ran frest monitr summer 2011 - sacramento...

2011 Tree Hero Awards

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URBAN FOREST MONITORP U B L I S H E D B Y THE SACRAMENTO TREE FOUNDATION

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1

Urban Forest Monitor | S U M M E R 2 0 1 12

S P E C I A L M E S S A G E

America’s Great Outdoors – Our Neighborhoods

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Ray Tretheway, Executive Director, Sacramento Tree Foundation

T his past winter I was in Washington, D.C. the day President Obama announced

that the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative had engaged more than 10,000 Americans nationwide in town hall meetings where they discussed the future of conservation in the United States. The resulting America’s Great Outdoors Report highlights an important insight that has defined the work of the Sacramento Tree Foundation for nearly 30 years. It is the near-universal recognition that nature is where you find it. For the vast majority of Americans, it is in their own backyards, school yards, parks, community gardens and street planting strips. We at the Tree Foundation not only recognize nature in these urban settings, we also see the dominant role trees play in defining these spaces as healthy living environments and desirable neighborhoods, providing clean air, summer cooling, shaded streets, verdant parks, and green schools.

Neighborhoods without trees are at a distinct disadvantage. The vision in America’s Great

Outdoors promises to help bring change to our neighborhood tree canopy.

Alice Ewen, national program manager for the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, states, “Now, we have a collective task ahead of us – to find where we fit in the picture. The goals are too great to be limited to any one agency or sector. It will be a collective effort.”

You won’t receive a call from President Obama and probably not one from Alice; however the call has been made to all Americans to become the local answer to generate the interest, support and action of greening and re-greening of America’s Great Outdoors – starting in our own neighborhoods.

I want to invite you to observe what happens at a neighborhood tree planting with the Tree Foundation. We provide the trees, training and opportunity to engage neighbors to work together, learn new skill sets, embrace conservation, and spur community transformations. By the end of the day, the trees have become tangible assets – some for home shading and lower summer utility bills; some to shade the playground and lessen the threat of skin cancer; some to shade the sidewalks and bike paths to promote exercise and lessen the occurrences of obesity; some to make business districts more attractive and promote economic prosperity; all to freshen the air and reduce the incidences of asthma.

Our goal is to plant one tree at a time five million times! Let’s get outdoors together. Your invitation is ready, please visit our website at sactree.com.

Ray Tretheway

In Memory

Over the past five years many of you got to know the ever exuberant Lizz Bippus. Lizz’s official title was community forester, however her flare for life, engaging personality, spontaneous laugh and the ‘I-Got-the-World-on-a-String’ approach to everything also made her an instant friend, trusted companion and welcomed leader. Our love to her partner Karen, her mother Dorothy, and all her family and friends – Lizz Bippus 1952 - 2011.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation is accepting donations for the Liz Bippus Project, a tree planting planned for Fall 2011.

S U M M E R 2 0 1 1 | Urban Forest Monitor 3

J O I N

O n Monday, May 3, 2011, Sacramento lost a long time resident and contributor to the

health and beauty of our community. A very large valley oak (Quercus lobata) tree was removed from along the Sacramento River to make way for critical levee improvements. The tree had been nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Big Trees, but cannot receive that honor since it was removed before its champion status could be verified.

The removal of a healthy tree of this size is a very sad event. Many people contacted the Tree Foundation in the days before its removal, hoping to learn how to change the outcome and save the tree. Unfortunately, at that stage it was way too late. It is hard to inform thoughtful, engaged citizens that the time and place to advocate for trees and demand long term tree protection is before development projects receive final approval. This is almost always prior to news stories or information dissemination through standard channels. There is no easy notification system or information service that will notify you when critical tree removal decisions are being made by your city or county.

So what can you do to stop tree removals like this one?1. Be aware of new projects in your neighborhood

and community. When you receive notification about a project nearby, go to the public information meetings, read the materials, submit comments during the response period and speak up!

2. Learn more about environmental regulations and look for projects near you using the State Clearinghouse: www.ceqanet.ca.gov

3. Know your neighbors. Understand what issues are most important to your community and share information with others.

4. Join your local tree commission, go to meetings of local government and read the agendas and minutes of these meetings (which are often posted on the Internet).

5. Join a nonprofit that advocates on the local, state and/or national level for issues that are important to you. Funding for advocacy is hard to come by and critically important.

6. Realize you can make a difference, but only if you participate early in the approvals process.

Zarah Wyly

Loss of a Champion Tree how yoU can bE an aDvocatE

Photo by Matt Buland

“A tree of this size is a member of our community, a member of our family. This is a very sad day.” – A member of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians upon witnessing the removal of the historic tree.


P L A N T

GreenprintMaps – Our Trees Meet Google Earth: cREating a Map oF oUR URban FoRESt, onE tREE at a tiME

Thanks to grant funding received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE), the Sacramento Tree Foundation is developing “GreenprintMaps” – an interactive online tool that will allow citizens and local jurisdictions to map and inventory Sacramento’s urban forest. This is a collaborative effort, requiring input from city Arborists, Parks and Recreation staff, tree conservation groups, and the public. You will be able to get involved by adding the trees at your home and in your

neighborhood to the map. GreenprintMaps is based

on San Francisco’s “Urban Forest Map” - Take a look at: urbanforestmap.org

Trees can be added one at a time, with the location, species, general condition, size, and age all recorded. Reports can be generated that specify needed maintenance, urban forest benefits, and species diversity. The urban forest needs our help to survive and grow. Understanding what’s out there now is the first step in planning for the future. Over time we

will not only create a map and inventory of our urban forest, we will also have a customized tool to help with the monitoring and ongoing care of that forest.

With a launch date this summer, GreenprintMaps needs your input to be successful. We will announce when the site goes “live”, so be ready with your data. You can help us maintain our regional urban forest, and you won’t need work gloves or a shovel!

Shawn Colvin

sactree.comFor the most current

information about how you can get involved with your

urban forest.


L E A R N

E - n E w S l E t t E R

If you would like to help us save resources by receiving this newsletter by email, please send your full name and email to [email protected]

Change is inevitable and over 640 San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD) administrators, teachers, students and volunteers have embraced change by planting 742 trees on various campuses from elementary to high school. These trees were provided by the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s 20-year-old partnership with SMUD, which has blossomed to provide many opportunities to increase awareness of the multiple benefits trees provide.

Students throughout the District are not only planting trees, but also learning and helping with tasks such as monitoring. Monitoring will help assure trees get established and in turn benefit the community for future generations. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) units to pinpoint the tree locations, students are creating maps of the trees on their campus. This will help the maintenance department to manage these new additions to the urban forest and to address the needs of the newly planted trees. So far volunteers have donated 2,828 hours of time to this project, a value of $57,578! Bravo to the SJUSD for your efforts to help grow our urban forest by 5 million new trees.

Joni Ramirez

Growing and Changing with the San Juan Unified School District

Above: Casa Roble High School Below: Skycrest Elementary School

Photo by Jeanne Cunningham

Photo by Anne Fenkner


L E A R N

In front of our house stands the last of what was once a row of six English elm trees over 120’ tall and 90 years old that lined our block of Donner Way facing Curtis Park. It is stately and gracious, shading passers-by and even reaching its trunk over the sidewalk to greet them. We are so fortunate this tree is still with us.

In the summer of 2007, after the heartbreak of seeing the other five trees in the row go down to Dutch elm disease (DED) one by one, we could only fear the worst for this last elm. Already we knew we would never again see such a stately row of trees along our street. (Though I realize the original planters did not see the original six grow to this height either.) We knew the canopy it provided for our home, our sidewalk, and our block, would not reach 120 feet in our lifetime. The only, and highly appreciated, comfort we had was that Joni Ramirez of the Sacramento Tree Foundation was by our side the whole time, from when the first tree went down at the end of the block to the time the disease reached our end. Ray Tretheway responded immediately when we needed him in a crisis too. No one could save the infected trees, but the responsiveness, caring and education we received from the Tree Foundation along the way was invaluable. We were not alone.

Much to our amazement, the last tree somehow escaped the disease and we had a chance to try to keep it safe. On the recommendation of the Tree Foundation, we took a long shot and called Fallen

Leaf Tree Service, who came and injected the tree with Arbotect for about $300. We would see if the tree could stay healthy and resistant to the dreaded DED. In 2010, the tree was still standing strong, so we happily paid $360 for its next 3-year inoculation. Given its relation to the sun, this tree shades our neighbors’ house, as our other tree we lost used to shade ours. Our house no longer stays nearly as cool as it used to in the summer. The sudden direct sun also killed many of our flowers, and our maple tree was severely burned, but eventually it adapted and came back.

More happy news: the Tree Foundation helped us choose new street trees by the fall of 2007, and there was no doubt that we, and our next-door neighbors, wanted to honor the street with elms again. We chose the 'Accolade' variety of hybrid, highly DED resistant, and in 2011 the new trees are thriving! We can hardly believe how they’ve taken off, and are actually beginning to provide shade for us again. We will never forget the ambience of living under trees over 120’ tall – even then we never took a day of it for granted. We loved our trees, and it is bittersweet that we have the one remaining that reminds us of the five lost, while the new trees give us hope and happiness of yet another beautiful tree canopy in our future, and the future of Sacramento.

Janice Calpo

Our Elm Janice & Rudy Calpo's Favorite Tree

w h a t i S yo U R Favo R i t E t R E E ?

Send a story about your favorite tree to

[email protected]


L E A R N

Elms were planted extensively throughout California since the 1850s. Elms have made a visual statement along city streets, creating lush green tunnels of shade enjoyed by residents and visitors for decades. However, these stunning trees have been threatened in our region since 1991, when Dutch elm disease (DED) arrived in Sacramento. First isolated by Dutch pathologist Beatrice Schwartz in 1920, DED spread to the United States after many regions in Europe were already ravaged by elm canopy losses. Trees carrying European elm bark beetles (Scolytus multistriatus) were shipped to America around the time the disease was isolated; these bark beetles carried the fatal fungus that can cause DED. The bark beetles invaded the East Coast, spreading DED and killing trees by the tens of thousands in town after town as they made their way across America. By the time they arrived in Sacramento in 1991, over 40 million elm trees had already been lost due to DED across the nation. California had already established policies regarding monitoring elms, and the removal and disposal of elms with DED.

Ophiostoma ulmi is the primary fungus that causes DED, a fatal disease which keeps water from moving through the tree’s system. It is passed from tree to tree by bark beetles or through natural tree root grafting, killing trees usually within a few months. Flagging is one of the first signs of infection, evident between May and September when canopies are normally lush and full. Sections of leaves will look wilted or dry. The leaves curl, turn yellow, and remain on the tree for a time before they fall off. Brown discoloration and streaking occurs just under the bark where it is not generally seen. Many other problems can produce similar symptoms, such as drought stress, squirrel damage and elm leaf beetle damage. The

elm leaf beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) chews through leaves, creating a skeletal pattern that leaves a lacy appearance and can defoliate a tree which opens the tree up to other problems such as anthracnose and DED. The elm leaf beetle does not however transmit the DED fungus, the only insect culprit is the European elm bark beetle. Since DED cannot be confirmed visually, arborists make a diamond-shaped cut on the trunk of trees suspected of infection, and then send the sample to a reputable pathology lab for confirmation.

Once an elm is diagnosed with DED, it must be removed immediately to lessen the chance of further infecting surrounding trees. An arborist should remove larger trees for safety purposes. Care has to be taken so that any roots attached through grafting are removed to eliminate further spread of the disease. Once the tree is removed, the wood is stripped of its bark where the bark beetle lives.

We can approach the issue proactively for established trees in our community and minimize the impact by monitoring for DED. When necessary, non-affected trees can be injected with fungicide. Currently most municipalities use Arbotect, an EPA registered fungicide. It is a commonly used product providing three years of protection and is injected by a certified technician. Another way to minimize DED is to replace susceptible trees with DED resistant varieties. The City of Sacramento has planted resistant trees since 1995 and currently has over 300 DED resistant elms. Insects will always look for their next meal but there have been great strides in cultivating new varieties that are DED resistant.

Joni Ramirez

Dutch Elm Diseasei n qU i R i E S :

Please direct questions to Luanne Leineke [email protected] (916) 924-8733 x104

or Joni Ramirez [email protected] (916) 924-8733 x116

www.oracleoaknursery.com has a list of DED resistant varieties. If you are considering planting a DED resistant elm, buying within the state is recommended.

M o S t c o M M o n ly i n F E c t E D S p E c i E S :

American elm, Ulmus americana

European elms, Ulmus carpinifolia, or Ulmus glabra

D E D h a S b E E n F o U n D i n a F E w a S i a n va R i E t i E S l i k E :

Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia

Siberian elm, Ulmus pummel

Elm leaf beetle damage (not fatal)Leaf WiltElm bark beetle emergent holesElm bark beetle (magnified)


J O I N

Legacy Award: Recognizes the

innate worthiness of a tree or landscape,

as well as the beauty and value of these

living entities.

Inspirational Oak Grove

South of Sacramento, near the confluence of the Cosumnes and Mokelumne Rivers, a 493 acre property is home to a grove of majestic valley oaks. This 4-acre grove of valley oak deserves to be honored for inspiring big changes for the remaining 489 acres. Current owner Westervelt Ecological Services is restoring the property, which was once a farm field, to a

riparian floodplain forest, subject to the natural flows in the Cosumnes River. Aerial photos from 1929 show that the trees were once part of a larger riparian complex that has disappeared because of agricultural development. The remaining grove has been irreplaceable as an inspirational tool during restoration. It has guided the planting design, and has provided the acorns to be used throughout the restoration site. The grove will expand over time and eventually connect to the Cosumnes River Preserve forest to the north. This will become a critical piece of the riparian matrix along this stretch of the two rivers. Just like a small acorn that grows into a majestic oak, this small grove will grow to become a celebrated native forest.

2 0 1 1 t R E E h E R o a w a R D S

Growing GreenerIn recognition of Sacramento’s 150 year commitment to trees, the Sacramento Tree Foundation recognizes Tree Heroes: people and

landscapes that best exemplify outstanding accomplishments in tree planting, care and stewardship. We present these awards at our annual

Tree Hero celebration in the late spring.

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson with 2011 Tree Hero Award winner and Congresswoman Doris Matsui.

Inspirational Oak Grove

Photo by Kate Speiss

Photo by Terra van Zant


V O L U N T E E R

Growing Greenprint Award: Honors a government jurisdiction in

the Sacramento region that has made

noteworthy contributions toward

improving their communities by building a

better urban forest.

City of Elk GroveThe City of Elk Grove

demonstrates its commitment to building a green, vibrant and livable community by actively planting hundreds of new trees each year. The Elk Grove City Council was one of the first jurisdictions to formally adopt the regional Greenprint initiative in 2005, and has proven its dedication by updating the city tree protection ordinance, replanting native trees, and participating in workgroups to broaden the regional Greenprint vision. Efforts to increase native tree cover and habitat have resulted in the planting of over 1,900 new native trees over the last 6 years. In 2006, with the help of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and community volunteers, the City of Elk Grove was able to complete a canopy assessment survey that provided critical data regarding the current state of the City’s urban forest. This winter, Elk Grove débuted a new tree ordinance focusing on quality tree management and tree replacement. Time and again, the City of Elk Grove has shown its commitment to building a beautiful, safe and sustainable urban forest for the future.

Austin B. Carroll Award: Honors

an organization with a wide range of tree

planting, care and stewardship efforts,

as well as effective education and public

awareness activities.

Woodland Tree Foundation

In June 2000, twenty-five Woodland leaders came together to form the Woodland Tree Foundation. United under one common mission, “Building Community Through Canopy,” the all-volunteer nonprofit organization plants and cares for trees in Woodland and surrounding Yolo County. This organization may

be small in number but it is mighty in scope. Over the past 10 years the group has: educated local businesses, students, and government on the health, economic and environmental benefits of trees; organized over 40 plantings and planted approximately 2,100 trees; and partnered with city and community groups to stretch dollars and resources so that the Foundation can grow oaks, redbuds, and other native shrubs. Recently, the Woodland Tree Foundation adopted a 5-mile stretch of State Highway 113 from Woodland south towards Davis where it plants and cares for native trees and colorful Chinese pistaches.

C. K. McClatchy Award: Honors

a person whose pursuit of the greening of

Sacramento has become synonymous with

that of C.K. McClatchy, who championed

the importance of trees.

Congresswoman Doris O. MatsuiWe would like to recognize United States

Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s innovative and visionary leadership in expanding our nation’s urban forests, improving the health and well-being of American citizens, and furthering our energy independence.

As a recognized leader in the Sacramento community and in Congress, Representative Matsui is our region’s distinctive voice for flood control and public health reform. Congresswoman Matsui spearheaded a Congressional movement to persuade the Army Corps of Engineers to review and reform federal levee protection policies that put thousands of trees in the Sacramento area at risk of being cut down.

Congresswoman Matsui is also a strong supporter of urban forestry and urban forest programs. She authored the Energy Conservation through Trees Act, modeled after the successful SMUD and Sacramento Tree Foundation Shade Tree Program. The Energy Conservation through Trees Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to provide financial and technical assistance to utility companies so that the success and many benefits of the Shade Tree Program, can be replicated across the country. Thank you, Congresswoman Matsui, for your ongoing dedication to the people and urban forests of Sacramento and beyond!

Rachael Harrington

t h a n k yo U t o o U R l a n D M a R k S p o n S o R :

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union #447

sactree.com/thaLearn more about the Tree Hero Awards, the event, past winners and how to nominate your heroes.




V O L U N T E E R

Community Voices


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Become a Personal Member of the Sacramento Tree Foundation

Membership provides you with quarterly newsletters and announcements of special events. It provides the Sacramento Tree Foundation with the support essential for operations and programs.

Join others who are committed to creating a legacy of trees for future generations.

(916) 924-8733 | www.sactree.com

Yes! I want to become a personal member of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and receive the Urban Forest Monitor. My tax-deductible membership dues are enclosed.

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Make all checks payable to: Sacramento Tree Foundation

Return to: Sacramento Tree Foundation 191 Lathrop Way, Suite D Sacramento, CA 95815

For information on corporate memberships: Please contact us at (916) 924-8733.

J O I N

New and renewed members 3/1/11 to 5/13/11

Personal Members

SUStaining ($1,000)John McKinney

Miles Treaster

FoRESt ($250)Chris Phinney and Phyllis Lee

tREE ($100)Joseph Angelo and Ann Angelo

Catherine Bernard

Pam Bone and Dr. Michael Bone

Willie Carroll

Bob Dreizler and Stacey Dreizler

Martin Helmke and Joan Williams

James Hepler, M.D. and Phyllis Hepler

Tim Lien and Kim Lien

Robert Metcalf and Mary Beth Metcalf

Michael Mills

Debbie Powell

Daniel Pskowski

Jerry Rogan and Mary Grenbeaux

George Smith

Shiro Suzuki and Asuka Suzuki

SEEDling ($50)Ronald Anderson

Ken Cemo and Michele Cemo

Richard Close

Annette De Andreis and Michael Turgeon

Tony Decristoforo and Elinor Decristoforo

The Dudley Family

Jane Finger

Teri Griffis

Diane Halcromb

Barbara Hall

Susan Johnson

James Maher and Julie Cozzolino

Kelly Martinez and Saul Martinez

Michele Melander and Binns Melander

Melva Mills

Carol Misquez and Will Misquez

Kathleen Nickerman

Uichi Nishimura and Hiromi Nishimura

Lonnie Ratzlaff and M. J. Ratzlaff

Drs. Jason Rogers and Amy Rogers

Michael Silver and Christine Ratekin

Donald Syftestad and Jo Ann Syftestad

Judy Tracy

Linda Whitney and Allan Owen

Our members are the lifelines of our mission. Thank you for your continued support.Join Us Mission:

To grow healthy, livable

communities in the

Sacramento region by

empowering people to

plant, protect and learn

about trees.

Board of Directors

pRESiDEntWilliam Ishmael

vicE pRESiDEntSteve Johns

SEcREtaRySydney Coatsworth

tREaSURERMichael Benoff

Dr. Ami Bera

Dr. Janine Bera

Christi Black

John Briggs

Eric Douglas

Della Gilleran

Chris Griffin

Ryan Hooper

John Lane

John Mckinney

Charles Metzinger

Lynn Pomeroy

Rev. Jean Shaw

Sandra Shewry

Jeffrey Townsend

John Webre

boaRD EMERitUSJane Hagedorn

Ann Kohl

ExEcUtivE DiREctoRRaymond L. Tretheway III

thank yoU to oUR paRtnERS:

Sacramento Tree Foundation191 Lathrop Way, Suite DSacramento, CA 95815

(916) 924-tree

Non-Profit Org.U. S . Po s t a g eP A I DPermit No. 179Sacramento, CA


The Sacramento Urban Forest

Monitora publication of the

Sacramento Tree Foundation

Managing EditorRachael Harrington

Copy EditorGeoffrey Wood

DesignPhil Tretheway

TrethewayDesign.com

Please visit our website to find more information:

sactree.com

Help us win a new truck.

Vote for the Sacramento Tree Foundation on July 4th in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program.

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