||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED REPORTER |||


Back in January, concerns were raised about the condition of trees – mostly mature maples –along North Beach Road across the street from April’s Grove. One group led by Children’s House and Salmonberry sought to take them down, citing safety issues; another group represented by the EPRC preferred a more careful approach. Both sides brought arborists in to assess the situation and they found little common ground. Public outcry was swift, and the county decided to bring a third party in for an independent evaluation. That analysis s now in.

As summarized by Mt. Vernon-based Urban Forestry Services | Bartlett Consulting and further described in its 21-page report,

Twelve trees along the pedestrian path servicing North Beach Road in Eastsound, Washington, were assessed for their potential to fail and injure pedestrians. Four of the trees received moderate risk ratings for large stems potentially failing onto the path. The remaining nine trees received low risk ratings that can mostly be mitigated by selectively pruning weak or dead branches. Three trees in decline are recommended for removal or conversion to a wildlife snag. The benefits of having a tree canopy next to the path could be improved by planting more trees to slowly replace the larger trees as they begin to decline.

Responding to the report, the EPRC stated that “their assessment closely aligned with (our) plan to remove the dead or dying trees, prune some trees, keep healthy trees – including the largest maple to the South and the large fir tree – and replant with proven tree cultivars.”

After a meeting at the County with all interested parties, the EPRC was tasked with finalizing the plan with a few minor changes, including a request by Children’s House to “save, if possible, the irises and some snowberry bushes at the base of one tree.”

The approved plan is now in the hands of Public Works, which will begin pruning and tree removal as soon as possible followed by a replanting in the Fall.

For more details, please refer to the following:


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