are taken away or are no longer there. The landscape suddenly changes and our favorite open spaces do not seem so familiar. Such is the dilemma of Parks and Wildlife Managers when they consider long term habitat management projects and the impacts on our visitors.

One such project is the wetlands restoration project at Jackson Lake State Park and neighboring Jackson Lake and Andrick Ponds SWAs. At the heart of the restoration is the removal of 60-plus acres of Russian olive trees.

The invasive species is prevalent throughout Colorado and especially in areas where water is scarce. Originating from Southern Europe and Eastern Asia, the tree was planted throughout arid areas as windbreaks and for much needed shade on the sandy Great Plains.

When permitted to grow without management, the tree will take over pasture lands and wetland areas, increasing nitrogen in the soil and allowing for other noxious weeds to take root. Growing in dense groves allows this thorny tree to out-compete native plant species and to draw large amounts of moisture from the soil and waterways. Some estimates suggest that one tree will consume 75 gallons of water per day.

Impacts to wildlife are also great. Russian olives can create some habitat and food sources for local wildlife; however, with a forestry management plan that includes a diversity of trees and plants, wildlife diversity has been shown to also increase. Owls, bats, squirrels, and migratory birds are often unable to utilize RO groves for food and habitat. In some areas, RO trees have clogged ditches, destroyed fences and grown into roadways, causing a chain effect of destruction.

The first phase of the wetlands restoration project at Jackson Lake is set to begin this fall. CPW land managers will use a phased three-year approach to address the most immediate needs such as those areas where trees have impacted infrastructure or pose a threat to property. Removal and treatment in these areas will limit large impacts on wildlife and allow for immediate replanting of native plants. Cottonwood, willow, chokecherry, plum and other native species will be planted to provide quality wildlife habitat.

Previous work on other CPW areas has shown that native species are very hardy and will rebound to fill the void created by RO removal. In most cases this creates a new opportunity for shade on your campsite or for habitat on your next hunt. While the landscape will change over time, the goal is to make your CPW lands continue to feel familiar with each visit.

Park visitors can help inform management decisions by recording observations of plants or animals through phone apps like iNaturalist. Various areas of the park may be closed during project hours; check with the Visitor Center for current closures.

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3-year project to remove Russian olive trees around Jackson Lake to begin this fall - Fort Morgan Times

More than three weeks after Isaias blew through Connecticut, cleanup continues. Tree removal crews are still catching up, working very long days.

We are running from five in the morning to eightat night. As long as there is light, we are working, said Joe Brege of B&MTree Service in West Hartford.

Now, as Thursdays forecast calls for high winds andpotentially severe thunderstorms, more work could lie ahead.

Anything that we thought that might cause a problem for tomorrow's storm or this weekend's storm that's what we are doing for the next couple of days, explained Brege.

While tree crewsprepare, some wonder about Eversource. Isaias left more than 600,000 householdswithout power, leaving some wondering if Eversource will be more prepared nexttime severe weather strikes.

Lets hope thatthey learned a lesson and that they will be, said Steve Lancor who was withoutpower for three days at his West Hartford home.

A spokesperson for Eversource said theyve seen Thursdays forecast and are preparing.

We are fully staffed. We have line workers, tree crew, support staff all ready to respond if there are outages, said Eversource spokesperson Tricia Modifica.

If needed, Eversource said they have also contracted crews from elsewhere to assist with restoring power if necessary.

They will all be prepositioned around the state in advance of the storm so theyre ready to respond to any damage caused by the weather were expecting, said Modifica.

Meanwhile, people in recently hard-hit area are also taking precautionary measures.

Grab a generator. Get the candles out. Get the matches. Put food away. Get out a cooler. Get some ice." Those are all things West Hartfords Adriana Nace said shes considering as Thursdays weather approaches.

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Eversource Says It's Prepared For Potentially Severe Weather Thursday - NBC Connecticut

Caution tape warns of potential live wires as a fallen tree blocks the roadway of Hemlock Lane on August 8, 2020 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Caution tape warns of potential live wires as a fallen tree blocks the roadway of Hemlock Lane on August 8, 2020 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Photo: Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media

Caution tape warns of potential live wires as a fallen tree blocks the roadway of Hemlock Lane on August 8, 2020 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Caution tape warns of potential live wires as a fallen tree blocks the roadway of Hemlock Lane on August 8, 2020 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Wilton seeks sanctions as intervenor in Eversource hearing

WILTON Outraged by Eversources responses to power outages, the town of Wilton has been designated an intervenor in an upcoming hearing about the power companys actions following Tropical Storm Isaias.

As an intervenor, the town is allowed to submit evidence, put forward interrogatories, receive data and information files by other parties and intervenors, and file briefs. The town is also requesting sanctions and/or penalties against Eversource.

In our intervenor status we will be providing testimony, said First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice.

The hearing is being held by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which is investigating the storm response from Eversource Energy and the states other utility company, United Illuminating. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

Heavy winds from the Aug. 4 storm knocked out power for more than 800,000 Eversource customers statewide. In Wilton, 5,517 Eversource customers lost electricity 73.25 percent of the town.

It took more than a week for power to be restored to all homes in Wilton.

Upon announcing the investigation, the chair of PURA said Eversource badly underestimated the threat of the storm by preparing only for between 125,000 and 380,000 outages, far from the actual total.

Vanderslice said she plans to join other town officials and mayors who will be testifying at the hearing. We will all tell the same story of a delayed make-safe response leaving thousands of residents stranded; of Eversource crews sitting idle for hours waiting for instructions; of the lack of access to operations; and the failure of the outage-reporting system, she said.

Overall, she said, Eversource lacked communication and coordination during the power restoration process. Eversource did not coordinate with police as to where their crews were. DPW (Department of Public Works) was waiting for power crews and was ready to assist them, but no one showed up. Residents were frustrated with an inability to get information as to their power restoration, she said.

Among the relief Wilton wants from Eversource is the requirement of a Make Safe crew to be installed in the town within a certain timeframe of a storm. The town also wants an operational person assigned to Wilton who can serve as a point of contact among Eversource, the town, and its emergency services.

Vanderslice encourages Wilton residents who had problems with Eversources storm response to consider forming a grass roots advocacy group in protest.

She pointed to the success of the citizens group Hands Off Our Schools. Last year, that group, which started in Wilton, held protests and traveled to the State Capitol in buses to testify against proposed school regionalization bills. As a result, two regionalization bills died in the state legislature, while regionalization language was removed from a third one.

When residents take to the streets or take the matter into their own hands, legislators listen, Vanderslice said.

Eversource generated profits last year of $411 million from its historic Connecticut Light & Power operations.

The town can also take a more proactive approach in preventing power outages through increased tree removal in certain areas where trees are blocking power lines, Vanderslice said.

In the last few years, we have increased the towns budget for tree removals, but we need to increase it even more, she said. We need to have a discussion about our priorities in terms of what actions we are going to take about trees in order to mitigate these situations, she said.

More than 70 percent of Wilton is covered by trees, Vanderslice said, citing a report by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG). Thats a huge number of trees, she said.

She suggested enacting a town ordinance that would facilitate the removal of diseased or potentially dying trees, and regulate the planting of new trees within the town right of way and within a specified distance of utility wires.

If you plant a tree that can grow 40 feet high near wires, that could be a problem. While trees that grow 12 to 15 feet high pose no problem falling on wires, she said.

She plans to work on a draft of the tree ordinance with Mike Conklin, the towns director of environmental affairs and Planning Director Michael Wrinn.

pgay@wiltonbulletin.com

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Wilton seeks sanctions as intervenor in Eversource hearing - The Wilton Bulletin