Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

City of Jefferson, Georgia SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOREST MASTER PLAN

Version 1.0 August 31, 2010

Prepared by Constance P. Head Consulting Urban Forester Technical Forestry Services

1046 White Hill School Road Commerce, Georgia 30529 706.202.5279 / [email protected]

City of Jefferson, Georgia SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOREST MASTER PLAN

Version 1.0 August 31, 2010

Prepared by Constance P. Head Consulting Urban Forester Technical Forestry Services

1046 White Hill School Road Commerce, Georgia 30529 706.202.5279 / [email protected]

Table of Contents

FOREWORD ...... i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... iii

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION ...... 1

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY ...... 2

SCOPE OF MASTER PLAN ...... 2

Content ...... 2

Time Frame ...... 2

Trees Addressed ...... 3

SECTION 2: JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST TODAY ...... 4

OVERVIEW ...... 5

THE TREE RESOURCE ...... 6

Tree Canopy Cover ...... 6

The City Tree Resource ...... 8 Locations of City Trees ...... 8 City Tree Inventory ...... 9

ADMINISTRATION ...... 11

Roles and Responsibilities ...... 11 City Arborist ...... 11 Public Works and Street Department ...... 12 Parks and Recreation Department ...... 12 Jefferson City Schools ...... 12 Jefferson Heritage Tree Council ...... 12

Recordkeeping and Reporting ...... 13

Policies ...... 13 City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

City Code of Ordinances ...... 13 Development Assessments ...... 14 Recommended Revisions to the Land Use Management Code ...... 15 Recommended Revisions to Other Sections of the City Code ...... 17

PROGRAMS ...... 18

City Tree Establishment ...... 18

City Tree Maintenance ...... 18 City Tree Maintenance ...... 19 Park Tree Maintenance ...... 19 City Schools Tree Maintenance ...... 19 Tree Maintenance Equipment ...... 19

Private Tree Management ...... 20

Education and Outreach ...... 20 Gift Tree Program ...... 20 Heritage Tree Program ...... 20 Staff Training ...... 21

Tree City USA ...... 24

Georgia Urban Forest Council ...... 24

FUNDING ...... 25

City Budget ...... 25

Grants ...... 25

Donations ...... 27 SECTION 3: JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST VISION AND GOALS ...... 28

JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST VISION ...... 29

JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST GOALS ...... 31

Long‐term Goals ...... 31

Short‐term Goals ...... 32 City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2008‐2038 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPORT ...... 34

SECTION 4: PROGRAMS ...... 36

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMS ...... 37

ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM ...... 37

Responsibility for City Trees ...... 37 City Arborist ...... 37 The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council ...... 39 Street Department ...... 40 Parks and Recreation Department ...... 40 Jefferson City Schools ...... 41 Jefferson Tree Stewards ...... 41 City Planner ...... 41

Responsibility for Private Trees ...... 42

Program Planning ...... 42

Tree Work Order System ...... 42

Recordkeeping ...... 43

Reporting ...... 44

FUNDING PROGRAM ...... 45

City Budget ...... 45 Environmental Fee ...... 46 Tree Bank ...... 46

Grants ...... 47

Donations ...... 48

ARBORICULTURAL STANDARDS PROGRAM ...... 48

Arboricultural Terminology ...... 49

Safety Requirements ...... 49

Tree Protection Standards ...... 50

Site and Species Selection Standards ...... 51 City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Site Preparation Standards ...... 52

Nursery Stock Selection Standards ...... 53

Tree Planting Standards ...... 53

Mulching Standards ...... 55

Irrigation Standards ...... 57

Fertilization Standards ...... 57

Pruning Standards ...... 58

Electric Utility Right‐of‐way Vegetation Management ...... 59

Tree Support Systems Standards ...... 60

Lightning Protection Systems Standards ...... 60

Standards for Determining Tree Value ...... 61

Tree Removal Standards ...... 61

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ...... 62

COMMUNITY FOREST INFORMATION PROGRAM ...... 63

Tree Canopy Cover ...... 63

City Tree Inventory ...... 64

CITY TREE ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM ...... 64

Number of Trees ...... 64

Matching Tree Planting Program ...... 65

Tree Planting Objectives ...... 65

Tree Planting Work Plan ...... 66

City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List...... 66

CITY TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ...... 70

Introduction to the Work Plans ...... 70

New Tree Maintenance Work Plan ...... 71

Established Tree Maintenance Work Plan ...... 71

Tree Pruning Work Plan ...... 72

Tree Mulching Work Plan ...... 74 City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Tree Fertilization Work Plan ...... 75

Cabling and Bracing Work Plan ...... 75

Pest Management Plan ...... 76 Insects and Diseases ...... 76 Mistletoe ...... 76

General Maintenance Work Plan ...... 77

Tree Inspection Work Plan ...... 77

Tree Removal Work Plan ...... 77

PRIVATE PROPERTY TREE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ...... 78

Development Assessments ...... 78

Revisions of the Land Use Management Code ...... 78

Site Plan and Variance Request Review ...... 79

Trees on Existing Developments ...... 79

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM ...... 79

Educational Programs ...... 79

Educational Opportunities ...... 80

Target Audiences ...... 81

Media ...... 81 Brochures and Bulletins ...... 81 Websites ...... 82

Reference Library ...... 82

City Tree Festival ...... 83

Educational Opportunities (Non‐City Sponsored) ...... 83

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM ...... 84

APPENDICES ...... 85

CONTENT OF APPENDICES ...... 86 Appendix A: Tree Canopy Cover Study Results Appendix B: 2008‐2010 Tree Inventory Data Summaries and Results ...... 87

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Appendix B: 2008‐2010 Tree Inventory Data Summaries and Results ...... 88

Appendix C: 2009‐2010 Tree Planting Results ...... 89

Appendix D. Homeowner Tree Assessment Form ...... 90

Appendix E: Master Work PlanAppendix F: Glossary of Arboricultural Terms ...... 91

Appendix F: Glossary of Arboricultural Terms ...... 92

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Foreword This Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan was written specifically for the city of Jefferson to meet the community’s unique needs, goals, and vision. Throughout the course of a year, the consultant worked with city officials, staff, volunteers, local agencies and citizens-at-large to define the current state of Jefferson’s community trees, to create a vision and set goals for the community forest and its management, and to develop a master plan that puts into place, in a progressive manner, a framework for quality and efficient management of the city’s community trees. The official adoption and timely implementation of this plan is vital to the long-term success of the city’s community forest management program. Acknowledgements The author would like to acknowledge the ongoing support provided by Mayor Jim Joiner and members of the Jefferson City Council and the valuable guidance provided by City Manager John Ward during the process of developing this master plan, and would also like to thank city staff, especially employees of the Public Works and Street Department and the Parks and Recreation Department, and Jefferson City Schools staff as well. The author would also like to acknowledge the outstanding assistance of the members of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, who donated hundreds of hours of their time toward the completion of this project and toward the continuing success of the city’s community forest management program. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council and the City of Jefferson would like to gratefully acknowledge the funding assistance provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission and their ongoing and vital support of the city’s community forest program.

Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-A, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

About this document… This document was formatted according to the Associated Press Style Book. It was produced in MS Word and converted to an Adobe PDF document. The plan may be downloaded from the city’s website as a PDF file and is also available from City Hall at a cost of $25 for a hard copy and $10 for a CD. The acronyms listed below with their meanings are used repeatedly throughout this document, and are reproduced here for quick reference:

@ ANSI = American National Standards Institute @ BMP = Best Management Practice @ DBH = Diameter at Breast Height (trunk diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground) @ GUFC = Georgia Urban Forest Council @ ISA = International Society of Arboriculture

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Jefferson’s current community forest management program is young, active and administered by a dedicated and passionate group of staff and volunteers. Since the program’s inception just 4 years ago an impressive array of programs has been successfully implemented. In the last 2 years alone, with the leadership and support of city staff, Tree Council volunteers, consulting urban foresters and arborists, the Mayor and City Council, and the community as a whole, the city has completed a city tree inventory (more than 2,500 trees); completed measurements of tree canopy (56 percent) and impervious surface cover (11 percent) across the city; conducted four (4) staff tree maintenance training sessions, three (3) Tree Council development sessions, two (2) park clean-up events, an Arbor Day celebration, and a strategic planning session; completed an assessment of trees on development sites and reviewed provisions of the Land Use Management Code to find ways to improve its effectiveness; planted 177 trees on city property for a cost of only $1,400; and received $90,240 in grant funding and completed three (3) grant projects. These activities and many more supporting activities have been completed at an expense to the city of less than $5000! With a desire to sustain the momentum of the program and to approach management in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner, the city and the Tree Council commissioned the development of this Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan. The plan includes both short- and long-term programs and activities. It contains 4 main sections and appendices. After an introduction to the plan in Section 1, a not-so-brief summary of the current state of the community forest and its management is provided in Section 2. Substantial detail has been included so that the new management program described later in the plan can be considered with sufficient context. To guide the city in transitioning from the current state to the vision of a healthy, expansive, and beautiful community forest presented along with long- and short-term goals in Section 3, programs and work plans are outlined in Section 4 which will establish the foundation for the city’s program as it moves forward. These programs and work plans address administration, funding, arboricultural standards, community forest information, city tree establishment, new tree maintenance, established tree maintenance, private tree management, and education and outreach. The Mayor, City Council, City Manager, City Arborist, Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, Main Street Jefferson, Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments, and Jefferson City Schools all have prominent roles to play and responsibilities to meet in community forest management. The city will continue to hire consulting urban foresters and arborists to provide technical expertise and program coordination, and eventually the city will hire a full-time employee to serve as the City Arborist, budgets permitting. Additional recommendations for administration include an annual planning meeting, regular bi-monthly meetings of the Jefferson

iii

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Heritage Tree Council, and expanding the council’s voting membership to 11. The council’s regular meetings will be attended by city staff and others that work around community trees and will serve as information sharing sessions between community forest management partners. Improvements in recordkeeping are part of the new administration program so that outcomes can be evaluated against goals and plans to facilitate future planning and budgeting. Regular reporting of tree program activities to the City Manager, Mayor and City Council will continue and eventually be expanded to include an annual state of the trees report. Funding of the program is addressed in the plan, however, no annual budget requests are proposed as it is difficult to know what constraints will be in place or what opportunities will be available for outside funding when budget requests need to be made. Regardless of these unknown constraints and opportunities the program will rely on three (3) main sources of funding which include the city budget, grants, and donations of cash and in-kind services. Arboricultural standards and best management practices will be adopted and implemented for all city trees and for trees regulated by the Land Use Management Code. The adoption, implementation, and enforcement of these standards are essential to increase tree health and longevity, maintain tree canopy cover, and reduce tree establishment and maintenance costs. Management will also rely heavily on information gathered about the tree resource during the city’s tree inventories and tree canopy cover measurement. Central to the new program is a goal of no net loss of tree canopy cover and the arborist will track tree canopy cover change on city property and attempt to do the same on private property by asking individuals and businesses to voluntarily provide information about changes in their tree canopy online on the city’s website. The city will continue its robust tree planting program, planting a minimum of 125 trees each year along city streets (80), in parks (20), and on school campuses (25). In addition to a goal of maintaining the current level of tree canopy cover, increasing species diversity and 100 percent stocking of street tree sites are long-term goals of the tree establishment program. To double the results of the city’s efforts, residential, commercial, and industrial property owners will be asked to match the planting of these trees by planting a tree on their property. If this match program is successful, a minimum of 250 trees will be planted in the city each year. The implementation of routine tree protection, inspection, mulching, pruning, watering, fertilization, and removal programs, as well as addressing the more immediate maintenance needs identified in the tree inventory, represents a huge increase the workload for city staff. It will take 5 years or more for these programs to become routine and for the workload to stabilize. Getting even the most essential maintenance done will require the involvement of many community partners. City tree maintenance responsibilities are divided between staff from the Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments, Jefferson City Schools, the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, and a new group of volunteers to be known as “Jefferson Tree Stewards.” The tree stewards will be trained to provide specialized training pruning, mulching, and

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan inspection for newly planted trees. Eventually 30 tree stewards will be trained and certified to prune and mulch 250 to 400 trees per year to reduce the workload on staff. Residents and businesses will also be asked to help the city in caring for the trees on the right-of-way adjacent to their property by properly mulching them and watering them in times of low rainfall. In the next 5 years the city will begin to address the maintenance recommendations made during the tree inventory. Each year 30 medium to large street and park trees will be pruned, five (5) will be removed, and one (1) will be cabled and braced. The work will be done by city staff or experienced contractors. Each year 16 medium to large school trees will be pruned, five (5) will be removed, and one (1) will be cabled and braced. The work will be done by city schools staff or experienced contractors. Numerous other maintenance activities will also be scheduled and completed to address tree inventory recommendations, including fertilization, removal of vines and wires from tree branches and trunks, and root collar excavation to remove girdling roots and straps and wire baskets left on root balls at the time of planting. In the long-term the city will inspect, prune, cable and brace, fertilize, and remove trees as needs are identified. A routine pruning program with a 10-year cycle will be developed. All city trees will be re-inventoried every 10 years, and every 5 years a new tree canopy cover measurement will be completed to determine trends in tree canopy and impervious surface cover change. The management of trees on new development sites through the Land Use Management Code will continue. The recommendations made after the development assessments and Land Use Management Code review to improve the effectiveness of the code in achieving the community’s vision and goals will be discussed with a stakeholder group after they provide their input a final set of recommendations will be submitted for adoption to the Mayor and City Council. The plan includes the establishment of an environmental fee to pay for the cost of site plan and variance reviews and site inspections by the City Arborist, and the establishment of a tree bank that will accept monies in lieu of trees when reductions in tree density or increases in impervious surfaces are approved. Forfeited landscape bonds will also be deposited in the tree bank. Finally, the master plan continues the city’s ambitious education and outreach program, providing over the years tree care education and information through a variety of media and events to city and city schools staff, landscape, tree service, and construction contractors, Tree Council members, neighborhood associations, commercial and industrial property owners, and the community at large. Of utmost importance will be educating staff and the development community on standards and best management practices for tree care. The city’s annual Arbor Day celebration will continue with an expanded multi-event tree festival. A Heritage Tree Calendar will be developed as an educational tool and fundraiser for the Tree Council. The community forest management program described in this Master Plan is ambitious. It cannot be implemented all at once. If implemented progressively, and diligently, the city will build a sustainable community forest management program and see their community forest vision realized.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Jefferson is an attractive, healthy, and enjoyable place to live, work, and visit. One of the reasons for our high quality of life is the city’s green infrastructure—our canopy of trees. Our beautiful trees provide a major and irreplaceable contribution to maintaining the city’s economic and environmental health and sustaining the character of our community.

Trees provide us with clean air, clean water, energy savings, higher property values, quality wildlife habitat, ample recreational opportunities, and an overall sense of well-being. Because we all value the functions and benefits trees provide, the city has commissioned the development of this Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan to provide guidance and a framework for managing our trees for the benefit of the community. The management of trees, like the management of roads, utilities, and public safety facilities, involves planning, regulation, and maintenance. If properly managed trees are valuable assets. If neglected or not properly managed they can become a liability, threaten public health and safety, and detract from our community’s charm. Unlike other infrastructure components, however, trees are living entities. They have unique biological requirements and constraints. They grow larger over time. They require adequate growing space above and below ground and quality soils to remain healthy and have a chance of reaching their size potential. If protected from encroachment and damage they will have a long service life, their benefits will be maximized, and tree management costs will be minimized. Establishing trees, allocating enough space to them so that they remain healthy, protecting them and the soil resource, and providing basic and routine maintenance cost money. For this money to be wisely spent, it is essential to establish, protect, and maintain trees according to professional standards and best management practices. The community forest management policies and programs described in this plan are designed to sustain the health and extent of the city’s trees in a cost-effective manner. Research has shown that trees are beneficial to businesses and increase revenues. They increase property values and a city’s tax base. They producing the oxygen we need to breathe, provide cooling shade, improving our water quality, and making our community healthier, more livable, and more attractive to businesses and visitors. Our trees pay us back every day and if kept healthy they will do so for generations to come.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The Concept of Sustainability The concept of sustainability has been variously defined by governmental agencies and organizations, but a key concept is that development, to be successful over the long term, must proceed in a way that protects the natural resource base. Sustainability has both a public and private sector component. For the purposes of developing public policy, sustainability is often defined as the satisfaction of basic economic, social, and security needs for citizens now and in the future without undermining the natural resource base and environmental quality on which life, and quality of life, depends. From a private, business perspective the goal of sustainability is to increase long-term shareholder and social value, while decreasing industry’s use of materials and reducing negative impacts on the environment. Sustainability recognizes a need to support a growing economy while reducing the social and economic costs of economic growth and development. Sustainable development fosters policies that integrate environmental, economic, and social values in decision making. In the master plan development process, the model the city has followed was to first determine what we have, then decide on what we want, and finally develop and implement a plan that will guide us from what we are to where we want to be, with the concept of sustainability in mind. The plan attempts to work integrate not only the sustainability of the health, expanse, and beauty of the tree resource, but also the expenditures the entire program will require in time, energy, and money.

Scope of Master Plan

Content This master plan contains a fairly detailed description of the current state of our community forest and its management (Section 2), sets forth a vision and goals for the community forest (Section 3), and then defines the administration, policies, programs, and plans that define the community’s community forest management plan going forward (Section 4). The appendices (Section 5) provide considerable supplemental information on the current and future program. Time Frame The master plan outlines many more activities than what could reasonably be implemented all at one time or within a year. Therefore, implementation of program activities are scheduled throughout the next 5 years—defined as the short-term in this plan. The recommended short-term program elements and activities that will continue or be added are directed at making progress

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

toward the city’s short-term goals. The short-term period covers calendar years 2011 through 2016 if the city adopts this master plan by December 2010. By the end of the next 5 years many of the recommended programs will be well underway and part of the city’s routine management program. Most programs are expected to continue beyond 2016 and well into the long-term future, and some additional activities will implemented beyond the short-term to meet the city’s long-term community forest management goals. Trees Addressed The Master Plan specifically addresses all trees on city property, including city school sites, and also directly addresses trees on new private property developments through the Land Use Management Code. Trees on other private property, such as existing commercial and industrial sites, and trees growing on residential properties, are indirectly addressed through the city’s education and outreach program.

Section 2 includes a detailed description of the current state of Jefferson’s community forest and the city’s management program as it stands today.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

SECTION 2: JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST TODAY

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Overview Passion, interest, and support are not lacking in the community forestry program that has been developing in Jefferson over the past 4 years. Although the program is young, much has been accomplished as the result of excellent cooperation between dedicated city staff and volunteers. The city of Jefferson’s community forest management program is administered through the office of the City Manager and the city employs a consultant to fill the role of City Arborist. The program is funded in part through the city budget, but the majority of the current program funding comes from grant awards. The city also employs a consultant to fill the role of the City Planner, who is responsible for the administration of the Land Use Management Code adopted by the city. Important in maintaining tree canopy cover, the Land Use Management Code regulates tree protection, planting, and landscaping on new private property developments. The Street Department within the Public Works Division is responsible for maintaining city trees, including their establishment, watering, mulching, pruning, and removal. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the maintenance of trees in city parks and administers the contract for landscape maintenance within the parks. The Jefferson City Schools Facilities Maintenance Department is responsible for tree planting and maintenance on city school campuses. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, operating under the umbrella of Main Street Jefferson, is an integral part of the city’s program and a primary partner in developing, implementing, and supporting city tree management initiatives. The Council conducts an active community tree education and outreach program. They have also been extremely successful in securing and administering grants for community forest program activities. The city has recently completed a tree canopy cover measurement and close Jefferson Heritage Tree Council members Lesa Campbell, to a 100 percent inventory of all city Barbara Johnson, and Harry Bryan confer during the tree trees, and they now know much about canopy cover measurement project.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

the tree resource they are managing. City staff and volunteers are beginning to use this information for program planning and budgeting purposes. While the city currently has a very active program, it lacks sufficient staffing, routine and timely maintenance, standards for tree establishment and care, rigorous enforcement of regulations, and adequate funding to sustain a comprehensive program. The current state of the city’s major tree management program elements—the tree resource, administration, policies, programs, and funding—are described in more detail in the following pages.

THE TREE RESOURCE The trees that make up the community forest—the city’s “green infrastructure”—grow on city, county, state, and private property. The city has direct control over trees on city property and on most new development sites. They have no direct control over trees on county property. The city exercises some control of trees on state road rights-of-way, primarily through periodic maintenance of these trees. City-owned trees are an important part of the whole, although they may represent only 5 percent or less of all community trees. But, they are for the most part strategically located to provide substantial benefits. Trees growing along street rights-of-way shade the pavement and keep surface temperatures 30 to 40 degrees cooler in the summer. In parks and on school campuses they provide shade and cooling for our children, and a restful, green landscape where we all can play, exercise, relax, and unwind. The majority of the community’s tree resource is privately owned—located on agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, office and institutional property. Little information is known about these trees and their management. Certainly it can be assumed that the number, diversity, health and maintenance of these trees vary widely from property to property. Recently the Tree Council has begun to offer free tree assessments upon request from city residents and over time a body of information will be developed regarding the condition and management of trees on residential property. In the last 2 years, the city has started gathering information about community trees overall and city trees specifically through a tree canopy cover measurement project and a complete city tree inventory. Tree Canopy Cover Tree canopy and other types of land cover within the city limits of Jefferson were measured in November 2009 using aerial photography flown in February 2009. The main objective of the

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

measurement was to develop a baseline measurement against which future measurements can be compared for monitoring trends in tree canopy cover and impervious surface change. A report summarizing the methodology and results of the measurement is located in Appendix A. Five (5) categories of land cover were measured, and the results are:

@ Tree canopy = 56 percent @ Other vegetation = 29 percent @ Impervious surfaces = 11 percent @ Bare soil and gravel = 3 percent @ Water = 1 percent The actual amount of impervious surfaces across the city is actually higher than the 11.3 percent measured, since tree canopy covers a portion of the streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and rooftops. An example of the aerial photography used for the tree canopy cover measurement (downtown Jefferson). Each yellow dot in Observations across all photographs the grid represents a measurement plot. The type of land cover showed that in general the greatest beneath each dot was recorded. Over 26,990 dots were extent of tree canopy cover is located evaluated! on undeveloped land, in rural areas, and in older residential neighborhoods. The least amount of tree canopy is generally found in commercial districts—especially in parking lots, on industrial sites, and in new residential subdivisions where significant amounts of trees are often removed and replaced with impervious surfaces, turf, and a minimum number of replacement trees.

This first tree canopy cover measurement by the city will serve as a reference point for According to the Natural Resources developing community forest management Spatial Analysis Laboratory (NARSAL) at policy, as well as providing a baseline for the University of Georgia, from 1991 to comparing future measurements and assessing land cover change over time. 2005 only 3 counties in Georgia recorded faster impervious growth than Jefferson. Additional information on tree canopy cover in Georgia and Jackson County can be found on From A. Saunders Tree Inventory Final Report Presentation, August 2009 the website of the University of Georgia’s Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory at www.narsal.uga.edu. Dr. Liz Kramer has done extensive work on the evaluation of land cover

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan in Georgia communities. An analysis of the lab’s by consultant Andrew Saunders data shows that tree canopy cover in Jefferson has gone from 52 percent in 1991 to 49 percent in 2001 and remained at 49 percent in 2005. Impervious surfaces increased from 2 percent in 1992 to more than 7 percent in 2005. NARSAL will soon publish the results of their latest update of land cover information per Dr. Kramer. The city’s tree canopy is composed of both city-owned trees and privately-owned trees. As mentioned earlier, more information is known about the city’s tree resource. This information is summarized below.[ The City Tree Resource

Locations of City Trees City-owned trees are growing on the following city-owned land and properties.

@ City street rights-of-way @ City parks o City Park o Curry Creek Park o Jefferson Recreation Complex o Marlowe Park o Midland Park o V. S. Hughey Park

@ City facilities o City Hall o City Pool o Civic Center o Crawford W. Long Museum o Fire Hall No. 1 o Fire Hall No. 2 o Jefferson Water Treatment Facility o Jefferson Waterworks Department o Police Department o Public Library o Woodbine Cemetery

@ City schools o Jefferson Academy

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

o Jefferson Elementary School o Jefferson Middle School o Jefferson High School In addition to these locations, the city also assists with the establishment and management of trees along state highways within the city limits, trees at the Historic Courthouse, trees at the Jackson County Government Complex, and those growing on the campus of Jackson County Comprehensive High School.

City Tree Inventory An inventory of city trees was completed over a 2-year period from September 2008 through July 2010 by urban forestry consultant and ISA1 Certified Arborist Andrew Saunders. To date a total of 2,318 trees have been inventoried. This includes 1,081 street trees, 448 park trees, 130 trees around city offices and facilities, and 659 trees on city school campuses. The ARRA grant trees have also been mapped and inventoried, as have trees growing on property owned wholly or in part by the city, but in use by Jackson County. Summaries of the results of the inventories and summary charts of the data (except for County sites) are located in Appendix B. The inventory along street rights-of-way also included collection of information on vacant tree planting sites. There were 1,491 vacant sites identified throughout the city, 485 of which are considered very high priority sites and another 485 that are considered high priority sites. Of the total number of sites, 1,058 are considered suitable for large trees, 233 are considered medium- sized spaces, and 200 are suitable only for small maturing trees that will not exceed 25 feet in height. Since the time the inventories were completed, and at the time of the writing of this plan, an additional 177 trees have been planted on city property, resulting in a total of 2,495 city trees. These newly planted trees include 11 at V. S. Hughey Park, four (4) in Curry Creek Park, 12 on school campuses, and 150 along city street rights of way and around city facilities. The data for these 177 new trees has not yet been incorporated into the main tree inventory database, but the trees are addressed along with others in this plan in the tree maintenance work plans. The tree and planting site inventory data were one of the main sources of input for the development of the tree maintenance work plans outlined later in this master plan. Some of the significant findings of the street tree inventory are:

@ 1,081 street trees inventoried @ 32.6 percent were crapemyrtles

1 International Society of Arboriculture

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ 14 percent of the crapemyrtles have been topped @ The trees are generally healthy, with 92 percent in good or excellent condition @ 15.2 percent exhibit signs of dieback or decline @ 68 trees require hazard reduction pruning or removal @ 30.2 percent of all trees require some type of pruning General recommendations, in addition to the individual tree maintenance recommendations, made by the consultant are:

@ Consider using alternative species to crapemyrtle, such as o Dogwood o Serviceberry o Redbud o Vitex o Crabapple o Yoshino Cherry o Chinese Flametree o Fringetree o Smoketree

@ Recently planted trees should be pruned, mulched, watered, and inspected as the early establishment years are a critical time for tree maintenance Some significant findings of the inventory of vacant planting sites are:

@ 1,491 sites were inventoried @ 1,058 are suitable for large canopy trees @ 485 are considered very high priority sites, with the same number, 485, considered high priority sites @ Approximately 12 percent of the sites have utility interactions making them suitable for small maturing trees only Significant findings of the park tree inventory are:

@ 448 trees were inventoried @ The most trees are located at City Park (182), the Jefferson Recreation Complex (172), and Curry Creek Park (90) @ 42% of the trees are either loblolly or shortleaf pine @ The trees are generally healthy; 92 percent are in good or excellent condition

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ There are 19 trees (20 percent) that need to be inspected annually, with most of these located in City Park @ 15.8 percent of the trees have girdling roots @ 32.2 percent require some type of pruning The short-term recommendations of the consultant based on the inventory results are:

@ Implement all maintenance prescriptions generated by the inventory @ Set up a systematic annual planting program @ Create and promote a crapemyrtle alternatives campaign @ Apply for the Tree City USA Growth Award The long-term recommendations of the consultant are:

@ Commit to an annual maintenance program to promote a healthy community forest @ Review existing tree ordinance to ensure adequate planting during development @ Partner with local and regional groups to promote a sustainable community forest @ Apply for GATEway grant to plant GDOT corridors

ADMINISTRATION

Roles and Responsibilities The Mayor and City Council and the City Manager have the primary responsibility for making tree management decisions that significantly affect city revenues and expenditures and the overall focus of the community forest management program. However, day-to-day city tree management activities are delegated to a contract City Arborist, Public Works and Street Department staff, Parks and Recreation staff, and members of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council. Jefferson City Schools Superintendent has the primary responsibility for making tree management decisions for trees on city school campuses, but delegates day-to-day management activities to the Facilities Maintenance Superintendent.

City Arborist The City currently employs a contract urban forester who fills the role of City Arborist and assists city staff—including the City Manager, Public Works Director, Street Department Superintendent, Parks and Recreation Department—and Jefferson Heritage Tree Council in

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

coordinating tree management activities. The arborist also provides technical expertise on an as needed basis. The City Arborist hires additional arborists as subcontractors to complete some program tasks. The City Arborist reports to the City Manager on program activities and receives input from on current priorities. City tree evaluations are made by the City Arborist as requested by the City Manager, Main Street Jefferson, or the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council. The arborist also review development site plans, and after reviewing the plans and visiting the site, the arborist provides recommendations to the City Planner for consideration in evaluating development applications and plans.

Public Works and Street Department The maintenance of city trees is primarily the responsibility of the Public Works Director and the Street Department for trees located on the street rights-of-way and around city offices and facilities. Occasionally the city hires a contractor is accomplish some maintenance tasks, such as pruning and removal. The city does not maintain trees on city property that is currently occupied by Jackson County.

Parks and Recreation Department The city’s Parks and Recreation Department maintains trees in most of the city parks and at the Jefferson Recreation Complex. Staff prunes trees at the Recreation Complex, but generally not at other city parks. The Parks and Recreation Department employs a landscape contractor that is primarily responsible for mowing the turf areas and emptying trash receptacles. The city Street Department assists the Parks and Recreation Department in tree planting and maintenance.

Jefferson City Schools The Facility Maintenance Supervisor at Jefferson City Schools is responsible for the maintenance of the trees on city school campuses. The Superintendent of Jefferson City Schools is responsible for making tree management decisions, including tree planting, tree removals, providing staff training. Schools staff is sometimes assisted by Street Department staff to complete critical tree maintenance upon request or as the need arises. The City Arborist also provides technical expertise to Jefferson City Schools upon request or as the need arises.

Jefferson Heritage Tree Council The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council is a dynamic organization that promotes community trees through a variety of initiatives. They are an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council in tree- related issues.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The Council is a relatively young organization, having been in existence for only 4 years. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council was established by the Mayor and City Council by unanimous resolution in February of 2004 and operates under the organizational umbrella of the Main Street Jefferson program. The Council provides information, education, and outreach to the community, and also seeks out sources of grant funding and assists the city in applying for grant funds. The Council provides substantial support to city’s tree management program and works with the city to accomplish much work through their strong partnership. Recordkeeping and Reporting There is no formal or comprehensive recordkeeping system that has been established for tree management program records. There is no work order system in place for keeping records on tree work to be done or completed. City employees and volunteers whose work contributes to grant projects as in-kind donations keep records on their contributions and submit those records to the Tree Council Vice-chairperson for grant record-keeping and reporting purposes. Reports on tree program activities are provided by the City Arborist through a quarterly written report and quarterly presentation to the Mayor and City Council at their work session. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council maintains records on grant activities and provides copies of grant applications, quarterly reports, and reimbursement forms to the city. The city maintains the original copies of grant contracts in their system. Policies The only formal policies that the city has adopted that encourage or require the wise management of the community tree resource are the City of Jefferson Comprehensive Plan, city code sections that require tree protection, and the Land Use Management Code that requires tree conservation and planting on new development sites. No formal policy exists for managing or funding the city’s tree program, although there does exist a strong commitment to the development and funding of a community forest management program at a sustainable level.

City Code of Ordinances Several sections within the city’s code of ordinances address the protection of trees through prohibiting certain activities that are harmful to trees, such as affixing signs to trees or tying up animals to tree trunks. Otherwise, the only code section that directly addresses tree conservation, protection, and planting is the Land Use Management Code adopted by the city in 2004.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The only private property trees that are regulated are those planted on new developments that fall within the scope of the Quad Cities Land Use Management Code adopted by the city. On new developments, trees must be conserved and established in accordance with specific requirements. These requirements include a density requirement of 20 tree density units per acre across the site, trees and landscaping planted along frontages and in parking lots, and buffers established between dissimilar land uses. The city’s Code of Ordinances and Land Use Management Code are useful tools for defining what the character of the community forest will be, now and in the future. In the past year, the City Arborist and Tree Council member Susan Russell, visited several development completed in the last several years in compliance with Land Use Management Code regulations to begin to assess whether or not the current code is meeting its intent and purpose as stated in Article 16 of the Land Use Management Code, excerpts of which appear below. “…it is the intent of this article to encourage the protection and provision of trees through sound, responsible land development practices.” “It is the purpose of this article to provide trees, environmentally sound landscape amenities, and buffers which promote a positive community image by promoting quality development, enhancing property values, providing for landscape improvements, and promoting aesthetic quality. It is also the intent to promote a healthy, natural environment whenever possible by protecting and enhancing existing vegetation.” It should be noted that the city’s comprehensive plan, the Land Use Management Code, and this master plan all have similar and complimentary purposes, intents, and goals.

Development Assessments As mentioned previously, little detailed information is available on trees on private property. Recently however, as part of the city’s 2009 Urban and Community Forestry grant project, the City Arborist and arborist Susan Russell, a consultant and Tree Council member, visited several commercial developments throughout town that were completed in the last couple of years to assess the trees and the outcomes of the Land Use Management Code regulations. The development assessments showed that: 1. The numbers of trees required and listed on the approved site plans were generally present on the sites. 2. The species found on the site sometimes did not match the species listed on the approved plan. 3. Some of the plans did not show any tree unit requirement calculations or the landscape plan was missing altogether.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

4. The trees were generally of high quality with good structure, although several sites had trees with poor form, including forked stems, included bark, and poor scaffold limb architecture. 5. In most cases the trees had an adequate amount of soil volume for rooting; however soils were generally of poor quality and severely compacted, and aeration, a normal soil profile, and organic matter were lacking. 6. Most of the trees were planted too deep, with their first order roots from 2 to 6 inches lower than ground level (they should be no deeper than 2 inches). 7. Most of the trees are mulched, but in many cases the mulch is improperly applied and piled high around the trunk. No space is left between the mulch and the trunk as is universally recommended. In most cases the mulch is not spread out over the root system and only extends out from the trunk 3 feet or less. 8. Recently planted large canopy trees such as willow oaks, Nuttall oaks and red maples were, in some cases, found to be planted too close to overhead utility lines. Their growing space is already restricted and the need for line clearance was already apparent. Some trees had already been topped and as a result in were in decline. 9. On some sites opportunities to provide significant shade and cooling of parking areas through better canopy tree placement were missed. 10. There was a general lack of necessary and proper tree maintenance observed across the sites, including a lack of early training pruning and removal of staking and ties. In some cases staking and ties on trees had been left on to girdle tree trunks or had fallen off the tree and were lying on the ground. 11. On one (1) site the trees were planted in the wire baskets with the burlap and strapping left on, all of which were protruding from the ground around the trunk of the tree.

Recommended Revisions to the Land Use Management Code The arborists conducting the assessments reviewed the Land Use Management Code to determine where changes might be warranted and then consulted with former contract City Planner Jerry Weitz on these suggestions. The changes to the Land Use Management Code and other sections of the city’s code recommended as a result of the assessment and review process are: 1. Require that all tree care operations, including tree establishment, that take place on property regulated by the Land Use Management Code be done in compliance with professionally accepted standards and best management practices.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. Revise the tree species list in the Land Use Management Code to include more diversity and more information on the site requirements and preferred planting locations for each species (street rights-of-way, parking lots, and so forth). Utilize this same list as the city’s official Tree Species List applicable also to the establishment of trees on city property. 3. Consider changing from a tree density unit requirement that applies the same density requirement of 20 or 30 tree density units to all land regardless of the land use, zoning district, or amount of impervious area allowed, to a tree canopy requirement that varies based on the zoning district and amount of lot coverage allowed by impervious surfaces. 4. Adopt tree canopy cover goals for city parks, city school campuses, and other city properties, along with tree canopy cover goals for existing single family residential properties. 5. Instead of requiring that applicants commit to planting trees in alternative locations on city property in lieu of establishing the required amount of tree density units on their sites, the city should instead establish a tree bank for the receipt of monies in lieu of meeting tree density requirements. 6. Require a contribution to the tree bank as a condition for granting a variance for any decrease in the number of trees required on a development site ($500 per .5 tree point decrease) and as a condition of any variance granted for an increase in impervious surfaces, including the building footprint, lot coverage, or parking spaces ($500 per 1,600 square feet of impervious surface increase or portion thereof). 7. Define the approved uses of tree bank monies to include the purchasing, planting, and maintenance of trees on city property, the purchase of trees to sell at the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration and tree festival, and the cost of hiring a contract City Arborist to coordinate the city’s tree planting program. Limit the expenditure of tree bank monies to those expenses associated with maintaining and expanding tree canopy cover in Jefferson. 8. Require a minimum of four (4) site visits by the City Arborist to a proposed development site prior to and during construction to include one visit prior to plan approval to verify site and plan information; a second visit to check that tree protection fencing and other structures have been properly installed and meet standards before any construction takes place; a third site visit will be required prior to the excavation of tree planting holes and the installation of trees on the site; and a final site visit will be required to check for compliance of all requirements prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 9. Include in the Land Use Management Code or in an administrative guidelines document requirements or recommendations that the City Arborist visit development sites within 9 to 12 months and again 20 to 24 months after the certificate of occupancy is issued to

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

evaluate tree health, provide maintenance recommendations to the owner, occupant, tenant, and respective agent of each, and to che8ck for compliance and determine the appropriate dispensation of the landscape bond. 10. Change the option of a requirement for a 2-year landscape bond for tree installation to a requirement for each development, as described in the procedures and fees sections of the city’s Planning and Development website. Bonds that are forfeited due to non- compliance with tree density requirements as determined by the City Arborist should be deposited into the Jefferson Tree Bank to be used for tree planting on city property. 11. Encourage the incorporation of stormwater ponds, stormwater wetlands, and bioretention areas with canopy trees into stormwater management facilities on new developments and city construction projects as appropriate as described in the State of Georgia’s Stormwater Manual, Appendix F, Landscaping and Aesthetic Guidelines. 12. Standardize the terminology and definitions used in the Land Use Management Code and city code, using standard terms and definitions found in the professional standards discussed later in this master plan. 13. Review the city’s sign ordinance to ensure that it meets the needs of businesses without having the effect of reducing tree canopy cover. Enforcement of the established requirements is an extremely important element that must be in place for the regulations to be effective. Enforcement must be fair and consistent, but must be complete to ensure that the city’s goals will be achieved. The City Arborist should also plan to visit each site with 5 years after the certificate of occupancy was issued to evaluate tree health, measure number of tree points still existing on the site, and evaluate the outcome of Land Use Management Code requirements and their enforcement. At this point, the city will have no legal authority to require the replanting of trees on a property, unless the city desires to include in the Land Use Management Code a requirement that tree density points be present on a site in perpetuity.

Recommended Revisions to Other Sections of the City Code The current city code does not include the establishment of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as an official board or commission of the city. The consultant recommends that this change be made as soon as practical, or along with revisions made to the Land Use Management Code as those occur. 1. Establish the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as an official commission of the city in the code under Article 15 (currently reserved) of Appendix A: Land Use Management Code.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. Move the section on the protection of city street trees from Appendix A: Land Use Management Code, Sec. 16.3.14, to a new section under Chapter 18: Environmental and Natural Resources that describes requirements for the protection of city trees and prohibits the planting, spraying fertilizing, pruning, soil or root disturbance, or removal of trees on city street rights-of-way or any city property without a ROW encroachment permit. The language in Sec. 16.3.14 describing the city’s right to plant, prune, maintain, or remove trees, plants and shrubs on city property, should also be included here. 3. Require that all tree care operations, including tree establishment, that take place on city property and city trees are done in compliance with professionally accepted standards and best management practices. 4. There is language throughout the code of ordinances that prohibits certain activities from taking place around city trees, such as affixing signs or tethering cats and dogs to tree trunks. These sections should remain as they are. 5. There is language throughout the code of ordinances that encourages the conservation of existing trees and other natural features, and these sections should remain as they are.

PROGRAMS

City Tree Establishment Prior to the 2009-2010 tree planting season, tree planting on city property was primarily done under the Tree Council’s Gift Tree program. A total of 56 trees have been planted in the last 4 years under this program, with most of them established in Curry Creek Park. In the 2009-2010 tree planting season, a total of 177 trees were planted on city property under a variety of initiatives for a total cost to the city of $1,400, or less than $8 per tree! A summary of these initiatives is included in Appendix C. The majority of these trees (111) were planted in early 2010 as the result of a $50,000 grant award from the Georgia Forestry Commission of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds. Another significant initiative was the transplanting of 47 trees that were donated from a private tree nursery that is no longer operational by the landowner. The trees were transplanted with the help of the Georgia Forestry Commission and their 48 inch tree spade, for a cost of $1,400. City Tree Maintenance City tree management currently consists of tree establishment, new tree maintenance, tree pruning as needs are identified and tree removal as necessary to maintain public safety. Tree evaluations and inspections by the City Arborist take place as needed.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Other than tree establishment and new tree maintenance, no annual or routine tree maintenance programs are in place at this time.

City Tree Maintenance The maintenance of city trees is primarily the responsibility of the Public Works Director and the Street Department for trees located on the street rights-of-way and around city offices and facilities. The maintenance of trees on city property that is currently occupied by Jackson County are not included in the maintenance work plans, but their management through partnerships, education and outreach are included as part of this master plan.

Park Tree Maintenance The city’s Parks and Recreation Department assists as necessary the Street Department in planting and maintaining trees in city parks and at the Jefferson Recreation Complex. Staff prunes trees at the Recreation Complex, but not at other city parks. The Parks and Recreation Department employs a landscape contractor that is primarily responsible for mowing the turf areas and emptying trash receptacles. The city Street Department has the primary responsibility for tree planting and maintenance in city parks. City and park tree maintenance consists primarily of tree planting, tree removal, and pruning as necessary for public safety. City staff completes the majority of this work, but occasionally a contractor is hired to accomplish these tasks.

City Schools Tree Maintenance The Facilities Maintenance staff of Jefferson City Schools is responsible for the maintenance of trees on city school campuses. Schools staff is sometimes assisted by Street Department staff to complete critical tree maintenance upon request or as the need arises.

Tree Maintenance Equipment The city currently has both the large and small equipment necessary to perform basic tree maintenance tasks. For tree transplanting they have access to the Georgia Forestry Commission tree spade and operator for the cost of $200 per day plus fuel. They also do not have a full complement of hand pruning equipment that includes folding saws, bypass pruning shears, and bypass loppers.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Private Tree Management Trees on private property are managed through the Land Use Development Code, but only on new development sites. The city does not attempt nor has authority by code to manage trees on existing developments and residential properties, except when those trees threaten public safety. There is little information available as to how trees are maintained on private property. Obviously, through, they are either maintained by the property owner, as would be the case for many residential properties or by landscape contractors as would be the case for most commercial, office, institutional, and industrial properties, and some residential properties. Or, they are not maintained at all. While the land use management code does require the planting of trees on new development sites and in buffers, there is no requirement that these trees be maintained, or if maintained, no standards are in place. While the city has little control over trees on private property outside of new developments, they do have some influence on the health, extent, and value of these trees through education and outreach programs focused on maintaining an expansive and healthy tree canopy and implementation of best management practices for tree care. Education and Outreach The City Arborist and Jefferson Heritage Tree Council members work together to provide tree education and outreach to a wide variety of audiences throughout the city. The public is invited, through information provided in press releases and on the city’s website, to participate in program events, educational workshops, and informational presentations. The Tree Council also has several ongoing programs that heighten community awareness of the need to plant and conserve trees in Jefferson.

Gift Tree Program Since their inception in 2004 the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council has been very active in tree planting through their Gift Tree program. As of August 2010, 56 trees have been planted in honor or memory of individuals and organizations under this program, many of them in Curry Creek Park. While the Tree Council is planning for the future through tree planting, they are also committed to the conservation of the city’s oldest, largest, and most vulnerable “tree citizens” through their Heritage Tree Program.

Heritage Tree Program

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The Council’s Heritage Tree program recognizes old, large, and unusual trees within the city by bestowing upon these trees the designation as a Heritage Tree. Anyone can nominate a Heritage Tree with the approval of the tree owner. There are currently 19 designated Heritage Trees throughout town. A Heritage Tree Map and Brochure were developed in August 2010 and is available from Main Street Jefferson, the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, the Crawford A specimen Southern red oak W. Long Museum, and City Hall. tree in Woodbine Cemetery The Council’s Heritage Tree program that was designated a Heritage Tree in 2007 by the Jefferson recognizes old, large, and unusual Heritage Tree Council. trees within the city by bestowing upon these trees the designation as a Heritage Tree. Anyone can nominate a Heritage Tree with the approval of the tree owner. There are currently 19 designated Heritage Trees throughout town. A Heritage Tree Map and Brochure were developed in August 2010 and is available from Main Street Jefferson, the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, the Crawford W. Long Museum, and City Hall.

Staff Training The city and the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council have been active over the last several years in conducting educational programs for key audiences within the city. Just in the last year, from September 2009 through August 2010, the information sessions and educational opportunities provided or attended by the City, Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, City Arborist and other consulting arborists include:

@ Four (4) 3-hour staff tree maintenance training sessions @ Tree canopy cover measurement project @ Tree inventory and canopy cover updates at public forums

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Periodic activity reports to the City Manager by the City Arborist @ Quarterly presentations on tree program activities to the Mayor and Council @ Two (2) 3-hour park clean-up events with educational demonstrations and free tree care information @ Tree Council members attended the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC) annual conference and ISA Certified Arborist Susan Russell teaches a tree care quarterly meetings, as well as workshop for staff from the Street Department, Parks and the Community Forestry Recreation Department, City Schools Facilities Management Department, and Legacy Landscape Management in the Roundtable in Oxford, Jefferson Civic Center Wilkins Room in February of 2010. Georgia hosted by the Oxford Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board @ Evaluation of trees on private property by Tree Council members upon request, with distribution of written information on Tree Council programs and tree care practices (see consultation form in Appendix D) @ Strategic planning session with community forest information provided to participants @ Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting with presentations on the importance of trees by community leaders @ Three (3) 2-hour Jefferson Heritage Tree Council development sessions facilitated by the City Arborist @ Tree Council tabletop display exhibits and informational brochures Volunteer Dave Roselle relaxes after cleaning up Curry distributed at public meetings and Creek during the Earth Day Celebration and Clean-Up community events sponsored by the Tree Council on April 22, 2010.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Regional Community Forestry Roundtable on Stormwater Management Basics sponsored by the city and the Tree Council @ Presentations by Tree Council members to community groups on tree program activities and tree-related topics @ City of Jefferson website @ Jefferson Heritage Tree Council website There are ample meeting facilities available to the city at no cost for events such as those listed above. These facilities include:

@ Jefferson Civic Center (Wilkins Room, Ballroom) @ Jefferson Public Library Conference Room @ City Clubhouse at City Park @ Jackson EMC Public Meeting Room

Dr. Liz Kramer from the University of Georgia’s Natural Resource Spatial Analysis Laboratory speaks on the effects trees have on water quality and quantity at the City’s Community Forestry Roundtable on Stormwater Management Basics held in July 2010 at the Jackson EMC’s public meeting room. The half-day session was attended by 45 people from the northeast Georgia region.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Tree City USA Jefferson has been designated a Tree City USA through the National Arbor Day Foundation2 for the last 5 years, and also received the organization’s Tree City Growth Award for 2009. The four (4) Tree City USA standards that must be met to receive Tree City USA designation are: 1. A tree board or department 2. A tree care ordinance 3. A community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per The City’s 2010 Arbor Day Celebration was held at V. S. capita Hughey park and included the dedication of 10 trees recently 4. An Arbor Day observance planted on the site with funding from the Georgia Forestry and proclamation Commission’s Making the Shade grant program. Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Jefferson look on during presentations The city must reapply for this status by (l to r) Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Chair Mary Dugan, each year. The recertification City Manager John Ward, and Mayor Jim Joiner. application is due to the Georgia Forestry Commission by December 31 each year but can be submitted as early as December 1 (preferred by the Commission). Tree Council volunteers and the city staff have jointly prepared and submitted the recertification application in years past. Georgia Urban Forest Council Jefferson is a member of the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC) and pays $50 in dues each year to maintain that membership. The GUFC’s mission is “to sustain Georgia’s green legacy by helping communities grown healthy trees.” Their primary focus is to provide educational programs and networking events across the state. Membership benefits include discounts for all city staff and Tree Council members at GUFC sponsored educational programs and events, a copy of the GUFC’s membership directory, and access to information on urban trees and their management. For more information on the mission and programs of the GUFC, visit www.gufc.org. Tree Council members regularly attend the

2 National Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln, Nebraska; www.arborday.org

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

GUFC’s annual conference and awards program, quarterly meetings, and special topic workshops.

FUNDING

City Budget Currently there are two (2) line items in the city’s budget for tree program activities. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council has a budget of $1,000 for their use in implementing their programs. Another allocation of $500 is set aside to pay for costs associated with the City’s annual Arbor Day celebration. The Arbor Day funds are included in the Main Street Jefferson departmental budget. The city has also expended city funds for several grant projects; these expenses are reimbursed by the Georgia Forestry Commission according to grant contracts. In 2010 the city also paid $1,000 above the $1,500 tree program budget for the use of the Georgia Forestry Commission tree spade with an operator for 5 days to transplant nursery trees to city property. Jefferson City Schools paid the Commission $400 for 2 days of the same service for the transplanting of 11 trees to the Jefferson Elementary School campus. Grants The Mayor and City Council have been supportive of the Tree Council’s efforts to secure and administer tree grant funds for the city. Since August 2007 the city has been awarded $90,240 in grant funds, of which $38,240 originates from three (3) Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program grants for tree inventories, professional staffing, and various management and educational activities. Another $2,000 came from the The planting of the 111th ARRA grant tree in V. S. Hughey Park Making the Shade program for during the dedication of the trees on May 25, 2010 with (l to r) City Manager John Ward, Mayor Jim Joiner, Project Arborist Susan the planting of trees on Russell, Legacy Landscape Management staff and owner Shawn playgrounds, and $50,000 was Watson, and Public Works Director Jeff Killip.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan awarded for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant for the planting of 121 canopy trees throughout the city. All of these grant programs are administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission using federal funds from the USDA Forest Service and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Urban and Community Forestry grant just awarded to the city, that will be completed between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011, and will include completion of the following activities:

@ Expand membership in the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council to 11 voting members and hold 2-hour bi-monthly meetings @ Conduct two (2) tree conservation and planting workshops in two (2) different neighborhoods in partnership with neighborhood associations or groups @ Conduct a tree planting and/or tree benefits demonstration on one (1) commercial site in partnership with a commercial property owner @ Develop a Heritage Tree calendar for sale by the Tree Council as an educational tool and fundraiser @ Conduct a multi-event tree festival for the city’s 2011 Arbor Day celebration to include a tree sale and tree care demonstrations @ Partner with New Urban Forestry, an arboricultural services company, to conduct a tree climbing and arboricultural techniques demonstration at the tree festival @ Partner with a local landscape architect, Eric Taylor of Morgan-Taylor, to develop a comprehensive landscape design plan for Curry Creek Park to meet the goals of the community forest master plan @ Conduct a park clean-up/tree work day as the city’s Earth Day Celebration and Education Event @ Develop a voluntary tree removal and planting tracking system to determine net change in tree canopy cover on city and private property @ Revise the city’s code to include tree board establishment procedures and requirements for the protection of city trees and revise the tree provisions of the Land Use Management Code to increase its effectiveness in producing desired outcomes, including increasing tree canopy cover @ Provide ongoing field training for city and city schools tree maintenance crews @ Retain urban forestry consultant Connie Head of Technical Forestry Services (TFS) to assist the city in community forest management and coordination of all grant activities, with additional project support from certified arborist Susan Russell

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The city is committed to completing these activities and legally bound to do so by contract with the Georgia Forestry Commission. These activities have been incorporated into the master plan program work plans. Donations The city accepts donations for tree planting through the Tree Council’s Gift Tree program. In addition, throughout the last few years, the city has received donated services from the consultants conducting the city’s tree inventory, staff tree maintenance training, educational demonstrations, and program management. Tree Council members have also made cash donations for program activities and for refreshments for information and education events. Local businesses have also provided donations of refreshments for these events. Other volunteers have provided many hours of their time during park clean-up events. In the upcoming year the city will be receiving a donation of professional services from Eric Taylor of Morgan-Taylor Design in the amount of $5,000 for a comprehensive landscape plan for Curry Creek Park, in addition to a $900 cash donation.

In the following section the city’s vision and goals for the community forest and its management are set forth to provide a context to the programs work plans that follow in the final section.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

SECTION 3: JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST VISION AND GOALS

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST VISION When community leaders met for a strategic planning session in February 2010, they each described their vision of Jefferson’s future community forest. The common vision developed from this input is:

Jefferson’s Community Forest Vision Jefferson’s community forest is healthy, diverse, expansive, and beautiful. We value and care for our trees as an equal and vital part of our city’s infrastructure. We take pride in our beautiful, tree-lined streets, our serene, shady parks and our forested neighborhoods that provide us with seasonal color and create a sense of place. Our well-maintained trees provide valuable services and make an irreplaceable contribution to our community’s economic and environmental health.

The city’s vision includes several key goals and concepts on which this master plan is based. The future forest will be healthy, which is the result of active tree protection, appropriate species to site matches, routine and proper maintenance according to standards, and regular inspections. The forest will be expansive as the result of implementing a policy of no net loss of tree canopy, vigorous tree conservation and planting efforts, and contributions by all community forest management partners to the program. And the city’s trees will be beautiful with a diverse mix of tree sizes, bark characteristics, leaf textures and colors, flower colors, branching habits, and form. As part of the city infrastructure, planning and budgeting for the establishment, maintenance, repair, and replacement of trees will result in the sustainability of the community forest system. Making sure that trees are established in the best locations to maximize their functions, benefits and value will result in economic and environmental health. Well-maintained trees will result from continuing education and outreach, the adoption and implementation of standards for tree care operations, and the protection of existing trees. Timely and proper maintenance will lead to an increase in tree service life and the opportunity for future generations to enjoy the beauty and benefits of the community’s tree legacy.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Three different views of downtown Jefferson are shown on the left. Above is a post card of downtown and Washington Street, looking north in the early 1900s. On the left is an aerial view of the downtown area looking south along Athens Street taken in the 1950s. The photo below shows downtown Jefferson as it existed in May 2010. The downtown area is currently undergoing a streetscape renovation that will include the installation of sidewalks, street lights, and new trees.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The community forest vision is in harmony with the General Vision Statement for the City of Jefferson, Georgia adopted in the 2008-2028 Comprehensive Plan Update3 adopted February 23, 2009, which includes “a sheltering tree canopy” as an integral part of the city’s quality of life and as something to be preserved and enhanced.

JEFFERSON’S COMMUNITY FOREST GOALS Community partners provided input during the strategic planning meeting on issues and constraints the city faces in tree management, the needs of community trees, and the changes and improvements they would like to see in the management program. Long- and short-term goals were developed from this input and are focused on achieving the community forest vision. Long‐term Goals The primary, long-term goals of the city’s community forest management program are general in nature and broad in scope. They relate directly to the city’s community forest vision. These long term goals are to: 1. Maintain no net loss of tree canopy cover. 2. Develop a stable and sustainable community forest management program. 3. Gain broad-based community support for the city’s program. 4. Maximize the functions and benefits of trees and minimize tree maintenance costs. 5. Create a wide-spread understanding of the function and value of trees as green infrastructure. 6. Develop a shared sense of responsibility in the community for tree canopy conservation and planting, and tree protection and maintenance. 7. Implement best management practices for all community trees. 8. Become a model community for sustainable community forest management. A goal of no net loss of tree canopy cover is a unifying one in that many of the programs and activities described later in this plan, if implemented, will contribute to the conservation and expansion of tree canopy cover. Adopting a goal of no net loss of tree canopy cover will require a commitment by all members of the Jefferson community—residents, businesses, government staff, elected officials, and non-governmental organizations—to maintain as much tree canopy as practical on their respective properties. For every tree removed in the city, another of a similar

3 The 2008-2028 Comprehensive Plan Update can be viewed at www.cityofjeffersonga.com/ 31

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan mature size will need to be planted and maintained in a quality manner to ensure canopy replacement. The City Arborist will be available to assist individuals and groups in making tree conservation and removal decisions, in identifying suitable tree planting sites and appropriate species for the site, in locating sources of quality trees, and in learning how to maintain these trees so their contribution to tree canopy cover is maximized. Secondary and more specific long-term goals are listed below. These are goals which will either likely not be reached until the long-term because of the ambitious, short-term program or because they are naturally long-term results. However, these goals may be reached earlier if staff and volunteer time can be committed during the short-term to these initiatives, or extra funds becomes available that can be allocated to these initiatives. 9. Achieve 100 percent stocking of street tree planting sites 10. Increase not only the number of trees in the city, but also the quality, health, distribution, and diversity of the city’s tree population 11. Pay for all city tree planting with tree bank contributions 12. Increase the diversity of city trees with no more than 10 percent of the population of city trees composed of any single species 13. Establish tree canopy cover standards for each zoning district 14. Increase the amount of conservation that occurs on development sites 15. Establish a full-time City Arborist position Short‐term Goals In the short-term the following goals will be the focus of community forest management activities and of the programs and work plans described in Section 4. 1. Adopt the Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan by December 31, 2010 2. Continue professional management of the community forest 3. Establish the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as the official advisory board to the Mayor and City Council in the city’s code of ordinances 4. Expand the effectiveness of the Tree Council by increasing membership, scheduling regular meetings, and expanding volunteer and sponsor resources 5. Establish a community forest management program budget with diverse funding sources 6. Continue to leverage city funds to expand program potential, effectiveness, and results with grants, donations, and public/private partnerships

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

7. Strengthen existing and create additional partnerships with citizens, businesses, community organizations, regional agencies, and statewide organizations 8. Maintain a current inventory of public trees 9. Address the conservation, protection, and establishment of trees during the planning process of all public construction and renovation projects 10. Revise the Land Use Management Code for greater effectiveness in providing desired outcomes 11. Require compliance with standards for all tree care operations for city trees and trees conserved and planted on new development sites 12. Enforce all provisions of the Land Use Management Code in a consistent manner 13. Pay for the cost of site plan review and development site inspections by the City Arborist through an environmental fee charged to permit applicants 14. Develop a comprehensive tree planting plan that describes specific tree groups or themes for each zoning district or character area within Jefferson 15. Establish a matching tree planting program by asking citizens to plant one (1) tree for each tree the city plants 16. Establish trees in a quality manner, providing favorable growing conditions, including quality soil and adequate growing space, for all newly planted city trees and trees on new development sites, to maximize tree benefits and reduce long-term costs 17. Properly place trees so that they do not interfere with or compete for space with overhead and underground utility lines, buildings, roadways, and other infrastructure 18. Develop and implement landscape and tree establishment plans for gateways into the city and major corridors 19. Maintain public health, safety, and welfare through routine and as-needed tree inspections, evaluations, maintenance, and removals 20. Implement routine mulching and pruning programs for all city trees and trees on development sites 21. Establish a Jefferson Tree Steward program to reduce the city’s expense and workload for pruning and mulching city trees 22. Implement an efficient, cost-effective, and professional community forest management program that sustains a healthy population of city trees and engages the community in properly and routinely caring for their privately owned trees

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

23. Keep citizens informed of community forest management plans, activities, and results, and provide regular tree care information through a variety of media This will require setting and achieving standards for all tree establishment and maintenance activities. Standards will be mandatory for city trees and trees receiving tree density credits on development sites, but voluntary for established residential lots and commercial properties.

2008‐2038 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SUPPORT The Master Plan supports and incorporates many of the tree-related elements of the Issues and Opportunities, Quality Community Objectives, Character Area Quality Community Objectives, Community Issues and Opportunities, Short Term Work Program Projects, and Policies described in the city’s 2008-2028 Comprehensive Plan Update adopted by the city in February 2009. The primary areas of mutual interest between the Comprehensive Plan and the Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan are listed below:

@ Trees as an integral part of community and neighborhood character @ Trees as part of community history and heritage @ Desire to have a current inventory and baseline of information on the amount of tree canopy cover across the city @ The desire to create a pedestrian friendly community @ The importance of buffers, landscaping, and trees @ The importance of conserving existing trees and open space @ Desire to reduce tree loss and protect trees and maintain tree canopy cover @ Desire to reduce the amount of speculative industrial development which has led to significant tree loss @ A focus on parks, trails, greenways, and open space and the trees that occupy these spaces @ Focus on protecting the watershed and maintaining water quality @ The desire for parking areas to be heavily landscaped to reduce surface temperatures and stormwater runoff @ The desire to limit impervious surfaces and a desire to cover impervious surfaces with tree canopy @ Goal of providing dedicated spaces for trees along new and reconstructed roadways @ Requirements for street trees in corridor overlay districts

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Gateway and corridor tree plantings to enhance community character and maintain a sense of place @ Use of ordinances to direct growth and protect natural, cultural, and historic resources @ Maintenance of air and water quality through sensitive and compatible development @ Desire to retain a consulting urban forester or certified arborist to coordinate the community forest management program @ Planting of trees as part of the Downtown Streetscape and Downtown Revitalization Plan @ Share services and information with other public entities within Jackson County @ Utilize city school campuses as neighborhood resources and greenspace Through these mutual areas of interest, the Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan and the City of Jefferson’s 2008-2028 Comprehensive Plan support one another’s vision, goals, and objectives.

The programs and plans outlined in the following section are focused on achieving the city’s community forest goals and achieving and sustaining the community forest vision.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

SECTION 4: PROGRAMS

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMS The programs described in the remainder of this master plan provide the structural framework on which the city will build a new, comprehensive community forest management program. The program descriptions serve as general policy declarations and as well include specific program activities that are recommended to organize and lead each program into the future. A Master Work Plan in spreadsheet form located in Appendix E is a companion to these descriptions. The spreadsheet summarizes the main programs and activities described in the master plan and show the recommended timing for progressively integrating them into the city’s new program. The Master Work Plan has been provided to the city in a digital format as an Excel file to facilitate the regular revision and updating of the work plan as activities are added, changed, rescheduled, or completed. It is intended as a tool to be used for short-term planning.

ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM The administration of the City of Jefferson’s Sustainable Community Forest Management Program will be assigned to the contract City Arborist, city staff, city schools staff, and Tree Council volunteers. These individuals will administer the program using the Master Plan as a guide. Responsibilities for program implementation are described below along with systems for program planning, work orders, recordkeeping, reporting, and regulating trees and the activities affecting them. Responsibility for City Trees While the city of Jefferson is ultimately responsible for the management of all trees on its property, the responsibility for city tree maintenance will be distributed between different governmental entities, departments, contractors, and volunteers, depending on the location of the tree, the size of the tree, the type of maintenance activity, the amount of staff time available, and the availability of funding.

City Arborist A City Arborist will coordinate the city’s community forest management program. The City Arborist position will be filled by either a part- or full-time city employee or a consulting urban forester or ISA Certified Arborist in the short-term, and by a full-time employee in the long- term. The City Arborist will report directly to the City Manager.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The City Arborist’s primary role is to coordinate the overall community forest management program. The City Arborist will coordinate and implement program activities with the assistance of city and city schools staff, Jefferson Tree Stewards, the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, and additional community partners. The responsibilities and tasks of the City Arborist are:

@ Serve as a technical resource for staff and volunteers of the City, City Schools, and the Tree Council @ Coordinate the city’s sustainable community forest management program @ Provide assistance to the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as authorized by the City Manager @ Coordinate the city’s annual tree establishment program @ Monitor tree survival and species performance @ Coordinate routine city tree maintenance, including mulching, watering, pruning, and removals @ Complete city tree evaluations as necessary or as requested @ Manage tree inventory data and provide city staff, boards, and commission with information on the city’s trees as requested @ Produce maps of tree locations and lists of trees as requested or needed @ Develop a tree canopy cover change tracking system and implement @ Review site plans and monitor compliance with the tree protection and landscaping provisions of the Land Use Management Code @ Coordinate a review and revisions of the tree protection and landscaping provisions of the Land Use Management Code @ Coordinate the re-inventory of city trees 10 year frequency and coordinate the inventory of street trees in newly annexed areas of the city @ Coordinate the re-measurement of tree canopy cover across on a 5 year frequency @ Develop a tree work order system and form The possibility of the City Arborist working on or completing all of the above tasks depends on the city’s budget for these services and the arborist’s available time. The City Arborist may hire a subcontractor to complete some of this work if budgets allow. Only qualified and experienced subcontractors who are ISA Certified Arborists will be approved to work with city trees.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The task list will be prioritized and work scheduled throughout the year and throughout the short-term. The City Arborist and City Manager will meet periodically to discuss priorities and make adjustments as necessary. The city will purchase a computer for the City Arborist’s office at City Hall. The computer will include Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and ArcMap GIS software, as well as internet access and access to a fax and printer.

The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council will be responsible for providing advice to the Mayor and Council on issues related to the management of the community forest resource. They will also be responsible for conducting the city’s community forest education and outreach program. The City Arborist will provide assistance to the Tree Council in coordinating program activities. The Tree Council, in addition to coordinating the education and outreach program, will contribute activity reports to the City Arborist for inclusion in quarterly and annual reports to the Mayor and City Council. They will keep up-to-date records of their program activities and accomplishments, including volunteer hours donated for each. The establishment of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as an official advisory board to the Mayor and City Council will be included in the city’s code. The city code will also be revised to incorporate the requirements for city tree management and protection and for the management of trees on private property through the Land Use Management Code as described in Section 2. The council will review and revise its by-laws. It will expand its membership to include 11 voting members and as many as ex-officio members. The Tree Council will hold bi-monthly meetings during the work day when city and city schools employees can attend. The City Arborist and representatives from the Street Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Jefferson City Schools, and Planning and Development should be invited to attend as ex-officio members of the council, and asked to provide a brief progress report on the their tree-related activities. Additional ex-officio members will be representatives from Main Street Jefferson, Keep Jackson Beautiful, Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Cooperative Extension Service, Jackson EMC, and other local organizations that are involved in community trees. With both voting and ex-officio members in attendance, the meetings will serve as information sharing sessions among the primary community forest management partners. During the meetings the various committees of the council will also provide brief reports on the activities that have taken place between the meetings. The council will continue its successful Gift Tree and Heritage Tree programs, continue to sponsor, along with Main Street Jefferson, the city’s annual Arbor Day program, conduct

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

homeowner tree assessments as volunteer time allows, and also develop a Heritage Tree Calendar. They will continue to provide ongoing community forest education, information, and outreach to the community through the development, purchase, production, printing, and distribution of brochures on their programs, the value of trees, and tree care techniques.

Street Department The Street Department will have the primary responsibility for trees located along street rights- of-way, around city facilities, and in city parks. The Street Department will take care of emergency tree work and the pruning and removal of city trees on an as-needed and as-identified basis. The Street Department will also be responsible for the routine pruning of large trees, whether done by department staff or by contractors, as well as general tree protection and new tree planting. As workloads permit, the Parks and Recreation staff or their landscape contractor will provide assistance in routine pruning, mulching, or watering trees in city parks. The Street Department will also be responsible for contributing to planning and budgeting for tree management, for complying with standards and best management practices for tree care operations, and for maintaining a basic level of knowledge in tree identification, biology, and signs and symptoms of tree health and structure problems. A representative of the Street Department will attend Tree Council bi-monthly meetings as an ex-officio member and provide a brief report on the department’s tree-related activities and plans.

Parks and Recreation Department The Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for the maintenance of city trees located at the Jefferson Recreation Complex. As workloads permit, the Street Department staff will provide assistance in maintaining these trees. The Parks and Recreation Department will also be responsible for contributing to planning and budgeting for tree management, for complying with standards and best management practices for tree care operations, and for maintaining a basic level of knowledge in tree identification, biology, and signs and symptoms of tree health and structure problems. A representative of the Parks and Recreation Department will attend Tree Council bi-monthly meetings as an ex-officio member and provide a brief report on the department’s tree-related activities and plans.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Jefferson City Schools The management of trees located on the campuses of Jefferson’s city schools will be the responsibility of the Board of Education and Dr. John Jackson, Superintendent of Jefferson City Schools. Maintenance of these trees will be the responsibility of the Facilities Maintenance Department. Although city personnel are not responsible for maintaining the trees on school campuses, they will provide assistance as their workloads permit. The Facilities Maintenance Department will also be responsible for contributing to planning and budgeting for tree management, for complying with standards and best management practices for tree care operations, and for maintaining a basic level of knowledge in tree identification, biology, and signs and symptoms of tree health and structure problems. A representative of Jefferson City Schools will attend Tree Council bi-monthly meetings as an ex-officio member and provide a brief report on the department’s tree-related activities and plans.

Jefferson Tree Stewards The City Arborist will develop over the next 3 years a program to train and maintain a minimum of 30 active, qualified volunteers who will be responsible for pruning small and newly planted trees on city property. This citizen service project will reduce city maintenance costs and ensure that the city’s trees develop a well-trained structure. The volunteers, in addition to annually pruning the trees, will assist in the mulching and inspection of the trees and the removal of watering devices from trees. The only costs to the city for this program will be the arborist’s time in developing and conducting an annual training program for tree stewards and monitoring their activities in the field, and providing hand pruning and personal protection equipment for the stewards (gloves, safety glasses, first aid kits). The city will benefit immediately by avoiding the cost of labor to prune and mulch the city’s new trees and will benefit long-term through improvements in tree health, benefits, safety, and longevity.

City Planner The city of Jefferson hires a contract planner to work with the city, the development community, and the Quad Cities Planning Commission to implement the Land Use Management Code. The City Arborist will assist the City Planner in plans review and site inspections and compliance issues. The City Planner will contact the City Arborist upon receipt of an application and plans for review and upon receipt of variance requests that involved trees or increases in impervious surfaces.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The City Planner and City Arborist will work together to develop recommendations for changes to improve the effectiveness of the Land Use Management Code and submit these recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Responsibility for Private Trees There are a variety of groups and individuals that affect the health of trees on private property and hold some level of responsibility for their protection and maintenance. The groups and individuals responsible for the maintenance of trees on private property are:

@ Private property owners @ Residential and business lessees @ Utility companies @ Developers @ Construction contractors and their subcontractors @ Landscape contractors @ Arboricultural service contractors Some of these individuals have responsibility for trees in Jefferson on only on a short-term basis, such as is the case with developers and construction contractors. Some may have responsibility on a periodic basis, such as landscape contractors or utility companies. All people who live, work and visit Jefferson have an ongoing responsibility for tree protection, and residents and business have an ongoing responsibility for tree maintenance. The city will provide information and education on the importance of trees and tree care to private property owners, developers, contractors, and resident as part of the city’s and the Tree Council’s education and outreach program. Program Planning The City Arborist will organize and facilitate an annual planning meeting to discuss current priorities in community forest management and to develop a work plan and proposed budget for the upcoming year. All staff and volunteers that have responsibility for community tree care will be invited to attend the meeting and provide their input. Tree Work Order System The city will establish a work order system for notifying the Street Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Jefferson City Schools and City Arborist of tree maintenance or inspection needs and will use the system to track the time requirements and expense of tree care.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Work orders will be filled out by staff as a need is identified, and the work order will be submitted to the appropriate person or group. Requests for tree maintenance coming in to City Hall will be written up as a tree work order and sent to the appropriate person for action. Work orders for trees that need to be inspected, evaluated, or appraised will be sent to the City Arborist. Work orders for maintenance or removal of trees on city street rights-of-way, around city facilities, and in Curry Creek Park will be sent to the Street Department supervisor. Work orders for the maintenance or removal of trees in other city parks will be sent to the Parks and Recreation Assistant Director. Work orders for the maintenance or removal of trees on city school property will be sent to the Facilities Maintenance supervisor. These individuals may generate work orders for other departments or for the City Arborist. Afte r the work is completed, information on the amount of time required, number of people, and any expense related to the task will be filled in on the form and the form will be filed. Each department will be responsible for maintaining copies of the work orders they complete. This system will be implemented on a trial basis and adjustments made as necessary to insure that the paperwork is not a burden to staff. Recordkeeping Gathering, analyzing, and disseminating tree program data is essential to achieving program efficiency and maintaining program support. It is important in planning, budgeting, and scheduling work. The following data should be collected and maintained.

@ Staff hours spent on tree care, education, and outreach activities

@ Volunteer hours spent on tree care, education, and outreach activities

@ Program cash expenditures, by category

@ List of trees removed, by species, location and DBH; total number of trees removed; time (staff hours only) and cost of removals (contract services only)

@ List of trees planted, by species and location; total number of trees planted; time (staff hours only) and cost (contract services only) of planting (track tree costs, installation costs, maintenance costs)

@ Planting records should include the nursery of origin of the trees, the species, the cultivar or variety name, tree caliper, and cost for the tree and separately the transportation costs

@ List of trees pruned, by location and size; total number of trees pruned; time (staff and volunteer hours) and cost (contract services only)

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

In addition to setting up the systems for gathering the above data, the city and the Tree Council will engage in the following record-keeping activities:

@ The Tree Council will record and publish minutes of all regular and called meetings

@ City arborist will manage and keep current the tree inventory database, and provide reports as necessary to the city

@ City arborist will set up a spreadsheet for tracking expenditures from the city budget

@ The Tree Council will set up an accounting system to include spending categories and budget limits and the use of an expense reimbursement for any member out-of-pocket expenses

@ The Tree Council will streamline the reporting of in-kind volunteer and staff time dedicated to the tree program and grant projects

@ Streamline grant administration and reporting procedures The City Arborist will be responsible for completing and submitting the city’s Tree City USA recertification application. Therefore, the City Arborist will also be responsible for keeping accurate records of all expenditures on tree care, a current list of Tree Council members, minutes of Tree Council meetings, a copy of the city’s Arbor Day proclamation and a current copy of the city’s Land Use Management Code to submit with the application. The City Arborist will also be responsible for submitting to the National Arbor Day Foundation a nomination for a Tree City Growth Award if the city is eligible. Reporting The City arborist will provide regular activity and project reports to the Tree Council, City Manager, and the Mayor and City Council. The Tree Council, in turn, will provide regular activity and project reports to the City Arborist for inclusion in reports to the Mayor and Council. The Tree Council will be updated on project activities on a bi-monthly basis at their regular meetings, and will at the same time provide an update to the City Arborist on their activities. The Mayor and City Council will be updated quarterly. Tree Council bi-monthly reports and the City Arborist’s quarterly reports will be consolidated at the end of the year into an annual state of the trees report that will be made available to the Mayor and City Council and to the community at large on the city’s website.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

FUNDING PROGRAM The city will fund a basic community forest management program by allocating funds to the city’s annual expense budget. Annual budgets have not been developed as part of this plan as the constraints and priorities in place at budgeting time and the opportunities that might be available for outside funding cannot be predicted. Budget request estimates made now would certainly have to be completely revised. Based upon experience from this last year’s budgeting process, however, an amount between $25,000 and $75,000 is required to fund this program at either a very basic or a fully-funded level. Regardless of the specific amount of funding required, the program will rely on three (3) main sources of funding which include the city budget, grants, and donations of cash and in-kind services. City Budget The city will fund a basic program with general revenue funds, and supplement those funds with environmental fees, contributions to the city’s tree bank, grants, and donations. Even though the city budget will eventually become the main source of funding for the sustainable community forest management program, grants will remain an important source of supplemental funding. The establishment of both an environmental fee and a tree bank will provide further relief to the demands on tax revenues. The city will also continue to rely heavily on the donation of volunteer and professional services and cash donations for tree planting, maintenance, education and outreach programs. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council’s budget will be included in the overall community forest management budget. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council will submit their budget request to the City Arborist for inclusion in the overall program budget request by June 30 each year. By July 15 of each year the City Arborist, in prior consultation with the City Manager and the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, will submit a community forest management budget request to the City Manager. The following strategies will be employed in the development of the budget requests:

@ Use city budget funds for the essential components of the program, those that reduce risk, protect public health, safety and welfare and that protect the city’s investment in its trees @ Use grant funds for special projects that increase the effectiveness of the program and contribute to long-term, quality management @ Use tree bank contributions and donated funds for tree planting projects @ Utilize partnership programs, such as the Jefferson Tree Stewards, to reduce the cost of program activities

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Conduct tree establishment, protection, and maintenance activities in a quality manner and according to standards to increase tree health and longevity and reduce maintenance and funding needs in the long-term @ Complete maintenance in a timely manner to create a stable tree population and eliminate crisis management and unexpected costs Employing these strategies to should help to further reduce the strain on the city budget in both the short- and long-term.

Environmental Fee The establishment of an environmental fee or tree protection plan fee as part of the permit application process is recommended. This fee is intended to cover the cost of tree protection and landscape plan review, recommendations and site inspection and monitoring by the City Arborist, estimated to be a minimum of $500 per site over the life of the project. Variance requests are estimated to cost a minimum of $150 per request for review and the development of recommendations by the City Arborist. A basic environmental fee of $500 or $20 per acre, whichever is greater, is recommended. A fee of $150 is also recommended in addition to the $375 basic fee for any variance of the tree protection or landscaping requirements in the Land Use Management Code. It is estimated that 10 tree protection plan reviews will take place per year, representing an income of $5,000 and a cost of $5,000 at a minimum. An estimated average of six (6) variance requests will be made for tree-related regulations each year, representing an income of $900 and cost of $900.

Tree Bank The city will establish a tree bank as a tool to use in the implementation of the Land Use Management Code. The recommended level of contribution to the tree bank is $500 for each .5 tree density unit that is required but will not be planted on a site as the result of an approved variance. A payment into the tree bank of the same amount, $500, should be required for each 1,600 square feet (the size of a large tree’s canopy at maturity) or portion thereof of additional pavement, building footprint, or other impervious surface approved in a variance request. Tree bank monies must be received by the city prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Landscape bonds will be forfeited and deposited into the tree bank in the following cases:

@ At 24 months after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy insufficient tree density units exist due to the death or removal of trees without replacement

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Required trees are no longer healthy and do not have a good chance for survival and growth to maturity as determined by the City Arborist. The City Arborist will inspect development sites between 18 and 21 months after the certificate of occupancy is issued to determine the health of the trees, notify the owner, occupant, tenant, and respective agent of each of the need to replace trees, and at 24 months will make a determination on the dispensation of the landscape bond. The required amount of the landscape bond will be as described in the Land Use Management Code, currently 100% of the cost of the installed landscape, or require $3,000 per acre as listed on the Cities of Jefferson and Talmo, Georgia Planning and Development Department Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2008), whichever is greater. Grants The city will apply for at least one (1) but no more than three (3) grants to fund the community forestry activities described in this master plan. Grants are welcome sources of supplemental funding for community forestry program activities that are currently unfunded due to budget constraints or are program enhancements that are not strictly necessary. Grant applications, administration, and reporting are, however, very time consuming. The responsibility for grant administration, including the development of the grant application, record keeping, and reporting should be assigned to an experienced volunteer, city staff, or the City Arborist. The annual grant programs that directly fund community forestry projects in Georgia are administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission. These grant programs include:

@ Making the Shade @ Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program @ American Recover and Reinvestment Act Information on these programs is available on the Georgia Forestry Commission’s website at www.gfc.state.ga.us. The city will apply for an Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program grant each year. The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council will lead the effort on the development and submittal of the U&CF grant application. Another annual grant program related to trees is the Georgia Department of Transportation’s GATEway Grant Program, which provides funding for roadside enhancement and beautification projects along Georgia’s roadsides. An application for funding of gateway beautification in Jefferson will be submitted to the DOT in October of 2011 for the following year. The Public Works Director will lead the effort to submit this grant with assistance from the City Arborist. See http://www.dot.state.ga.us/localgovernment/fundingprograms/gateway for more information.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The garden tools company Fiskars® distributes Project Orange Thumb grants, which provide the following:

@ Up to $1,000 in Fiskars® Garden Tools @ Project Orange Thumb® t-shirts @ Up to $1,000 for other materials such as plants, seeds, mulch, etc. An application for a Project Orange Thumb grant to equip the Jefferson Tree Stewards with pruning equipment will be submitted to Fiskars in 2011 by the City Arborist. See www.fiskarsfoundation.org for more information. Donations The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council and the City Arborist will solicit donations from local individuals and businesses for their volunteer time, materials and supplies, professional services, or cash for tree program activities and events that are otherwise unfunded or could be enhanced through donations. The groups or person (Tree Council or the City Arborist) soliciting the funds will send a letter of acknowledgement and thanks to donors to the program. Donations of professional services will be solicited from local landscape architects for the development of tree and landscape plans for city gateways and for school campuses.

ARBORICULTURAL STANDARDS PROGRAM The city will adopt standards for tree care operations and arboricultural best management pra c t ices for city trees and any and all trees regulated by the Land Use Development Code. All tree care operations conducted by city staff and by property owners and their tenants or respective agents for trees conserved or planted to satisfy Land Use Management Code requirements will be done in accordance with these standards and best management practices. Standards for safety and most tree care operations have been developed by committees of professionals, adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and published by the International Society of Arboriculture or the Tree Care Industry Association. The ISA has also developed best management practices to accompany the standards for many of the tree care operations addressed by the standards. Four (4) sets of the standards and best management practices will be purchased and kept on file in the city: one (1) set will be located in the office of the city clerk; one (1) set will be located in the office of the City Arborist; one (1) set will be located in the office of the Street Department superintendent; and one (1) set will be located in the office of the Jefferson City Schools Facilities Maintenance superintendent. Many of these standards and best management practices

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

are also available in Spanish and one (1) set of the Spanish versions will be ordered and kept on file in the arborist’s office. In addition to the copies that will be available from the city, copies of the standards and best management practices can be ordered through the ISA’s website at www.isa-arbor.com. The a vailability of the standards, the adoption of the standards by the city, and the requirement for compliance with the standards will be communicated to the appropriate target audiences on a regular basis. Education in the standards and BMPs and their application will be part of the city’s education and outreach program. Descriptions of the published standards and additional standards adopted and required by the city for arboricultural terminology and the most common tree care practices follow. Arboricultural Terminology Standardizing the basic arboricultural terminology used throughout this master plan and in the implementation of the community forest management program are necessary to promote clarity and improve understanding among the various individuals and partner groups involved in management. A list of standard terms and their widely accepted definitions developed by the consultant using, in part, the ISA’s Glossary of Arboricultural Terms, is located in Appendix F. Terms and their definitions are also included in a definitions section at the beginning of each of the standards discussed below. The terms and definitions used in the Land Use Management Code, the terms found in the standards, and those listed in Appendix F will be compared and consolidated so that there is agreement between all documents and uses. The consolidated glossary of arboricultural terms and their definitions will be incorporated into the Land Use Management Code as the standard. Safety Requirements The American National Standards Institute has adopted an American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements as standard ANSI Z133.1 – 2006, which is a revision of ANSI Z133.1 – 2000. The safety requirements are published by ISA who holds the secretariat of the Z133 committee known as the Accredited Standards Committee on Safety in Tree Trimming Operations. The standards address general safety requirements, electrical hazards, safe use of vehicles and mobile equipment, portable power hand tools, hand tools and ladders, and work procedures. The documents Appendices include a glossary of terms, recommended guidelines for standard performance and safety training for qualified arborists, line-clearance arborist their respective qualified trainees, general safety procedures that apply to all tree work, additional resources, a

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

table of the weight of green logs, an aerial rescue flowchart, and a hand signal chart for crane operators. These safety standards will be reviewed with all city and school personnel performing arboricultural operations on an annual basis, and with the Jefferson Tree Stewards in their training program as appropriate. Tree Protection Standards In order to conserve trees in good health for as long as possible, the city will passively protect on an ongoing basis, and actively protect when necessary, all city trees throughout their lives, or require the protection of these trees by utility companies, contractors, private property owners, business owners, tenants, and their respective agents. The ongoing protection of the trees and their growing environment, particularly the soil in which they grow, is essential for tree survival and long-term tree health. It takes only moments to irreparably damage a tree and reduce its health and safety, even though it may takes years for the tree to show signs of decline. Tree protection is particularly critical during site development when the threats to a tree’s health intensify. Compliance with ANSI A300 (Part 5) – 2005 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Management of Trees and Shrubs During Site Planning, Site Development, and Construction) is required for any activity that will take place with the critical root zone of a city tree or a tree regulated by the Land Use Management Code. This standard contains terms and definitions related to management and standard practices to be used in the planning phase, the tree resource evaluation phase, the design phase, as well as the pre-construction, on-site construction, and post-construction phases. The annex includes information used for management reports, including factors to consider when evaluating the suitability of trees for conservation, examples of suitability ratings, and a list of items that should be included in the management report. The annex also contains a management planning flow chart, a statement of purpose of the standards and suggestions for implementation. The city of Jefferson will also require compliance with the following tree management and protection standards for trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code, as an addition to or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Active tree protection is required of anyone engaged in soil disturbance or construction activities within the critical root zone of a city tree.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. Active tree protection is required of anyone engaged in any soil disturbance or construction activity within the critical root zone of a protected tree on a new development site for which a tree protection plan has been submitted and approved. 3. A tree protection plan must be submitted to the city by anyone working within the critical root zone of a city tree. 4. At a minimum, active tree protection will consist of the erection of fencing at least 4 feet high around the perimeter of the critical root zone, with sturdy stakes (preferably metal fence posts) with signs a minimum of 24 by 36 inches in size identifying the area as a tree protection zone affixed to the fencing every 15 feet along the perimeter. The location of the fencing may be adjusted with approval of the City Arborist. 5. No entry or construction activity, equipment or vehicle traffic, storage of materials or temporary offices, trenching, soil excavation, soil backfill, grade changes, equipment washout, soil contamination, fires, or other activities damaging to a tree’s roots, trunk, or crown as determined by the City Arborist is permitted within the critical root zone of a city tree without prior approval by the City Arborist. 6. Tree protection fencing must be erected prior to any soil disturbance or construction activity taking place, and will remain in good condition throughout the construction period, until its removal is approved by the City Arborist. 7. Passive tree protection will be required throughout the tree’s life to include avoidance of compaction within the CRZ through pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and avoidance of materials storage, equipment washout, soil contamination, trenching, soil excavation, soil backfill, grade changes, fires, or other activities damaging to a tree’s roots, trunk, or crown. Site and Species Selection Standards Trees will only be planted in appropriate sites with plenty of growing space for that tree to reach maturity without conflict with infrastructure or clearance. Each potential tree planting will be assessed to determine the amount of growing space available to the tree now, and at its mature size, and to determine the soil moisture and light conditions that dominate the site. Then a species with the requirements that match the conditions will be selected. If the planting of a certain species is desired, the species site requirements should first be determined, and then a site selected with the size, moisture, and light conditions that meet those requirements. The city of Jefferson will require compliance with the following tree placement standards for trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

1. All canopy tree planting locations will be a minimum of 30 feet from street intersections, 15 feet from driveways, and 30 feet from other trees or planting locations. All medium trees will be planted at least 25 feet from other trees or planting locations, and all small trees will be planted at least 15 feet from other trees or planting locations. 2. All large canopy tree planting locations must be a minimum of 6’ wide. All small and medium tree locations must be a minimum of 3’ wide. Large trees should have a minimum of 400 square feet of rooting area 3. Medium and large canopy trees will not be planted within 30’ of overhead electric lines. Only small maturing trees can be planted beneath overhead utility lines. All trees will be planted at least 5 feet from underground utility lines. 4. Preference will be given to the planting of large canopy sites on urban streets (curb and gutter American sycamore trees (shown against a blue winter sky) at system present) where Jefferson Elementary School are a good addition to the city’s sidewalks are present. diversity. 5. Species will be chosen from the City of Jefferson’s Official Tree Species List. 6. Species diversity will be maintained for city trees and trees planted to satisfy the Land Use Management Code requirements. 7. Tree planting plans for a single site, neighborhood, or character area will include no more than 30 percent of trees from a single family (e.g., the beech and oak family—Fagaceae), no more than 20 percent of all trees from a single genus (e.g., oak—Quercus), and no more than 10 percent of all trees of a single species (e.g., willow oak—Quercus phellos). Site Preparation Standards The city of Jefferson will require compliance with standards for preparing a site prior to planting for any city tree or tree regulated by the Land Use Management Code. These standards are:

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

1. Soil in tree planting islands and other constructed planting areas will be good quality top soil to a depth of 30 inches that is well-aerated (50 percent pore space is ideal), composed of at least 3 percent organic matter (5 percent is ideal), and not consisting solely of clay subsoil. 2. Where amended soil is added to a planting hole, it will be mixed in with the surrounding soil at the interface between the two to discourage pooling of water or restriction of roots at the interface. 3. Soil in frontage and yard areas will not be amended. 4. Soil in frontage and yard areas will be tilled prior to planting so that it is un-compacted for a distance of up to five (5) times the width of the root ball and to a depth of at least 18 inches. The required width of the aeration will depend upon the severity of the compaction and will be determined by the City Arborist. Nursery Stock Selection Standards All nursery stock planted on city property and in new developments will conform to the ANSI Z60.1 - 2004 American Standard for Nursery Stock developed and published by the American Nursery & Landscape Association, and adopted by the American National Standards Institute. The city of Jefferson will also require compliance with the following nursery stock standards for trees planted on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code, as an addition to or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Trees to be planted on city property will be individually selected at the nursery by the City Arborist, unless the arborist has prior experience with the nursery in supplying trees that meet Jefferson’s quality standards. 2. Trees with insect or disease signs or symptoms will not be purchased or accepted. 3. Trees that have been topped, tipped, headed back, or otherwise pruned in conflict with tree pruning standards will not be purchased or accepted. 4. Trees with trunk wounds, co-dominant (forked) stems, included bark, and otherwise poor form will not be purchased or accepted. 5. Trees with loose, dry, loose, cracked, or otherwise damaged root balls or containers will not be purchased or accepted. Tree Planting Standards Tree planting (also known as transplanting) will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 6) – 2005 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Transplanting). This standard includes definitions and descriptions of transplanting objectives, plant and site inspection, tools and equipment, timing of transplanting, transplanting practices, protection, digging the tree or shrub, lifting and transporting the tree, digging the hole, installing a support system (stakes and guy wires), and post-planting care practices. The annex includes additional transplanting information and an initial assessment checklist, as well as information on lifting chain and sling inspection and record-keeping protocol. The city of Jefferson will also require compliance with the following planting standards for trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code, as an addition to or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Trees may be balled and burlapped, containerized, or bare root. 2. Trees will only be lifted or transported by the root ball or the strapping around the root ball and will not be lifted or transported by the trunk. 3. Trees will be stored upright on site prior to planting and will not be stored on their sides. 4. Planting holes will be at least two (2) times the width of the root ball, except that in compacted soils the width of the planting hole will be up to five (5) times the width of the root ball. From: A Guide to Preserving Trees on Construction Sites 5. The root ball will be placed on firm Penn State University ground that has not been tilled, dug up, or otherwise disturbed. 6. The trunk flare will be exposed on all trees after installation and final soil backfill, and the first order roots will be covered with soil but will be no more than 2 inches beneath the surrounding grade. 7. All straps, twine, ties, labels, flagging, tags, and wire will be removed from the root ball and the tree. 8. Wire baskets will be completely removed from the root ball by first cutting off the very bottom of the wire basket before the tree is placed in the planting hole, and then by cutting off the remainder of the wire basket once the planting hole is filled half-way with soil.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

9. At a minimum the upper two-thirds of the burlap will be removed from around the root ball before the hole is back-filled; if possible all burlap will be removed from the planting hole. Any burlap remaining in the planting hole must be pushed to the bottom of the hole and in no case is it acceptable for the burlap to be exposed above the soil. 10. Soil rings to hold water will not be established around trees unless the trees are planted on a slope in which case a soil ring may be established on the lower side of the slope to retain moisture during irrigation. 11. Trees will not be staked unless they are planted bare root; balled and burlapped trees and containerized trees that cannot stand upright on their own are considered unacceptable quality for planting in Jefferson. 12. Root balls may be staked if there is a concern that the tree may shift in the planting hole; root ball staking will be in accordance with one of the recommended methods described by Dr. Kim D. Coder of the University of Georgia or Dr. Edward F. Gilman of the University of Florida on their respective websites.4 13. All staking materials will be removed within 1 year after planting. 14. New tree maintenance will take place during the first 3 years after planting, after which time the trees will be considered to be established. 15. New tree maintenance will consist of, at a minimum, mulching (at least once per year), supplemental watering (as necessary during the growing season), and regular inspections (at least once per year). Mulching Standards Mulching is an attempt to recreate the forest floor conditions preferred by trees. Often trees are planted in a rather sterile environment that includes turf growing right up to the tree trunk. Mulch improves soil texture and fertility, conserves soil moisture, and moderates soil temperatures. It also creates a neat and attractive appearance to trees in the landscape. There are no ANSI standards for mulching although there is general agreement among arborists as to the proper mulching methods. The following tree mulching standards are adapted from information found in the ISA’s Proper Mulching Techniques brochure and on the organization’s website, and will be required for all city trees and trees regulated by the Land Use Management Code.

4 www.warnell.uga.edu, www.ifas.ufl.edu

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

1. Only organic mulches such as wood chips, pine needles, shredded hardwood and softwood bark, cocoa hulls, leaves, compost mixes, and other products derived wholly from plants will be used as mulch for trees. 2. Inorganic materials such as stone, lava rock, shredded or pulverized rubber, geo-textile fabrics, or other inorganic materials will not be used. 3. Composted or fresh wood chips may be used around established trees but avoid using non- composted wood chips that have been piled deeply without exposure to oxygen. 4. Mulch will be applied in an even layer, 3-4 inches deep, in an area that extends a minimum of 6 inches from the trunk out to the

tree’s dripline, or a minimum radius of 3 feet, From: ISA Proper Mulching Techniques whichever is larger, for trees 6 inches DBH and smaller. 5. For trees 6 inches DBH and larger, mulch will extend out a minimum radius of 6 feet beyond the trunk flare, and out to the dripline if practical. 6. Mulch will not touch the trunk. If mulch is found piled against the stems or tree trunks, it must be pulled back several inches so that the base of the trunk and trunk flare are exposed.

7. If mulch is present and at least 2 inches in depth, then no additional Remember: If the tree had a say mulch will be required. Old mulch will, however, be raked to break up in the matter, its entire root any matted layers and refresh its system (which usually extends appearance. well beyond the drip line) would 8. Mulch will be replenished once it has be mulched.

decomposed to half of its original From: ISA Proper Mulching Techniques volume or is less than 2 inches in depth, and no less often than once per year.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

9. Do not apply mulch more than 1 inch deep around trees planted in areas with poor drainage. Irrigation Standards No ANSI standards exist for irrigating trees. Newly planted trees, trees damaged by construction activities, and high value trees all need supplemental water during dry periods or times of drought. Of course, current local and state-wide water use restrictions must be taken into account when watering trees. Most trees benefit from an average of 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Trees on soils with poor drainage will require less water, and trees on higher, drier sites and slopes may need more water, more often. In general, the soil in which a tree is growing should remain moist, but should also be well-drained to promote healthy roots. The city of Jefferson will require compliance with the following irrigation standards for trees on city property. 1. New city trees will be watered once per week with 1 inch of water in the absence of rainfall. 2. At the time of planting, TreeGator bags or other similar slow-release watering devices will be installed on newly planted trees and left on through the first growing season only. 3. Watering devices will be removed and cleaned for reuse by Jefferson Tree Stewards at the time they visit new trees for their initial pruning. 4. Deep watering less frequently is preferred over shallow watering more frequently. Water must penetrate the soil to a depth of 8 inches. 5. Trees that have been damaged by construction activities will be watered once per week with 1 inch of water in the absence of rainfall. 6. The tree trunk will not be wetted when watering. Adherence with these standards is not required for trees regulated by the Land Use Management Code, however the voluntary adoption of these standards will benefit both the trees and their owners by increasing tree survival, health, and benefits, and reducing tree management and replacement costs. Fertilization Standards Fertilization of trees will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 2) – 2004 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Fertilization). This standard includes definitions, and

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

descriptions of fertilization practices and fertilization applications, including when, where, and how to fertilize, and what type and rate of fertilizer to use. The standard rate for fertilizing with a slow-release fertilizer is between 2 and 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, and should not exceed 6 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet within a 12 month period. The standard rate for fertilizing with a quick-release fertilizer is between 1 and 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application and should not exceed 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet within a 12 month period. The city of Jefferson requires compliance with the following fertilization standards for trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code, as an addition to or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Fertilization will not be done as a routine practice for city trees. Mulch and the decomposition of leaves and other natural materials will be the primary source of nutrients for the trees. 2. Fertilization prescriptions and applications will be based on the results and recommendations of a soil sample test. 3. Soil within the critical root zone will be sampled and sent to the Cooperative Extension Services soils lab for testing to determine the amount of phosphorus, potassium and organic will be necessary if a specific micronutrient deficiency is suspected. 4. Newly planted trees will not be fertilized until they have been in the ground three (3) growing seasons, unless a soil or foliar sample test reveals a nutrient deficiency. Pruning Standards The pruning of city trees and trees planted to meet Land Use Management Code requirements will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 1) – 2008 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Pruning). This standard includes definitions, descriptions of pruning practices including tree inspection, tools and equipment, pruning cuts, pruning objectives, pruning methods, and utility pruning. The annex includes a guidelines for pruning cuts, guidelines for writing tree pruning specifications and applicable ANSI A300 interpretations for should versus shall. The city of Jefferson will also require compliance with the following pruning standards for trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code, as an addition or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Topping of any tree for any reason is prohibited.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. Any tree planted to satisfy Land Use Management Code requirements that is topped will be replaced with a similar tree in a time frame to be determined by the City Arborist. 3. Stub cuts are not allowed. 4. Flush cuts are not allowed. 5. Pruning paint or wound dressing is not allowed. 6. A minimum clearance of 8 feet is required over sidewalks and walkways and in plazas between the pavement and the lowermost tree limbs. 7. A minimum clearance of 16 feet is required between the road surface and the lowermost tree limbs projecting over roadways. 8. Pruning within 10 feet of overhead electric utility lines will only be done by persons qualified and certified for this work. 9. In cases where the city will hire a contractor to prune city trees, only contractors who employ ISA Certified Arborists will be hired to prune city trees. All tree pruning work must be supervised on-site by an ISA Certified Arborist. Electric Utility Right‐of‐way Vegetation Management The pruning of trees to maintain clearance around electric utility lines will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 7) – 2006 IVM American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Integrated Vegetation Management a. Electric Utility Rights-of-way). This standard includes definitions and descriptions of integrated vegetation management practices for electric utility rights-of-way including objectives, site evaluations, selection of management control methods, communication, and implementation and application of integrated vegetation control methods. The annexes include a discussion of the wire zone – border zone concept, an integrated vegetation management flowchart, and an interpretation of the terms should and shall as they relate to the integrated vegetation management standard. The city of Jefferson will require compliance with the following vegetation management standards for trees on city property as an addition to or reiteration of, or superseding the ANSI standards: 1. Utility companies that anticipate conducting vegetation management operations including line clearance pruning of city trees are required to submit to the city a vegetation management plan on or before December 31 each year that describes the type, location, and schedule of vegetation management activities that will take place.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. Utility companies must also submit the name and contact information of the company employee responsible for the vegetation management operations. The company must contact the City Arborist at least two (2) weeks prior to beginning vegetation management operations. 3. Utility line clearance pruning and other vegetation management activities conducted around city trees must be supervised by an ISA Certified Arborist or Certified Utility Tree Worker. 4. Trees in conflict with overhead utility lines will be assessed prior to the commencement of clearance pruning to determine whether the tree should be pruned or removed. 5. The City Arborist will monitor all line clearance pruning to determine compliance with ANSI standards. 6. Line clearance pruning that does not meet ANSI or city standards will be stopped by the city code enforcement officer. Tree Support Systems Standards Any installation of supplemental tree support systems that are used to provide additional support or limit movement of a tree or tree part will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 3) – 2006 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Supplemental Support Systems). This standard includes definitions and supplemental support systems practices, including tree inspection, tools and equipment, general information, installation practices, cabling installation, bracing installation, prop installation, the guying of established trees, and the inspection and maintenance of supplemental support systems. The annexes include additional hardware information and a supplemental support systems specification flowchart, as well as interpretations of terms used in this standard. The city of Jefferson will requires compliance with the following additional standard for tree support systems installed in trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code: 1. Tree support systems will only be installed by qualified and experienced ISA Certified Arborists. Lightning Protection Systems Standards The installation of lightning protection systems in city trees will be done in accordance with ANSI A300 (Part 4) – 2002 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (Lightning Protection

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Systems). This standard includes definitions, lightning protection practices including tree and site inspection, tools and equipment, materials, and installation practices for the above- and below-ground components of the system. The annexes included are tree lightning protection systems information, ground measurement techniques, and interpretations of terms. The city of Jefferson requires compliance with the following additional standard for lightning protection systems installed in trees on city property and those regulated by the Land Use Management Code: 1. Tree lightning protection systems will only be installed by qualified and experienced ISA Certified Arborists. A large oak tree struck by lightning that Standards for Determining Tree Value will likely not survive the event. There will be times when the city must determine the dollar value of a tree, such as in the case of a city tree being damaged, destroyed, or removed without city approval. Tree values may also have to be determined to find the lowest cost option for installing utilities and infrastructure through areas with existing trees. Tree values will be determined by the City Arborist or another qualified and experienced arborist using the latest edition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal (currently the 9th Edition), developed by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, and published by the International Society of Arboriculture. The methodologies described in this book for appraising the value of trees take into account the tree species, trunk diameter, condition, location, and the cost of replacement trees and landscaping. All tree appraisals will be accompanied by photographs of the appraised trees and information on the factors considered in the calculation of their values. Tree Removal Standards The City Arborist will evaluate tree health and risk for failure before any medium or large canopy tree is removed from city property. The removal of city trees will be done according to the standards listed below: 1. The need for tree removals will be reduced through proper tree selection, placement, protection, and maintenance.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

2. The ownership of trees will be positively identified before trees are evaluated or recommended for removal. 3. Trees will be evaluated for their risk of failure using methods described in the Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas which rates the probability of failure, size of part, and frequency of targets in the area to arrive at an overall hazard rating. 4. Trees at a high risk for whole tree failure will be removed unless targets can be moved. 5. Trees in irreversible and advanced decline will be removed. 6. Trees with messy, hazardous, or noxious flowers or fruit will be removed. 7. Trees in poor form that are unsightly and no longer an asset to the city will be removed. 8. Trees involved in an irresolvable conflict with infrastructure or traffic sight visibility will be removed. 9. Trees will not be removed for sign visibility. 10. Only experienced personnel or contractors will remove city trees. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The city will also adopt the best management practices that accompany the standards for tree care operations and those that stand alone. These best management practices are available from the International Society of Arboriculture website at www.isa-arbor.com. One set each of the standards will be kept in the office of the city clerk, in the City Arborist’s office, in the Street Department shop, and at the Facilities Maintenance Office of Jefferson City Schools. The following best management practices booklets are available:

@ Tree Pruning (Revised 2008) @ Integrated Pest Management @ Tree Support Systems: Cabling, Bracing, Guying, and Propping (Revised) @ Managing Trees During Construction @ Tree and Shrub Fertilization @ Tree Lightning Protection Systems, 2nd Edition @ Integrated Vegetation Management @ Utility Pruning of Trees @ Tree Planting @ Tree Inventories

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

COMMUNITY FOREST INFORMATION PROGRAM

Tree Canopy Cover Now that the city has completed their first tree canopy cover measurement, they have a baseline for comparing future measurements and developing tree canopy cover change trends over the long-term. In the short-term, however, to be pro-active in maintaining the 56 percent tree canopy cover that the city enjoys, the City Arborist will track to the extent possible, tree canopy cover change on a tree-by-tree basis. This tracking will involve the following activities.

@ Keep records of the number of city trees removed by city staff and contract crews; convert the number of trees to approximate tree canopy cover lost @ Keep records of the number of city trees planted on city property by city staff, the Tree Council, and other community forest management partners; convert the number of trees to the approximate tree canopy they will provide at maturity, using 1,600 square feet of future canopy for large canopy trees, 900 square feet for medium canopy trees, 400 square feet for small canopy trees, and 150 square feet for very small canopy trees @ Determine the square footage of tree canopy cover existing on development sites prior to plan approval and development @ Determine the square footage of tree canopy that is planted back on development sites at the time the certificate of occupancy is issued; the number of trees planted will be converted to the approximate amount of tree canopy they will provide at maturity @ Engage citizens and business in providing information about the changes in tree canopy by developing a voluntary reporting system on the city’s website which will include an online form that can be submitted, or printed and mailed, when individuals and businesses remove or replace trees on their properties; develop some incentives and recognition tools to encourage the reporting of these changes @ Each year the City Arborist will calculate the net change in tree canopy cover on city property, on development sites, and on all other sites Adjustments to this tracking system will likely have to be made once the arborist assesses the availability of information and willingness of individuals and businesses to track their tree canopy cover change. If there is very little response from individuals and businesses to this program, it will still be possible to track and determine the net change in tree canopy cover on city property and on new development sites. By maintaining no net loss for city tree canopy cover, the city will be setting an example for the rest of the community.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

City Tree Inventory The city tree inventory contains a wealth of useful information on the city’s tree population as a whole that can be used for planning and budgeting purposes, and on individual trees that can be used for work scheduling. So that this information remains useful, the inventory will be kept current and the entire inventory updated on a regular basis. In addition, the City will periodically re-inventory all city trees to assess current maintenance needs and to determine if the programs and policies the city has in place are moving the community forward toward their vision and goals. The City Arborist will be responsible for editing the inventory as trees are added, removed, or their status changes. The City Arborist will also be responsible for providing information from the inventory to city staff and Tree Council volunteers upon request, using the information to support funding requests, and disseminating information of interest about the city tree population to the community. Since the inventory information exists as a GIS shapefile, the information is best viewed, edited, and summarized using GIS software such as ArcMap from ESRI. This software will be purchased by the city and placed on the city’s computer network to facilitate the use and updating of inventory information. In the meantime the city will rely on the contract City Arborist to provide maps and tree inventory summaries when needed. If kept updated the city’s trees should not have to be re-inventoried for another 10 years or so. During this period, however, tree size, health, structure, and safety can change dramatically, so a re-inventory cycle of no more than 10 years is recommended. The City Arborist will coordinate and schedule future city tree inventories, and may gather the date by him or herself or hire an ISA Certified Arborist to gather the complete the field work for the city.

CITY TREE ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM

Number of Trees In the upcoming years, a minimum of 125 new trees will be planted each year on city property. While the planting of 177 trees in 2009 and 2010 as previously described has been an excellent start to a city-wide tree establishment program, and an unprecedented level of tree planting in Jefferson’s recent history, it would difficult to sustain this level of planting on an annual and ongoing basis, especially without supplemental funding.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The city Street Department will plant at least 80 new trees along city street rights-of-way to fill vacant street tree planting sites; the Street Department will also plant, with the help of the Parks and Recreation Department, at least 20 new trees in city parks each year; and, Jefferson City Schools will plant at least 25 new trees on city school campuses each year. Matching Tree Planting Program The city will establish a matching tree planting program. Citizens, local businesses, and corporations with operations in Jefferson will be asked to match the city’s tree planting efforts with tree plantings of their own so that each year a total of 250 new trees are planted across public and private property. The voluntary planting of trees on private property will be tracked through an online reporting system and will be highlighted on the city’s website. If over time the City Arborist discovers that more trees need to be planted to achieve no net loss of tree canopy cover, the number of trees planted annually will be increased to achieve this goal. Tree Planting Objectives As of August 2009, the city had 1,491 vacant street tree planting sites based on the 2008/2009 tree inventory. The number of vacant planting sites actually surpasses the number of existing street trees found—1,081. While they were not inventoried, vacant planting sites can be seen throughout the city parks and school campuses. The objectives of tree planting over the next 5 years will be to:

@ Replace city trees removed on a one-for-one basis @ Add as much canopy to the community forest as possible through the planting of large- maturing, canopy trees @ Replace city trees with the largest-sized tree if possible (mature size) and within the same general area if possible, or otherwise in a nearby location. @ Improve and maintain age diversity by planting trees every year @ Improve and maintain species diversity by planting a variety of species @ Develop city school campuses into neighborhood parks, arboretums, and outdoor learning centers; ask local professionals to donate services to develop plans for these sites @ Develop a virtual arboretum on the Tree Council website to provide information about recommended tree species, their preferred locations, and their characteristics; photograph specimens and place on the website with information about their culture, preferred locations, and their physical characteristics and growth habits @ Utilize tree bank monies as the primary source of funding for city tree establishment

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Tree Planting Work Plan Each year prior to November, the City Arborist compile a list of sites to be planted in the upcoming winter and the species chosen to fill those sites, after consultation with the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, Main Street Jefferson, the City Manager, the Public Works Director, the Parks and Recreation Director, the Superintendent of Jefferson City Schools, and the Mayor and City Council. After approval of the planting plan, the arborist will send out a request for bids for the trees, review the bids, visit the nurseries to check tree quality, and then submit the recommendations for the purchase of nursery stock to the City Manager and the Mayor and City Council. Additional trees may be transplanted from the private nursery on Lyle Field Road that was the source of 47 of last year’s new trees. The landowner will be approached to provide similar donations annually as long as the trees remain small enough to transplant (4 inch caliper maximum). City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List The city will establish an official tree species list that includes a wide variety of native and non- invasive, urban tolerant exotic species that will guide tree conservation and planting selections in Jefferson. One of the city’s goals is to expand the variety of trees growing in Jefferson. This can be done by planting trees the trees on this list that are not represented in the existing population or that exist in very low numbers as shown in the inventory. Tree species selections will be purposefully made to increase diversity. The tree species recommended for inclusion on a City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List are shown in Table 1. The species shaded in the list are those currently included in the Approved Landscape Planting List. Table 1. City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List Common Name Latin Name Alder, Hazel (Tag) Alnus serrulata Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica Ash, White Fraxinus americana Baldcypress Taxodium distichum Basswood, American (Linden) Tilia americana Beech, American Fagus grandifolia Birch, River Betula nigra Birch, River 'Heritage' Betula nigra 'Heritage' Blackgum (Tupelo) Nyssa sylvatica Catalpa, Southern Catalpa bignonioides Cedar, Deodar Cedrus deodara

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Table 1. City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List Common Name Latin Name Cedar, Japanese Cryptomeria japonica Chastetree (Vitex) Vitex agnus-castus Cherry, Black Prunus serotina Cherrylaurel, Carolina Prunus caroliniana Cherry, Japanese Flowering Prunus serrulata Cherry, Yoshino Prunes x yedoensis Cottonwood, Eastern Populus deltoides Crabapple, Japanese Flowering Malus floribunda Crabapple, Southern Malus angustifolia Crapemyrtle, Common Lagerstroemia indica Devilwood Osmanthus americanus Dogwood, Flowering Cornus florida Dogwood, Flowering Pink Cornus florida var. rubra Dogwood, Kousa Cornus kousa Dogwood, Swamp Cornus stricta Elm, American (Princeton) Ulmus Americana ‘Princeton’ Elm, Chinese (Lace Bark) Ulmus parvifolia Elm, Slippery Ulmus rubra Elm, Winged Ulmus alata Flametree, Chinese (Bougainvillea) Koelreuteria bipinnata Fringetree (Grancy Gray Beard) Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree, Chinese Chionanthus retusus Ginkgo (male only) Ginkgo biloba Goldenraintree Koelreuteria paniculata Hackberry, Common Celtis occidentalis Hackberry, Georgia Celtis tenuifolia Hawthorne, Washington Crataegus phaenopyrum Hickory, Bitternut Carya cordiformis Hickory, Mockernut Carya tomentosa Hickory, Pignut Carya glabra Hickory, Sand Carya pallida Hickory, Shagbark Carya ovata Hickory, Southern Shagbark Carya ovata var. australis Holly, American Ilex opaca Holly, Deciduous (Possumhaw) Ilex decidua Holly, Fosters Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri' Holly, Savannah Ilex x attenuata `Savannah' Holly, Yaupon Ilex vomitoria Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Hophornbeam, American Ostrya virginiana

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Table 1. City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List Common Name Latin Name Hornbeam, American (Ironwood, Blue Beech) Carpinus caroliniana Hornbeam, European Carpinus betulus Hornbeam, Japanese Carpinus japonica Katsuratree Cercidiphyllym japonicum Magnolia, Cucumber Magnolia acuminata Magnolia, Southern Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia, Southern 'Little Gem' Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' Magnolia, Star Magnolia stellata Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana Maple, Amur Acer ginnala Maple, Chalk Acer leucoderme Maple, Freeman Acer x freemanii Maple, Hedge Acer campestre Maple, Japanese Acer palmatum Maple, Red Acer rubrum Maple, Southern Sugar (Florida Sugar) Acer barbatum Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum Maple, Trident Acer buergeranum Mulberry, Red Morus rubra Oak, Black Quercus velutina Oak, Cherrybark Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia Oak, Chestnut Quercus prinus Oak, Georgia Quercus georgiana Oak, Laurel Quercus hemisphaerica Oak, Northern Red Quercus rubra Oak, Nuttall Quercus nuttalli Oak, Overcup Quercus lyrata Oak, Post Quercus stellata Oak, Scarlet Quercus coccinea Oak, Shumard Quercus shumardii Oak, Southern Red Quercus falcata Oak, Swamp Chestnut Quercus michauxii Oak, Swamp White Quercus bicolor Oak, Water Quercus nigra Oak, White Quercus alba Oak, Willow Quercus phellos Parrotia, Persian Parrotia persica Pecan Carya illinoensis Persimmon, Common Diospyros virginiana Pine, Loblolly Pinus taeda

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Table 1. City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List Common Name Latin Name Pine, Longleaf Pinus palustris Pine, Shortleaf Pinus echinata Pine, Virginia Pinus virginiana Pistache, Chinese Pistacia chinensis Planetree, London Platanus x acerifolia Plum, Purpleleaf Prunus cerasifera Redbud, Eastern Cercis canadensis Redbud, Eastern White Cercis canadensis var. alba Redbud, 'Forest Pansy' Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' Redbud, 'Oklahoma' Cercis reniformis 'Oklahoma' Redbud, 'Texas White' Cercis reniformis 'Texas White' Redcedar, Eastern Juniperus virginiana Redwood, Dawn Metasequoia glyptostroboides Sassafras Sassafras albidum Serviceberry, Downy Amelanchier arborea Silverbell, Carolina Halesia carolina Smoketree, American Cotinus obovatus Smoketree, Common Cotinus coggygria Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Sparkleberry, Tree Vaccinium arborea Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum, Fruitless Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba' Sycamore Platanus occidentalis Walnut, Black Juglans nigra Whitecedar, Atlantic Chamaecyparis thyoides Willow, Black Salix nigra Witchhazel, Common Hamamelis virginiana Yellowwood, American Cladrastis kentukea Yellowpoplar (Tulip Poplar) Liriodendron tulipifera Zelkova, Japanese Zelkova serrata This list includes quite a few species that are currently not found in the city tree population. The trees added are considered good candidates for growing in Jefferson; however any new species will be planted in small numbers until their suitability for wide-scale planting is evaluated. Quite a few species on the list are also additions to the Approved Landscape Planting List in the Land Use Management Code. And, conversely, several species on the Land Use Management Code planting list have not been added to the new list. Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) will be removed from the list as it is not considered suitable for planting in Jefferson and the species is currently being decimated by the hemlock woolly adelgid in the southeastern United

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

States. Several species on the list of deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the planting list have been moved to the tree species list as they will technically reach tree size, defined to be a minimum of 3 inches in DBH and 15 feet tall. These species are:

@ Devilwood (Osmanthus americanus)

@ Holly, Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

@ Sparkleberry, Tree (Vaccinium arborea)

@ Waxmyrtle, Southern (Myrica cerifera)

@ Witchhazel, Common (Hamamelis virginiana) Some of the native trees on the new species list may not be available as nursery stock for planting and might only be found in natural, wooded areas. In this case, they are on the list as trees that should be conserved whenever possible. Information on the relative tolerance of trees as a species to construction damage will be added to the list for those species for which information is available. This suggested tree species will also be expanded to include the following characteristics for each tree:

@ Mature height (small, medium, or large)

@ Canopy size (very small, small, medium, or large)

@ Approved planting locations for each species As assessments are made of tree species performance to either relative to construction tolerance or general suitability and hardiness in the Jefferson landscape, the tree species list will be revised to reflect the new information and recommendations.

CITY TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

Introduction to the Work Plans The city will further develop its community forest management program, which has been revitalized through a tree inventory, large-scale tree planting projects, the hiring of a City Arborist, and an increase in educational programs and outreach efforts, through the implementation of a comprehensive and routine city tree maintenance program. Most of Jefferson’s existing trees simply need basic, routine maintenance to improve their health and form, which includes protection, mulching, and pruning, but might also include irrigation and fertilization as necessary. A minority of the city’s trees need more specialized maintenance,

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

such as cabling and bracing, root collar excavation, or pest management to improve their structural integrity or chances of survival. A small percentage need to be removed and replaced. All trees should be inspected regularly, but inspection is most critical for newly planted trees and trees in marginal condition. Work plans for the maintenance of city trees have been developed from tree inventory data and from other input gathered by the consultant over the past year. These work plans are described in the following pages and the tree maintenance activities they include are listed and scheduled in the Master Work Plan in Appendix E. New Tree Maintenance Work Plan For new trees during their first three (3) growing seasons, the city will provide annual mulching, weekly watering, and periodic inspections to assess tree health and determine current maintenance needs. The city will planting up to 125 trees per year on a regular basis and over any 3 year period there will be as many as 375 trees that need new tree maintenance. This represents a tremendous increase in the work load for city staff. Therefore, this work load will be distributed among Street Department staff, Parks and Recreation Department staff, Jefferson City Schools staff, the City Arborist, and Jefferson Tree Stewards.

@ Jefferson Tree Stewards will mulch and prune new trees planted on city rights-of-way, in city parks, and on city school properties in their second and third years in the ground. @ Jefferson Tree Stewards will be responsible for removing TreeGator® bags from newly planted trees during their initial pruning visit, preferably prior to the end of January. @ The Street Department will be responsible for watering newly planted trees on city street rights-of-way throughout the first growing season, from time of planting until the end of October. The decision to water after October and in subsequent growing seasons will be made by the Street Department in consultation with the City Arborist. @ The Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for watering newly planted trees in city parks throughout their first growing season, from time of planting until the end of October. The decision to water after October and in subsequent growing seasons will be made by the Street Department in consultant with the City Arborist. Established Tree Maintenance Work Plan The city will routinely prune all city trees on a regular cycle, mulch all city trees in high pedestrian traffic areas as time is available and where site conditions permit, irrigate specimen trees and canopy trees damaged during times of drought, and fertilize trees showing signs of nutrient deficiency. Information on the current maintenance needs of the city’s trees was

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

gathered during the tree inventory completed in from September 2008 through August 2010. A summary of these maintenance recommendations for is located in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of Maintenance Recommendations for City Trees Maintenance Activity Streets Parks Facilities Schools All Total Number of Trees 1,081 448 130 659 2,318 Number of Vacant Planting Sites* 1,490 n/a n/a n/a 1,490 Cable and Brace 2 3 2 10 17 Cut Girdling Roots 10 4 7 38 59 Cut Vines 41 31 16 11 99 Cut Wire or Metal 18 49 2 23 92 Fertilize 11 213 0 1 225 Inspect 13 19 3 10 45 Mulch 132 90 50 361 633 Pest Management 17 6 0 0 23 Prune for Traffic and Pedestrian Clearance 19 75 4 19 117 Prune to Correct Form 19 3 3 4 29 Prune to Remove Deadwood 60 59 10 71 200 Prune to Improve Structure 128 8 9 38 183 Prune to Train Structure 103 117 13 167 400 Remove Dead Tree 7 2 1 11 21 Remove Live Tree 1 11 3 12 27 *Although there are tree planting opportunities in the parks, around city facilities, and on school campuses, they were only specifically identified on street rights-of-way. Tree planting plans will be developed for the parks, facilities, and schools in the future. The tree maintenance activities listed above represent a huge workload for the already over- tasked city and city schools maintenance crews. For this reason, the approach to accomplishing recommended maintenance will be to spread the work out among as many willing partners as possible and use contractors when funding permits. This will be particularly important for mulching and tree pruning, which represent the bulk of the tree maintenance recommended. Work plans for each of the maintenance activities recommended in the tree inventory and for those maintenance needs identified by the City Arborist over the last year follow. Tree Pruning Work Plan The city will begin the routine pruning of trees to improve their form, provide pedestrian and vehicular clearance and increasing sight distance, remove deadwood, correct structural defects and reduce the failure potential of large limbs. Routine pruning will reduce future pruning needs, storm damage, and tree removal costs, increase public safety, improve tree health, and lengthen a tree’s useful service life. After the initial pruning to take care of needs identified in the inventory,

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

the city will establish a 10-year pruning cycle that include one-tenth of the city’s trees or cover one-tenth of the city’s geographic area each year. While we know that all newly planted trees need training pruning early on in their lives, not all established trees need pruning at the same time. Table 3 shows the total num ber of trees that need pruning as of the time of the inventory for each type of site, a nd by DBH c lasses.

Table 3. Distribution of Trees Requiring Pruning by DBH Class DBH Class In Inches Street Park Fa cility S chools Total 1 to 4 237 155 20 220 632 5 to 8 41 12 5 34 92 9 to 12 6 1 4 13 24 13 to 16 10 6 7 22 45 17 to 20 3 5 1 6 15 21 to 24 3 7 1 4 15 25 to 28 6 10 0 0 16 29 to 32 2 1 0 0 3 32 and larger 8 5 0 1 14 All Trees 316 202 38 300 856 The total number of city trees that need pruning is 856. However, nearly th ree-quarters of these trees are 4 inches or small in trunk diameter. The majority of the tree pruning burden will fall to the Jefferson Tree Stewards. The number of trees growing along city street rights-of-way and around public facilities that need some type of pruning is 354. There are 257 of these trees that are small, 4 inches DBH and smaller. Approximately 50 of these small trees will be pruned each year by Jefferson Tree Stewards. If additional volunteer time is available, additional trees will be pruned. Only 97 of these trees are 5 inches and larger and only 16 are greater than 24 inches. Approximately 20 of the medium and large trees will be pruned each year, either by city crews, or by qualified contractors. The City Arborist will choose the trees to be pruned each year with the largest trees and the trees with the greatest hazard potential assigned the highest priority. While the focus of large tree pruning in the first few years will be on large trees and the reduction of their risk of failure, in subsequent years the focus will be on improving traffic and pedestrian clearance and visibility, removing deadwood (crown cleaning) and improving tree structure and form. The number of trees in city parks that need pruning is 202. Of these 202, 155 are small trees 4 inches DBH and smaller. The remaining 47 are 5 inches DBH and larger. Approximately 30 small trees will be pruned each year by Jefferson Tree Stewards. Approximately 10 medium and

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

large trees will be pruned each year by city crews or by qualified contractors using the same strategy of assigning the highest priority to large trees and trees with the greatest hazard potential. The number of trees on school campuses is approximately 670 (659 initially inventoried and 11 planted after the initial inventory). ARRA grant trees planted on school campuses that are in addition to these 670 trees will be included in the work plan after their first year in the ground when they are no longer being maintained by a landscape contractor. The number of campus t rees recomm ended for at least one type of pruning is 300, with 220 of those 4 inches and less in diameter. While it is important to get to these young trees as soon as possible for training and crown cleaning (deadwood) pruning, only 50 of these sma ll trees will be pruned each year by th e Jefferson Tree Stew ards. If add itional volu nteer time i s available to prune more trees, then th is extra time will be u tilized for a dditional pruning in the first 3 years of this plan. The remaining 80 trees a re 5 inches in DBH and larger. Jefferson City Schools will be responsible for pruning 16 medium and large trees each year, utilizing either city personnel or qualified contractors. Th e largest trees, the tree s with the greatest need, and the trees for which public safety will be incr eased to the greatest degree will be pruned fir st. The total number of existing trees to be assessed and pruned to train form and remove deadwood each year as identified i n the tree inventory is 130. The se trees are in addition to the newly planted trees that will need training pruning after their first growing season, expected to be between 125 and 175 trees per year. It is estimated that Jefferson Tree Stewards will prune a minimum of 250 and a maximum of 400 trees per year. The city and Jefferson City Schools may want to consolidate their medium and large tree pruning needs in order to secure a less expensive bid for pruning each year if this work is contracted out. The total number of medium and large trees that will be pruned across all city properties— streets, facilities, parks, and schools—in the short-term is 46. Long-term the city will prune an average of 50 medium and large trees each year on a routine basis. Some large tree pruning will be required in addition to what was identified in the tree inventory on an as-needed basis after storm damage, when limbs split, break, a structural fault is identified, or when major dead limbs threaten public safety. This non-routine pruning will be done as soon as the need is identified so that public health, safety, and welfare are maintained. Tree Mulching Work Plan The city will mulch as many trees on an annual basis as workloads permit and where site conditions are favorable, preferably between November and March each year. The highest priority will be given to newly planted trees, drought-sensitive trees, specimen trees, and other high value trees. In addition to Jefferson Tree Stewards mulching newly planted trees, to further

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

reduce the workload on city staff, residents and businesses will be asked to mulch the city-owned trees growing in the right-of-way adjacent to their properties. Free mulch will be provided by the city. In many cases property owners have already adopted the city trees in front of their property and many are mulched, watered, and pruned. They are not always mulched or pruned properly, however. Property owners will be specifically asked to look at the city trees, evaluate the need for mulch, and then mulch or re-mulch them according to the tree care standards adopted by the city. This request will be made through an insert in each utility bill twice per year, once in March and again in September. Property owners will be directed to the city’s website to view proper mulching techniques, and the City Arborist will be available to discuss these techniques with them. The Parks and Recreation Department will mulch existing trees in city parks where practical, and especially in areas of heavy foot traffic, around play equipment, and around recreational facilities. The department may choose to delegate this task to their landscape contractor. The Street Department will continue to mulch the trees in Curry Creek Park. The Facilities Maintenance Department of Jefferson City Schools will mulch the existing trees on city school campuses. Tree Fertilization Work Plan The City Arborist will coordinate the fertilization of trees as recommended in the inventory. The arborist will take soil samples within the critical root zone of each tree and submit the samples to the Cooperative Extension Service for testing and analysis. Upon receipt of the soil test results, the arborist will develop a fertilization prescription for each tree, and will then work with Street Department staff as necessary to order, mix, and apply the fertilizer. All fertilization will be done according to standards. Fertilization will take place in April and again in July. Cabling and Bracing Work Plan The city will have all trees recommended for cabling and bracing inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist qualified and experienced in the installation of tree support systems, and upon confirmation of the need, will cable and brace at least one (1) tree per year as budgets allow. A total of seven (7) street, facility, and park trees are recommended for cabling and bracing in the tree inventory. A total of 10 trees on school campuses were recommended for cabling and bracing during the tree inventory. Jefferson City Schools will have these trees inspected by a qualified and experienced ISA Certified Arborist and upon confirmation of the need, will cable and brace at

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

least one (1) tree per year if budgets allow. A total of 10 school campus trees are recommended for cabling and bracing in the tree inventory. Pest Management Plan

Insects and Diseases The City Arborist will generate a list of trees recommended for pest management in the tree inventory, inspect each tree or group of trees recommended for pest management, develop a pest management prescription, and coordinate the implementation of pest management activities. A work order will be submitted for any pest management control actions needed. Generally speaking, the approaches to pest management will involve ongoing plant health care and integrated pest management strategies which include cultural, biological, and chemical control. Pesticides will not be used unless the problem is expected to cause long-term damage or decline and there is a good chance of success of eliminating the pest without harming the beneficial organisms or the environment. The City Arborist will keep city and city schools staff updated and aware of pest signs and symptoms and potential new threats to city trees.

Mistletoe Mistletoe, when detected in trees, will be removed through crown cleaning, especially of female clumps that produce berries which are then transported to other parts of the tree and surrounding trees by birds. For main stem and scaffold limb infections, mistletoe shoots will be removed flush with the bark where pruning For more information on mistletoe and its eradication, refer to the above is not practical and would publication by Dr. Kim D. Coder of the University of Georgia’s Warnell remove too great a portion of School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The publication can be found the tree’s crown. through a quick search of “mistletoe” at www.urbanforestrysouth.org.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

For branch infections, twigs or branches will be pruned back to node closest to the healthy portion of the branch, at least 14 inches below an infection site. All pruning cuts for mistletoe removal should be made according to pruning standards. For specimen and other high value trees chemical control will be used. A product containing ethephon and labeled for mistletoe eradication will be sprayed on mistletoe clumps until the foliage and stems are wet. This will be done just after leaf drop in the fall and before bud break in the spring and when daytime temperatures are above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and no rain is forecast for a minimum of 24 hours. Label directions will be followed for all applications. Retreatment will be made every 3 to 4 years. There is a possibility of the chemical staining or etching hardscapes or painted surfaces, such as vehicles, so care will be taken to avoid this occurrence, or otherwise this control method will not be used. General Maintenance Work Plan A number of trees in the inventory require the removal of girdling roots, vines growing on their trunks and in their crowns, or metal or wire that is girdling trunks or limbs. The City Arborist will generate a list of these trees by site and street and provide it to the appropriate departments so that this work can be done as time permits or when completing other work in the area. Staff will also be reminded about what to look for on an ongoing basis during their normal work routine so that they can correct these problems early and as they are encountered. Tree Inspection Work Plan The inventory identified 45 trees that require regular inspections due to their marginal condition, a structural defect, or a pest problem. The City Arborist will generate a list of these trees and perform on initial inspection on them all by the end of December 2010. The City Arborist will be notified of additional trees needing inspection through the new tree work order system, or in person or by phone. The arborist will make a recommendation for each tree and request maintenance or removal with a work order, place the tree on the list of routine inspections, or determine that no action is needed. The City Arborist will maintain an updated list of all known trees needing inspection and make these inspections at least annually. Tree Removal Work Plan Tree removal will be addressed in a systematic manner. There are currently 48 trees in the tree inventory—21 dead and 27 live—recommended for removal. Most of these trees are located on city school campuses and in city parks. The city and city schools will remove 10 trees per year that are either dead, in hazardous condition, in conflict with other infrastructure—especially overhead utility lines—or in declining health. At this removal rate, it will take the city a

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

minimum of 5 years to remove all these trees. As staff time and budgets allow, a faster rate of tree removal is recommended for forest and community health. Dead trees will be removed first. Then, live trees will be removed in order of priority, with large trees at risk for whole or partial (large limb) failure assigned the greatest priority, trees in conflict with infrastructure assigned the next highest priority, and then large trees in declining health assigned the next priority. The larger a tree is and the poorer its condition, the higher the removal priority that it will be assigned. Long-term, trees that are dead will be removed as soon as they are identified. Live trees that need removal will be addressed as soon as possible and based on the priorities described above. Tree removal will generally be done by Street Department staff, except in cases where the tree is too large or in such a location that staff is unable to handle it with their existing equipment or skill level, and then they will hire an experienced contractor.

PRIVATE PROPERTY TREE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The city will continue to regulate the density and distribution of trees on new development sites where most tree canopy cover loss occurs, primarily through enforcement of the tree protection and landscaping regulations in the Land Use Management Code. The city will also continue to encourage the wise management of trees on all private property through education and outreach. Development Assessments The City Arborist will visit completed developments periodically to perform a visual assessment of the trees on the site to determine if the programs and policies that are in place are having their intended outcome of sustaining a healthy, expansive, and beautiful community forest. Information gathered during the development assessments will be summarized and presented to the City Manager for review and discussion. Revisions of the Land Use Management Code The city will periodically review and revise the Land Use Management Code to increase its effectiveness in providing intended outcomes. The city will periodically organize a group of community stakeholders and hold one (1) or more meetings to review and discuss the Land Use Management Code and the recommendations for revisions. This will be done in the coming year to review and discuss the revisions recommended in Section 2. The stakeholders will be asked to provide the city with their opinions and suggestions on these recommendations and as well present their own recommendations for changes in the Land Use Management Code. A set of

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

final recommendations will then be submitted for approval to the City Manager, Quad Cities Planning Commission and Mayor and City Council. The City Manager, City Planner, and City Arborist will develop a consensus on the stakeholders to be invited to the review meeting(s). These stakeholders will include representatives from the groups that have the most significant impact on the community and its trees, and those groups most impacted by community trees and their management. Site Plan and Variance Request Review The City Arborist will provide technical assistance and recommendations to the City Planner in site development plans review, pre-approval site visits, and reviews of variance requests. The City Arborist will also be responsible for monitoring compliance with the tree protection and landscaping provisions of the Land Use Management Code and providing compliance reports and enforcement recommendations to the City Planner. The City Arborist will also be responsible for providing tree care education to the development community. Trees on Existing Developments Trees growing on previously developed single-family residential lots, commercial properties, or industrial sites are not regulated through the city code. However, the city and its tree canopy will benefit overall if trees on private property are actively and properly protected, planted and maintained. Therefore, an important part of private property tree management, as well as city tree management, will be an ongoing and wide-spread tree care education and outreach program.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM The Jefferson Heritage Tree Council will be the primary provider and coordinator of the city’s education and outreach program. The City Arborist will assist in providing education and outreach, especially for technical, arboricultural programs for staff and the development community. Many of the programs that will be provided, both general and technical, will require that the City Arborist and the Tree Council work together for the programs to be successful. Educational Programs The following educational programs will be provided in the short-term, 5 year program period:

@ Educational programs on standards for tree care operations and best management practices for staff, developers, and contractors

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Review of safety standards for tree are operations with all city and city school staff and with Jefferson Tree Stewards @ Conduct a tree planting and/or tree benefits demonstration on one (1) commercial site in partnerships with a commercial property owner @ Conduct two (2) tree conservation and planting workshops in two (2) different neighborhoods, working with the neighborhood or homeowner associations @ Providing continuing education for city and city schools staff through field sessions and tail-gate programs on all aspects of tree care @ Conduct landscape, tree service, and construction contractor tree care information sessions focusing on planting, protection, pruning, and mulching @ Prepare and distribute bullet point lists for basic tree care activities to staff, contractors, and the development community @ Conduct a multi-session ISA Certified Arborist training program for city and schools staff, local landscape contractors, and local tree service contractors; at least two (2) city and one (1) city schools staff member will become ISA Certified Arborists @ Provide information and education on the importance of trees and tree care through a variety of media @ Provide training for Jefferson Tree Stewards on mulching and pruning @ Provide training in recognizing pest signs and symptoms to city and schools staff @ Conduct a Heritage Tree owner’s educational event @ Purchase or develop and distribute program and tree care brochures @ Provide continuing education opportunities for Tree Council members Educational Opportunities There are a number of other educational events and opportunities that will be provided throughout the course of the next 5 years. These include:

@ Park clean-ups @ Earth Day celebration @ Gift Tree program @ Heritage Tree program @ Heritage Tree calendar @ Multi-event tree festival for the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ Tree sale @ Tree City USA program Target Audiences The target audiences for these educational programs are broad in many cases, and more specific in others. Regardless of the specific audience for a single program, participation will not be limited to a specific group in most cases because it will be of value for everyone and anyone to have more information on tree and their care. The target audiences in general for the education and outreach program are:

@ City staff, especially those from the Street Department and Parks and Recreations @ City Schools staff, especially from the Facilities Maintenance Department @ Jefferson Heritage Tree Council members @ Jefferson Tree Stewards @ Local landscape contractors and personnel @ Local tree service personnel @ Construction contractors and subcontractors @ Development community @ Residential property owners and their tenants @ Commercial and industrial property owners and their tenants Media While workshops and training sessions are good ways to get important information out on tree care to a good number of people at one time, there are many other media that can be used to distribute information on tree care, such as brochures and handouts, press releases, the city and Tree Council websites.

Brochures and Bulletins The city will keep on hand multiple copies of ISA Consumer Information Brochures and Tree City USA Bulletins to hand out to citizens when the opportunity arises. The topics of the brochures and bulletins will correspond to the city’s current focus areas in tree care education. The city will also keep on hand multiple copies of brochures and flyers produced by the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council and the city on community forest management programs, events, and initiatives, and make these documents available to the public at City Hall.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The city will also purchase four (4) sets of three (3) tree care posters for displaying at City Hall, at community events, in the Street Department shop, and in the city schools facilities maintenance office.

Websites The city and Tree Council websites will include information on:

@ Educational needs form (I want to learn more about…) @ Educational programs and community tree events @ Gift Tree program @ Heritage Tree program @ Solicitations for volunteer help @ Program accomplishments @ Links to other tree related websites @ Tree planting notification form (I/We planted a tree…) @ Latest tree canopy cover information @ Tree care articles Updated information on the city’s sustainable community forest management program will be provided by the City Arborist to the City Manager for inclusion on the website. The Tree Council will be responsible for updating their website with current information on a regular basis. Reference Library The city of Jefferson will build over the short-term, and continue adding to in the future, a library of tree related books, manuals, videos, and other reference materials, in addition to keeping on hand brochures and bulletins to distribute. The tree care reference library, to be housed in the office of the City Arborist, will include at a minimum, the following books, videos, and publications available from the Southern Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture:

@ Complete set of ANSI Standards (8 standards) @ Complete set of ISA Best Management Practices (10 BMPs) @ Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th Edition (Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers) @ Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Michael A. Dirr, 2009)

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

@ An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, 2nd Edition (Edward F. Gilman, 2002) @ Insects that Feed on Trees and Shrubs (Warren T. Johnson and Howard H. Lyon, 1991) @ Diseases of Trees and Shrubs, 2nd Edition (Wayne A. Sinclair, Howard H. Lyon, and Warrant T. Johnson, 2005) @ A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas (Nelda Matheny and James R. Clark, 1994) @ Trees and Development: A Technical Guide to Preservation of Trees During Land Development (Nelda Matheny and James R. Clark, 1998) @ Arborists' Certification Study Guide (ISA, 2001) @ Training Young Trees for Structure and Form DVD City Tree Festival One component of the city of Jefferson’s 2010 Urban and Community Forestry Grant Project, “Growing Jefferson Greener” is a tree festival that will be an expanded Arbor Day celebration. Det ai ls of the activities to be included as part of the festival will be determined in the fall of 2010, but the following activities will be included in the city’s 2011 Arbor Celebration/Tree Festival:

@ Tree sale @ Distribution of tree care information and information on the importance of tree canopy cover @ Musical event @ Children’s programs Educational Opportunities (Non‐City Sponsored) Tree care education opportunities sponsored by other cities, counties, agencies, and non-profit organizations should be attended if possible by city staff, the City Arborist, and members of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, and should as well be advertised on the city and Tree Council websites. The City Arborist and Tree Council members, at a minimum, should attend the following each year:

@ GUFC Annual Conference and Awards Program @ GUFC Quarterly Educational Programs (at least 1 per year)

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

The Tree Council budget will include a small allocation to be determined by the members for travel expenses for members attending these meetings.

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM The city’s strong commitment to the wise management of the community forest will further manifest itself with the adoption and implementation of this master plan. It is recommended that the city review, revise as necessary, and adopt this or a similar plan by December 31, 2010, so that program implementation will coincide with the new calendar year and 2011 city budget. It is also recommended that the plan be reviewed on a regular basis, and administrative changes made to the plan to keep the city moving in a direct path toward its goals. The City Arborist will coordinate a periodic review of the maHster plan with the City Manager, a representative of the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, the Public Works Director, the Parks and Recreation Director, and the Superintendent of Jefferson City Schools, or their designees.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

APPENDICES

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Content of Appendices

@ Appendix A: Tree Canopy Cover Study Results

@ Appendix B: 2008-2010 Tree Inventory Data Summaries and Charts

@ Appendix C: 2009-2010 Tree Planting Results

@ Appendix D: Homeowner Tree Assessmen t Form

@ Appendix E: Master Work Plan

@ Appendix F: Glossary of Arboricultural Terms

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Appendix A: Tree Canopy Cover Study Results

CITY OF JEFFERSON TREE CANOPY COVER STUDY FINAL REPORT OF RESULTS

February 3, 2010

INTRODUCTION

In November 2009, as part of the city’s 2009 Urban and Community Forestry Grant entitled “City of Jefferson Sustainable Community Forest Project”1, the City of Jefferson conducted a measurement of its existing tree canopy and other land cover within the city limits. The study was sponsored by the City of Jefferson and the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council and was completed with the support and through the efforts of city staff, volunteers from the tree council, Legacy Landscape Management staff, and volunteers from Main Street Jefferson, Keep Jackson County Beautiful, the Jefferson Historic Preservation Commission, and the Jackson County Historical Society. The study was coordinated by Connie Head, Consulting Urban Forester with Technical Forestry Services, who also prepared this report. City staff and volunteers completed the actual land cover measurements.

METHODOLOGY

The study was completed using aerial photography flown in February 2009. Printed aerial photographs were purchased from the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission (NEGRC) using grant funds and city matching funds. Mr. Steve Cumblidge, Geographic Information Systems Manager with the NEGRC, designed and printed the 20 aerial photographs, each 24 by 36 inches in size. The photographs were printed at a scale of 1 inch on the photograph equal to 300 feet on the ground. Figure 1 shows an index map with the layout of the 20 photographs or “tiles”. This index map and the aerial photographs were also provided to the city on CD by the NEGRC as PDF files. Figure 1. Index Map of the City of Jefferson and Location of Aerial Photograph Tiles

1 Funds provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

Each photograph was covered with a grid of yellow dots, one‐sixteenth inch in diameter and placed one‐half inch apart, equivalent to 150 feet on the ground, as shown in Figure 2. These dots essentially represent measurement plots. Study participants, during a 2‐day session on November 11 and 12 at the Jefferson Civic Center, identified the land cover type beneath each yellow dot—within each plot, color coded the dot directly on the photograph according to land cover by staff and volunteers, and the dots of each land cover type were counted and recorded on tally sheets. Some volunteers took photographs home after the 2‐day session to continue coding and counting.

Figure 2. Example of Aerial Photograph with Dot Grid (View of Downtown Jefferson)

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

Land cover was divided into five (5) categories, as described below.

Tree canopy. This category includes all trees, whether hardwoods or conifers, deciduous or evergreen, and of any size as long as they were distinguishable on the photographs. Since the land was photographed in February, the majority of the hardwood trees were without leaves, but hardwoods were still recognizable. Dots that fell on tree shadows that projected beyond the tree’s canopy were not counted as tree canopy cover, but were instead categorized according to the land cover type beneath the shadow. Tree canopies intercept precipitation and slowly release it, increasing penetration of water into the soil and decreasing overland flow. Tree canopies also cool the air temperature through evapotranspiration of water from their leaves, and reduce surface temperatures by providing shade. Trees improve air and water quality, sequester carbon, and reduce heating and cooling costs. They contribute to a community’s economic base by enhancing quality of life and increasing property values. They also provide recreational opportunities and wildlife food and habitat. Their functions and benefits are many.

Other vegetation. Shrubs, turf grass, vines (such as kudzu), and herbaceous vegetation that is not covered by tree canopy was categorized as other vegetation. This other vegetation occurs on pasture land, in vacant lots, on cut‐over sites, on lawns, and along roads and in road medians. Very small trees that were not recognizable as trees and did not project a shadow were also included in this category. This other vegetation intercepts some precipitation, but overland flow is increased on these surfaces as compared to tree canopy. And similarly this other vegetation helps to cool surface air temperatures, but to a considerably lesser extent than trees.

Impervious surfaces. Any surface that is impervious to water, such as concrete, asphalt, and metal, and any structure covered with such surfaces, such as streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and buildings, was categorized as impervious surface. Impervious surfaces that are directly covered by tree canopy were categorized as tree canopy, however. All of the impervious surfaces and structures shed precipitation, increasing overland water flow and potentially flooding. They also absorb radiant heat and increase surface air temperatures. However, if theses surfaces are covered with tree canopy, these negative attributes will be somewhat reduced.

Bare soil and gravel. This category includes areas where the soil was exposed or gravel was present, such as on graded land, unpaved roads, some parking areas, in quarries, and along

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

railroad tracks. While water does penetrate these surfaces to some extent, the more compact the surface the more similar it becomes to paved or impervious surfaces.

Water. Open water was found on the photographs in ponds, creeks, marshes, and swimming pools.

City staff and volunteers spent more than 100 hours of staff and volunteer time on the project. Participants received individual training and were monitored throughout the categorization and color coding phases. The numbers of dots of each color on each photograph were counted at least twice. After all photographs were completed, the consultant then reviewed every photograph to ensure accuracy and maintain consistency in categorization. The consultant also performed a final count of all dots in all categories on all photographs.

RESULTS

There were 26,990 dots within the city limits that were categorized, color coded, and counted. Each dot represents an area of 22,500 square feet (150 feet by 150 feet) or approximately .5165 acre. The total area of the city, based upon the number of dots that fell within the city limits, is estimated to be 21.78 square miles, equivalent to approximately 13,940 acres.

As shown in the summary on the right and by the raw data Land Cover in Jefferson (Feb 09) in Table 1, tree canopy covers 55.8 percent of the land P Tree canopy = 55.8% within the city limits of Jefferson. Other vegetation covers P Other vegetation = 29.0% an additional 29 percent. Impervious surfaces cover 11.3 P Impervious surfaces = 11.3% percent of the city. Bare soil and gravel cover 2.5 percent P Bare soil and gravel = 2.5% of the city, and water covers 1.4 percent. P Water = 1.4%

In Table 1 the three (3) greatest amounts of tree canopy cover and impervious surfaces are highlighted in bold type and dark shading. The three (3) lowest amounts of each are highlighted in italics and light shading.

The greatest amounts of tree canopy by percentage are found on photographs 1, 11, and 8. Photograph 1 contains a small portion of the northernmost reaches of the city of Jefferson consisting of currently undeveloped land zoned light industrial (LI). Photograph 11 contains a very small portion of undeveloped land zoned LI and a small section of the quarry off New Salem Church Road. Photograph 8 contains mostly undeveloped land in the western part of the city alongside Highway 129 that is zoned LI, highway commercial (C‐2), and medium density residential.

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

The lowest amounts of tree canopy by percent cover are found on photographs 14, 4, and 10. These photographs are at the fringes of the city on land zoned LI, R‐2, and office‐institutional (O‐I), and consisting of lawns, forest, ponds, and some developed land.

The greatest amounts of impervious surfaces are found on photographs 10, 7, and 16. The lowest amounts of impervious surfaces by percent cover are found on photographs 11, 1, and 8. As described above, these photographs contain primarily undeveloped land.

Table 1. Results of the 2009 Tree Canopy Cover Study by Photograph with Totals

Impervious Tree Canopy Other Vegetation Surfaces Bare Soil/Gravel Water Photo Total graph # Dots Percent # Dots Percent # Dots Percent # Dots Percent # Dots Percent Dots 1 133 77.3% 38 21.9% 2 0.9% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 172 2 1,105 60.5% 411 22.5% 171 9.4% 140 7.7% 0 0.0% 1,827 3 822 59.7% 415 30.2% 119 8.6% 13 0.9% 7 0.5% 1,376 4 334 37.4% 369 41.4% 116 13.0% 73 8.2% 0 0.0% 892 5 1,109 50.9% 755 34.6% 182 8.4% 14 0.6% 119 5.5% 2,179 6 136 55.3% 61 24.8% 39 15.9% 8 3.3% 2 0.8% 246 7 1,153 54.7% 442 21.0% 403 19.1% 76 3.6% 34 1.6% 2,108 8 1,385 69.7% 375 18.9% 97 4.9% 119 6.0% 11 0.6% 1,987 9 944 50.5% 781 41.8% 98 5.2% 21 1.1% 26 1.4% 1,869 10 78 28.3% 132 47.8% 60 21.7% 6 2.2% 0 0.0% 276 11 83 76.4% 10 9.3% 0 0.0% 14 13.0% 2 1.4% 108 12 1,369 58.2% 661 28.1% 200 8.5% 108 4.6% 15 0.6% 2,352 13 1,616 52.0% 1,004 32.3% 419 13.5% 15 0.5% 51 1.6% 3,104 14 444 49.5% 269 30.0% 143 15.9% 6 0.7% 35 3.9% 896 15 745 58.9% 383 30.3% 126 10.0% 5 0.4% 5 0.4% 1,264 16 1,340 51.4% 763 29.3% 472 18.1% 24 0.9% 6 0.2% 2,605 17 912 58.1% 426 27.1% 199 12.7% 8 0.5% 26 1.7% 1,571 18 399 62.3% 158 24.7% 73 11.4% 4 0.6% 6 0.9% 640 19 410 56.2% 211 28.9% 77 10.5% 18 2.5% 14 1.9% 730 20 534 67.5% 174 22.0% 69 8.7% 5 0.6% 9 1.1% 791 Totals 15,048 55.8% 7,836 29.0% 3,062 11.3% 676 2.5% 368 1.4% 26,990

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

The least developed areas in Jefferson occur on photographs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 19. The combined tree canopy cover on these photographs is 58 percent, other vegetation is 25.3 percent, and impervious surfaces total 11.1 percent. Bare soil and gravel account for 4.8 percent and water is less than 1 percent.

DISCUSSION

In general the greatest amount of tree canopy cover is found on undeveloped land, in rural areas, and in older residential neighborhoods. The least amount of tree canopy is found in commercial districts, especially in parking lots, on industrial sites, and in new residential subdivisions, where significant amounts of trees are removed and replaced with impervious surfaces and turf.

Older, traditional neighborhoods contain an abundance of trees, which partially cover the houses, driveways, and streets. In new residential developments, significant tree canopy cover is lacking and much of the land cover is other vegetation—turf, and impervious surfaces in the form of non‐canopied streets, houses, garages, and driveways.

The most developed areas in Jefferson occur on photographs 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20. The combined tree canopy cover on these photographs is 54.5 percent, other vegetation is 31.1 percent, and impervious surfaces total 11.5 percent. Bare soil and gravel account for 1.2 percent and water is 1.7 percent. The greatest differences in these two sets of photographs, between least developed and most developed, are in tree canopy cover with 3.5 percent less tree canopy in developed areas, and in other vegetation, with 5.8 percent more in the most developed areas. There are more lawn areas in the developed areas which likely account for much of the increase in other vegetation.

The amount of impervious surface within the city is in fact greater than the 11.3% measured. Some of the impervious surface is covered with tree canopy and counted as tree canopy. As a result of the tree canopy over pavement, summer temperatures are lower, the urban heat island effect is reduced, the production of ground level ozone is reduced, and pavement life is extended. The addition of more trees will further increase these benefits.

In the 2009 tree inventory report completed by consultant Andrew Saunders, he states that data from the Natural Resource Spatial Analysis Lab at the University of Georgia’s College of

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

Agriculture and Environmental Sciences2 shows that Jefferson’s tree canopy cover has decreased from 50.7 percent in 1991 to 49.8 percent in 2001 to 49.4 percent in 2005. For the same years, impervious surfaces have increased from 2.2 percent to 4.8 percent to 7.5 percent in 2005. These numbers were derived from satellite imagery instead of aerial photography and show a downward trend in tree canopy and upward trend in impervious surfaces. While the current study shows 55.8 percent tree canopy cover and 11.3 percent impervious surfaces, these amounts cannot be compared with the satellite imagery study of NARSAL since the measurement methodologies were so different. The increase may be accounted for solely by the differences in measurement methods, or it may be a result of growth of trees on land that was previously pastureland, or growth of small trees that have been planted since 2005, or other such growth on land that was previously without tree canopy, or it a combination of measurement methods and tree growth.

Using the current study results as a baseline, however, future and regular measurements using aerial photography should be done to monitor changes in tree canopy cover and impervious surfaces. Using the same methodology from year to year will produce reliable trends in these numbers.

Increases in tree canopy cover will occur as newly planted trees grow and can be identified on the aerial photography. This growth will occur in new developments where trees have been planted to meet LUMC requirements. It will occur in abandoned fields and pastures where in‐ growth of trees takes place where mowing is eliminated. It will occur as trees in general grow to reach maturity throughout the city. It will occur as the 1,491 vacant street tree planting sites identified in the 2009 tree inventory are filled.

Decreases in tree canopy cover take place where trees are removed and replaced with substantially fewer trees, as is the case in most new developments. Currently there are many developments in Jefferson that have been approved but are not built out. According to the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, there are currently 1,202.18 acres of future industrial development approved and in the design phase but construction, and tree removal, have not yet occurred; these developments represent a potential for the construction of 234 acres of building footprint, and additional acres of paved driveways, walkways, and parking

2 Dr. Liz Kramer, NARSAL Director, http://narsal.uga.edu/

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

areas. There will be a very significant and immediate decrease in tree canopy cover as these sites are fully developed.

Decreases in tree canopy cover will also take place as Jefferson’s aging and declining large trees, composed primarily of water and willow oaks, are removed along street rights‐of‐way, in yards, and on commercial sites, as they reach the end of their lives. If these trees are not replaced with large maturing species, Jefferson’s tree canopy cover in the future will be considerably less than it is today.

CONCLUSIONS

The amount of tree canopy cover within Jefferson is, as of February 2009, at a level that could be considered marginal. While the addition of tree canopy will certainly provide additional benefits, adding tree canopy is not critical if the current amount is maintained. However, a loss of tree canopy cover will quickly occur if current tree canopy is not actively conserved, maintained, and replaced as trees are removed. Every square foot of tree canopy cover that is removed must be replaced for the current amount of tree canopy cover to be maintained.

Tree canopy cover in Jefferson is not evenly distributed. It is generally abundant on undeveloped land and in older neighborhoods, where impervious surfaces are absent or limited in extent. Tree canopy is generally lacking in commercial districts and on industrial properties, where impervious surfaces dominate the land cover. A better distribution of tree canopy is needed to take advantage of the environmental functions of trees and to realize their many economic and social benefits.

The amount of impervious surface in Jefferson is increasing. The NARSAL studies reported an impervious surface amount of 7.5 percent in 2005, which has increased from 2.2 percent in 1991. The current study shows that impervious surfaces cover at least 11.3 percent of the city. If the amount of impervious surfaces continues to increase and these surfaces are not substantially covered by tree canopy (50 percent or greater coverage), then summer surface temperatures, ground level ozone production, and air pollution will increase.

RECOMMENDATIONS

@ Adopt a baseline policy of no net loss of tree canopy cover to maintain a minimum cover of 56 percent in perpetuity. Offset any losses in tree canopy that occur on a property‐by‐ property, street‐by‐street, neighborhood‐by‐neighborhood, and land use type‐by‐land use

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

type basis. Strategies for achieving no net loss should include tree conservation, tree protection, proper and routine tree maintenance, and replacement tree plantings.

@ The city should begin the process of filling the 1,491 vacant street tree planting sites identified in the 2009 tree inventory, focusing on the planting of very high and high priority sites with large canopy trees.

@ Assign the responsibility of monitoring tree canopy cover change to the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council. Monitoring will include additional tree canopy cover measurements conducted every 3 years.

@ Assign the responsibility for tracking tree canopy cover loss and arranging for tree canopy replacement on city property to the Public Works Director. Summarize the amount of loss and replacement on an annual basis.

@ Assign the responsibility for tracking tree canopy cover loss and replacement on new private property developments to the City Planner. Summarize the amount of loss and replacement on an annual basis.

@ Enforce the Land Use Management Code (LUMC) requirements for tree density, tree conservation and replacement tree plantings. Review the LUMC and visit completed developments to determine if the LUMC requirements are resulting in their intended outcome and adequate tree canopy cover on development sites.3

@ Focus tree planting in areas where tree canopy is needed over impervious surfaces. These areas include street rights‐of‐way and medians, parking lots, and around buildings. Adopt a policy of 50 percent coverage of all impervious surfaces, especially parking lots.

@ Increase the amount of tree canopy cover to a maximum of 65 percent. This will require an aggressive annual tree planting program by the city, the business community, the development community, and residents. To increase tree canopy cover 9 percent overall, from the current 56 percent to 65 percent, the community will have to plant enough trees to cover an additional 1.96 square miles or 54,654,750 square feet. If each tree provides an average of 2,000 square feet of canopy at maturity (a crown width of approximately 50

3 Development assessments and a review of the LUMC are being conducted as part of the Sustainable Community Forest Management Project.

City of Jefferson Tree Canopy Cover Study Final Report of Results February 3, 2010

feet) then an additional 27,327 trees must be planted. To increase tree canopy cover by 5 percent, the community will have to plant an additional 13,664 large canopy trees. These trees are in addition to those that must be planted as replacements for existing trees to maintain no net loss.

@ Plant large maturing, canopy trees wherever and whenever possible in lieu of planting small, ornamental trees.

@ Engage all partners in the community in maintaining and increasing tree canopy cover by conserving natural forested areas, protecting trees, properly maintaining existing trees, and planting additional trees. Develop education and outreach programs to support community‐wide tree conservation and planting efforts.

@ Regardless of the tree canopy cover target the city chooses, an aggressive, ongoing and long‐term annual tree planting program should be developed to ensure that the city maintains a healthy level of tree canopy cover throughout the city for the current generation, and future generations, of citizens.

Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202.720.2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326‐A, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250‐9410 or call 202.720.5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

City of Jefferson, Georgia Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

Appendix B: 2008‐2010 Tree Inventory Data Summaries and Results

City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory Street Tree Summary

# of Trees Inventoried = 1081

Species Results Species Total % of Inventory Species Total % of Inventory Species Total % of Inventory American Sycamore 20 1.9% Holly/Unknown 7 0.6% Oak/Water 44 4.1% Arborvitae 22 2.0% Holly/Yaupon 1 0.1% Oak/White 8 0.7% Ash/Green 1 0.1% Honeylocust 1 0.1% Oak/Willow 8 0.7% Baldcypress 2 0.2% Japanese Zelkova 1 0.1% Pear/Bradford 32 3.0% Boxelder 6 0.6% Leyland Cypress 33 3.1% Pear/Common 3 0.3% Cherry/Black 8 0.7% Magnolia/Japanese 1 0.1% Pecan 21 1.9% Cherry/Carolina Laurel 1 0.1% Magnolia/Southern 3 0.3% Pine/Eastern White 2 0.2% Cherry/Japanese Flowering 20 1.9% Maple/Japanese 6 0.6% Pine/Loblolly 58 5.4% Cherry/Yoshino 12 1.1% Maple/Red 106 9.8% Pine/Shortleaf 7 0.6% Chinaberry 3 0.3% Maple/Silver 11 1.0% Pine/Slash 1 0.1% Common Persimmon 2 0.2% Maple/Sugarpg 6 0.6% Plum/Purpleleafp 16 1.5% Crapemyrtle 352 32.6% Maple/Trident 3 0.3% Redbud/Eastern 19 1.8% Dogwood/Flowering 30 2.8% Mimosa 5 0.5% Redbud/Forest Pansy 1 0.1% Eastern Cottonwood 1 0.1% Mulberry/White 2 0.2% River Birch 32 3.0% Eastern Redcedar 7 0.6% Oak/Cherry Bark 1 0.1% Sassafras 1 0.1% Elm/American 1 0.1% Oak/Northern Red 1 0.1% Sugarberry 1 0.1% Elm/Slippery 1 0.1% Oak/Nuttall 7 0.6% Sweetgum 36 3.3% Elm/Winged 25 2.3% Oak/Overcup 2 0.2% Tulip Poplar 27 2.5% Hickory/Pignut 1 0.1% Oak/Pin 11 1.0% Unknown 4 0.4% Holly/American 10 0.9% Oak/Post 1 0.1% Vitex 1 0.1% Holly/Fosters 8 0.7% Oak/Sawtooth 6 0.6% Willow/Black 1 0.1% Holly/Savannah 1 0.1% Oak/Southern Red 9 0.8%

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory

Site Condition Results Site Condition Total % of Inventory Site Condition Total % of Inventory Disease/Anthracnose 7 0.6% Site/Soil Compaction 518 47.9% Disease/Unknown 2 0.2% Site/Tree w/in Fence Row 3 0.3% Other/Chlorosis 3 0.3% Site/Tree w/in UWA 162 15.0% Other/Injury from Weather 16 1.5% Tree/Dieback/Decline 164 15.2% Other/Lightning Strike 1 0.1% Tree/Fire Damage 1 0.1% Other/Mistletoe 3 0.3% Tree/Forked Stem 313 29.0% Other/Mower/Trimmer Damage 18 1.7% Tree/Girdling Roots 11 1.0% Pest/Fruiting Bodies 1 0.1% Tree/Girdling Wire 1 0.1% Pest/Fusiform Rust 4 0.4% Tree/Included Bark 323 29.9% Pest/Insect Damage 4 0.4% Tree/Large Limb Cavity 1 0.1% Pest/Mites/Aphids 7 0.6% Tree/Large Limb Hazard 1 0.1% Pest/Scale 11 1.0% Tree/Leaning Tree 23 2.1% Pest/Southern Pine Beetle 1 0.1% Tree/Major Trunk Wound 12 1.1% Pest/Unknown 1 0.1% Tree/Moderate Trunk Wound 69 6.4% Pest/Wetwood/Slime Flux 1 0.1% Tree/Multi Trunked Tree 427 39.5% Site/Broken Concrete 2 0.2% Tree/Pruning Wound 51 4.7% Site/Fence >10ft. 14 1.3% Tree/Stub Cuts 104 9.6% Site/Heaved Concrete 1 0.1% Tree/Surface Root Damage 14 1.3% Site/Paved Rooting Zone 2 0.2% Tree/Topped Tree 51 4.7% Site/Root Backfill 3 0.3% Tree/Trunk Cavity 10 0.9% Site/Root Excavation 26 2.4% Tree/Utility Pruning 20 1.9%

Health Index 0.00 - 0.50 8 0.7% 0.51 - 0.70 79 7.3% 0.71 - 0.90 656 60.7% 0.91 - 1.00 338 31.3%

Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory

DBH Distribution 1" - 6" 878 81.2% 7" - 16" 134 12.4% 17" - 25" 35 3.2% 26" - 40" 30 2.8% 41" + 4 0.4%

Maintenance Needs Cable/Brace 2 0.2% Cut/Girdling Root 10 0.9% Cut/Vines 41 3.8% Cut/Wire/Metal 18 1.7% Fertilize 11 1.0% Inspect 13 1.2% Mulch 132 12.2% Pest Mang. 17 1.6% Prune/ClearancePrune/Clearance 19 1.8%1.8% Prune/Corrective 19 1.8% Prune/Deadwood 60 5.6% Prune/Structure 128 11.8% Prune/Training 103 9.5% Remove/Dead 7 0.6% Remove/Live 1 0.1%

Page 3 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory

Street Tree Diameter Distribution

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1"-6" 7"-12" 13"-18" 19"-24" 25"-30" 31"-36" 37"+

Street Tree Species Distribution

Crapemyrtle Maple/Red 33% 33% Pine/Loblolly Oak/Water Sweetgum 4% 5% 10% Leyland Cypress Pear/Bradford 3% 3% River Birch 3% 3% 3% Dogwood/Flowering All Others

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory

Street Tree Health Index

31% 7% Poor Fair 61% Good Excellent

Street Tree Maintenance Needs

17 Prune/Structure 8 28 67 269 Mulch 60 Prune/Deadwood 132 Cut/Girdling Remove Pest Mang. Other

Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2008/2009 Street Tree Inventory

Planting Location Crown Class Recommendations

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Small Medium Large

Planting Site Priority Ranking

33% 11% Low 24% Moderate 32% High Very High

Page 3 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Street Tree Planting Site Inventory

Planting Site Summary

# of Spaces Inventoried = 1491

Planting Priority # % Low 163 10.9% Moderate 358 24.0% High 485 32.5% Very High 485 32.5%

Road Classification # % Rural/Sidewalk Absent 185 12.4% Rural/Sidewalk Present 21 1.4% Urban/Sidewalk Absent 653 43.8% Urban/Sidewalk Present 632 42.4%

Crown Class # % Small 200 13.4% Medium 233 15.6% Large 1058 71.0%

Utility Interactions # % N/A 1315 88.2% Other 1 0.1% Secondary 38 2.5% Primary 112 7.5% Multiple/Primary + Secondary 25 1.7%

Voting Ward # % 1 460 30.9% 2 326 21.9% 3382.5% 4 330 22.1% 5 337 22.6%

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Park Tree Inventory

Park Tree Summary

# of trees inventoried = 448

Species Results % of % of % of Species Total Inventory Species Total Inventory Species Total Inventory American Sycamore 9 2.0% Hickory/Pignut 1 0.2% Oak/Shumard 2 0.4% Ash/Green 2 0.4% Holly/Weeping Yaupon 1 0.2% Oak/Southern Re 5 1.1% Baldcypress 22 4.9% Japanese Cryptomeria 1 0.2% Oak/Water 12 2.7% Cherry/Unknown 3 0.7% Leyland Cypress 52 11.6% Oak/White 4 0.9% Cherry/Yoshino 6 1.3% Magnolia/Other 1 0.2% Oak/Willow 6 1.3% Crape Myrtle 2 0.4% Magnolia/Southern 2 0.4% Pine/Loblolly 87 19.4% Dawn Redwood 2 0.4% Maple/Japanese 5 1.1% Pine/Shortleaf 105 23.4% Dogwood/Flowering 11 2.5% Maple/Red 8 1.8% Redbud/Eastern 2 0.4% Downy Serviceberry 1 0.2% Maple/Sugar 2 0.4% River Birch 41 9.2% Eastern Cottonwood 2 0.4% Maple/Trident 16 3.6% Sweetgum 4 0.9% Eastern Redcedar 1 0.2% Mullberry/Red 1 0.2% Tulip Poplar 19 4.2% Elm/Winged 1 0.2% Oak/Nuttall 1 0.2% Willow/Black 2 0.4% Hickory/Mockernut 2 0.4% Oak/Overcup 4 0.9%

Site Condition Results Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Site Condition Freq. % of Trees N/A 32 7.1% Tree/Fire Damage 1 0.2% Other/Chlorosis 25 5.6% Tree/Forked Stem 141 31.5% Other/Injury from Weather 3 0.7% Tree/Girdling Roots 71 15.8% OthOther/Mistletoeer/Mistletoe 4 090.9%% Tree/IncludedTree/Includ ed BarkBark 10 222.2%% Other/Mower/Trimmer Damage 1 0.2% Tree/Large Limb Cavity 7 1.6% Pest/Bagworms 6 1.3% Tree/Large Limb Hazard 5 1.1% Pest/Fusiform Rust 6 1.3% Tree/Leaning Tree 21 4.7% Pest/Scale 1 0.2% Tree/Major Trunk Wound 6 1.3% Pest/Turpentine Beetle 1 0.2% Tree/Moderate Trunk Wound 40 8.9% Pest/Unknown 2 0.4% Tree/Multi-Trunked Tree 54 12.1% Site/Fence >10ft. 3 0.7% Tree/Pruning Wound 1 0.2% Site/Root Backfill 4 0.9% Tree/Stub Cuts 23 5.1% Site/Root Excavation 55 12.3% Tree/Surface Root Damage 3 0.7% Site/Soil Compaction 246 54.9% Tree/Topped Tree 3 0.7% Site/Tree w/in UWA 10 2.2% Tree/Trunk Cavity 9 2.0% Tree/Dieback/Decline 89 19.9% Tree/Utility Pruning 13 2.9%

Health Index 0.00 - 0.50 2 0.4% 0.51 - 0.70 34 7.6% 0.71 - 0.90 247 55.1% 0.91 - 1.00 165 36.8%

Page 1Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2008/2009 Park Tree Inventory

DBH Distribution 1 - 6" 247 55.1% 7 - 16" 96 21.4% 17 - 25" 69 15.4% 26 - 40" 35 7.8% 41" + 4 0.9%

Maintenance Needs Cable/Brace 3 0.9% Cut/Girdling Root 4 6.9% Cut/Vines 31 10.9% Cut/Wire/Metal 49 5.1% Fertilize 23 4.2% Inspect 19 20.1% Mulch 90 26.3% N/A 118 1.3% Pest Mang. 6 16.7% Prune/Clearance 75 0.7% Prune/Corrective 3 13.2% Prune/Deadwood 59 1.8% Prune/Structure 8 26.1% Prune/Training 117 0.4% Remove/Dead 2 2.5% Remove/Live 11 0.0%

Location Statistics Location # % of Total Specimen Trees per Acre City Park 182 40.63% 11.4 Curry Creek Park 90 20.09% 1.2 JeffersonJff RecreationR ti CompleC lx 95 21.21%21 21% 1.818 Jefferson Recreation Complex*** 77 17.19% 1.4 Marlowe Park 3 0.67% 15.8 Midland Park 1 0.22% 2.9 Gordon Street Park 0 0.00% 0.0

Page 2Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2008/2009 Park Tree Inventory

Park Tree Diameter Distribution

250

200

150

100

0 1"-6" 7"-12" 13"-18" 19"-24" 25"-30" 31"-36" 37"-42" 43"+

Park Tree Species Distribution

Pine/Shortleaf Pine/Loblolly

2% 19% 23% Leyland Cypress 3% River Birch 4% 19% Baldcypress 9% 12% 4% Tulip Poplar 5% Maple/Trident Oak/Water Dogwood/Flowering Others

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2008/2009 Park Tree Inventory

Park Tree Health Index

0% 8% 37% Poor Fair 55% Good Excellent

Park Tree Maintenance Needs

Prune/Structure 13 6 Mulch 57 53 203 Prune/Deadwood 59 90 Cut/Girdling Remove Pest Mang. Other

Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2009/2010 City Facility Tree Inventory

Facility Tree Summary

# of trees inventoried = 130

Species Results % of % of Species Total Inventory Species Total Inventory American Sycamore 4 3.1% Maple/Florida 1 0.8% Black Walnut 1 0.8% Maple/Red 2 1.5% Blackgum 1 0.8% Maple/Silver 1 0.8% Boxelder 1 0.8% Oak/Nuttall 1 0.8% Cherry/Black 7 5.4% Oak/Southern Red 8 6.2% Cherry/Carolina Laurel 5 3.8% Oak/Water 29 22.3% Cherry/Yoshino 8 6.2% Oak/White 1 0.8% Crapemyrtle 9 6.9% Pear/Bradford 1 0.8% Dogwood/Flowering 4 3.1% Pecan 18 13.8% Eastern Cottonwood 3 2.3% Pine/Loblolly 4 3.1% Eastern Redcedar 4 3.1% Redbud/Eastern 5 3.8% Elm/Winged 2 1.5% Tulip Poplar 2 1.5% Holly/American 2 1.5% Unknown 1 0.8% Magnolia/Southern 4 3.1% Vitex 1 0.8%

Site Condition Results Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Disease/Anthracnose 2 1.5% Tree/Forked Stem 60 46.2% Disease/Heart/Butt/Root Rot 1 0.8% Tree/Girdling Roots 6 4.6% N/A 78 60.0% Tree/Included Bark 46 35.4% Other/Injury from Weather 4 3.1% Tree/Large Limb Cavity 2 1.5% OthOther/Mower/Trimmerer/Mower/Trimmer DamageDamage 6 464.6%% Tree/LargeTree/L arge LimbLi mb HazardHazard 4 313.1%% Pest/Fruiting Bodies 2 1.5% Tree/Leaning Tree 8 6.2% Pest/Mites/Aphids 3 2.3% Tree/Major Trunk Wound 3 2.3% Site/Fence >10ft. 6 4.6% Tree/Moderate Trunk Wound 5 3.8% Site/Paved Rooting Zone 4 3.1% Tree/Multi Trunked Tree 23 17.7% Site/Root Backfill 2 1.5% Tree/Pruning Wound 9 6.9% Site/Root Excavation 3 2.3% Tree/Stub Cuts 17 13.1% Site/Soil Compaction 33 25.4% Tree/Surface Root Damage 11 8.5% Site/Tree w/in Fence Row 3 2.3% Tree/Topped Tree 3 2.3% Site/Tree w/in UWA 22 16.9% Tree/Trunk Cavity 6 4.6% Site/Tree Well 2 1.5% Tree/Utility Pruning 3 2.3% Tree/Dieback/Decline 13 10.0%

Health Index 0.00 - 0.50 1 0.8% 0.51 - 0.70 10 7.7% 0.71 - 0.90 93 71.5% 0.91 - 1.00 26 20.0%

Page 1Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2009/2010 City Facility Tree Inventory

DBH Distribution 1 - 6" 47 36.2% 7 - 16" 49 37.7% 17 - 25" 11 8.5% 26 - 40" 22 16.9% 41" + 1 0.8%

Maintenance Needs Cable/Brace 2 5.4% Cut/Girdling Root 7 12.3% Cut/Vines 16 1.5% Cut/Wire/Metal 2 2.3% Inspect 3 38.5% Mulch 50 36.9% N\A 48 3.1% Prune/Clearance 4 2.3% Prune/Corrective 3 7.7% Prune/Deadwood 10 6.9% Prune/Structure 9 10.0% Prune/Training 13 0.8% Remove/Dead 1 2.3% Remove/Live 3 0.0%

Location Statistics Location # % of Total City Hall 2 1.54% City Pool 21 16.15% Civic Center 10 7.69% Crawford W. Long Museum 5 3.85% Fire Hall 1 4 3.08% Fire Hall 2 1 0.77% Jefferson Water Treatment Facility 4 3.08% Jefferson Waterworks Department 10 7.69% Police Department 29 22.31% Public Library 16 12.31% Woodbine Cemetery 28 21.54%

Page 2Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2009/2010 City Facility Tree Inventory

Facility Tree Species Distribution

29% 22%

3% 14% 4% 5% 6% 7%6% 4%

Oak/Water Pecan Crapemyrtle Cherry/Yoshino Oak/Southern Red Cherry/Black Cherry/Carolina Laurel Redbud/Eastern American Sycamore All Others

Facility Tree Health Index

20% 8% Poor Fair 71% Good Excellent

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2009/2010 City Facility Tree Inventory

Facility Tree Diameter Distribution

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1"-6" 7"-12" 13"-18" 19"-24" 25"-30" 31"-36" 37"+

Facility Tree Maintenance Needs

Prune/Structure 30 22 Mulch 3 Prune/Deadwood 50 Cut/Girdling 7 Remove 10 Other

Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2009/2010 City Schools Tree Inventory

School Tree Summary

# of trees inventoried = 659

Species Results % of % of % of Species Total Inventory Species Total Inventory Species Total Inventory American Sycamore 17 2.6% Holly/Fosters 1 0.2% Oak/Southern Red 5 0.8% Ash/Green 3 0.5% Holly/Unknown 2 0.3% Oak/Water 46 7.0% Baldcypress 5 0.8% Holly/Weeping Yaupon 5 0.8% Oak/White 3 0.5% Blackgum 10 1.5% Japanese Cryptomeria 16 2.4% Oak/Willow 70 10.6% Cherry/Black 14 2.1% Leyland Cypress 47 7.1% Pecan 2 0.3% Cherry/Carolina Laurel 1 0.2% Magnolia/Southern 8 1.2% Pine/Eastern White 4 0.6% Cherry/Japanese Flowering 1 0.2% Maple/Florida 10 1.5% Pine/Loblolly 94 14.3% Cherry/Unknown 1 0.2% Maple/Japanese 2 0.3% Pine/Shortleaf 6 0.9% Chinaberry 1 0.2% Maple/Red 72 10.9% Pondcypress 1 0.2% Common Persimmon 3 0.5% Maple/Silver 4 0.6% Redbud/Eastern 12 1.8% Crapemyrtle 36 5.5% Maple/Sugar 2 0.3% River Birch 9 1.4% Dogwood/Flowering 32 4.9% Oak/Nuttall 13 2.0% Southern Crabapple 2 0.3% Dogwood/Kousa 32 4.9% Oak/Pin 8 1.2% Sweetgum 16 2.4% Eastern Redcedar 2 0.3% Oak/Sawtooth 10 1.5% Vitex 1 0.2% Elm/Winged 3 0.5% Oak/Shumard 1 0.2% Waxmyrtle 9 1.4% Holly/American 17 2.6%

Site Condition Results Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Site Condition Freq. % of Trees Disease/Canker Disease 1 0.2% Pest/Wetwood/Slime Flux 1 0.2% Tree/Girdling Wire 23 3.5% DDisease/Heart/Butt/Rooti /H t/B tt/R t RotR t 1 0.2%02% Site/FenceSit /F >10ft.10ft 55 8.3%83% Tree/IncludedT/Ildd BarkBk 163 24.7%24 7% Disease/Hypoxylon Disease 1 0.2% Site/Heaved Concrete 2 0.3% Tree/Large Limb Hazard 1 0.2% N/A 11 1.7% Site/Paved Rooting Zone 1 0.2% Tree/Leaning Tree 24 3.6% Other/Chlorosis 1 0.2% Site/Planting Container 1 0.2% Tree/Major Trunk Wound 12 1.8% Other/Injury from Weather 11 1.7% Site/Root Backfill 4 0.6% Tree/Moderate Trunk Wound 127 19.3% Other/Lightning Strike 1 0.2% Site/Root Excavation 2 0.3% Tree/Multi Trunked Tree 109 16.5% Other/Mistletoe 5 0.8% Site/Soil Compaction 423 64.2% Tree/Pruning Wound 107 16.2% Other/Mower/Trimmer Damage 18 2.7% Site/Tree Well 3 0.5% Tree/Stub Cuts 60 9.1% Pest/Borer 2 0.3% Site/Tree w/in UWA 11 1.7% Tree/Surface Root Damage 61 9.3% Pest/Fruiting Bodies 1 0.2% Tree/Dieback/Decline 109 16.5% Tree/Trunk Cavity 3 0.5% Pest/Fusiform Rust 27 4.1% Tree/Forked Stem 244 37.0% Tree/Utility Pruning 8 1.2% Pest/Scale 35 5.3% Tree/Girdling Roots 41 6.2%

Health Index 0.00 - 0.50 14 2.1% 0.51 - 0.70 63 9.6% 0.71 - 0.90 464 70.4% 0.91 - 1.00 118 17.9%

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary of Results 2009/2010 City Schools Tree Inventory

DBH Distribution 1 - 6" 430 65.3% 7 - 16" 171 25.9% 17 - 25" 47 7.1% 26 - 40" 10 1.5% 41" + 1 0.2%

Maintenance Needs Cable/Brace 10 1.5% Cut/Girdling Root 38 5.8% Cut/Vines 11 1.7% Cut/Wire/Metal 23 3.5% Fertilize 1 0.2% Inspect 10 1.5% Mulch 361 54.8% N\A 175 26.6% Pest Mang. 35 5.3% Prune/Clearance 19 2.9% Prune/Corrective 4 0.6% Prune/Deadwood 71 10.8% Prune/Structure 38 5.8% Prune/Training 167 25.3% Remove/Dead 11 1.7% Remove/Live 12 1.8%

LtLocationi SStatisticsttiti Location # % of Total Jefferson Elementary School 168 25.49% Jefferson Academy 166 25.19% Jefferson Middle School 152 23.07% Jefferson High School 173 26.25%

Page 2 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2009/2010 City Schools Tree Inventory

School Tree Species Distribution

14% 32% 11%

3% 11% 5% 5% 7% 7% 5%

Pine/Loblolly Maple/Red Oak/Willow Leyland Cypress Oak/Water Crapemyrtle Dogwood/Flowering Dogwood/Kousa American Sycamore All Other

School Tree Health Index

18% 10% Poor Fair 70% Good Excellent

Page 1 City of Jefferson Summary Charts 2009/2010 City Schools Tree Inventory

School Tree Diameter Distribution

600

500

400

300

200

100

0 1"-6" 7"-12" 13"-18" 19"-24" 25"-30" 31"-36" 37"+

School Tree Maintenance Needs

23 Prune/Structure 72 79 205 Mulch 71 Prune/Deadwood 361 Cut/Girdling Remove Other

Page 2

Appendix C: 2009‐2010 Tree Planting Results Table 1 lists the trees that were planted during the winter of 2009 through the spring of 2010. The table includes details about the circumstances of the planting. Table 1. 2009-2010 Tree Planting Results Program Name Number Species Planted Location(s) Cost and Funding Source of Trees American 111 Various including native Throughout $50,000 ARRA Grant Reinvestment and and non-native species Jefferson through Georgia Forestry Recovery Act Commission Grant (ARRA) $0 City Cash Making the Shade 10 Nuttall Oaks (5), Red Rev. V. S. $2,000 Making the Shade Grant Maples (2), Chinese Hughey Park on Grant through Georgia Elms (2), Kousa Gordon Street Forestry Commission Dogwood $0 City Cash/50% In-kind Match Jefferson Heritage 2 Unknown Curry Creek Park Paid for with donations from Tree Council Gift individuals; Street Tree Program Department employees planted the trees Boy Scouts of 1 October Glory Red Curry Creek Park Paid for by BSA; Street America Maple Department employees planted the tree Eagle Scout Joe 9 Eastern redbuds and Memorial Paid for with donations Taylor Kousa dogwoods Stadium, at secured by Joe Taylor; in- Memorial Drive kind assistance provided by and Old Susan Russell, Arborvitals Swimming Pool Road BSA Cub Scouts 1 Oklahoma Redbud Jefferson Keep Jackson Beautiful Elementary School Donations from 42 Arborvitae (18), Nuttall Water treatment $1,000 City cash and $200 David Wilson’s Oaks (5), Willow Oaks plant, V. S. Jefferson City Schools cash Nursery on Lyle (5), Little Gem Hughey Park, to pay for use of Georgia Field Road Magnolias (17), and Jefferson Forestry Commission tree Common Crapemyrtles Elementary spade and operator; fuel (2) School, and provided by City Jefferson Recreation Complex Police Dog 1 Red maple Curry Creek Park Police Department Memorial Tree TOTAL 177

Appendix D. Homeowner Tree Assessment Form

Community Tree Assessment

Date of Request: ______Appt Date / Time:______

Name:______In City Limits?:______

Address:______Owned by Caller?:______

Telephone:______Subdivision:______

Homeowner Concerns:______

Tree:

Type:______Size:______

Location:______

History:______

Site:______

Roots:______

Trunk:______

Scaffold:______

Canopy:______

Other:______

Recommendations:

Council Member:______Homeowner:______

Jefferson Heritage Tree Council City of Jefferson www.cityofjeffersonga.com 147 Athens Street 706-367-5121 City Hall Voice Jefferson, GA 30549 706-367-5134 City Hall Fax

The intent of this site visit is to discuss general tree care principles with the tree owner, assess general tree health and condition, and discuss tree care options and a general course of action to be considered by the tree owner. Assessment made as visible from the ground only and without root collar excavation or aerial inspection. This is provided as a courtesy only and not intended to replace a thorough examination by an experienced ISA Certified Arborist using root collar excavation, aerial inspection, or other diagnostic procedures to determine a specific course of action.

Appendix E: Master Work Plan

City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ ADMINISTRATION Adopt the Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan Mayor and City Council Dec 2010 ------

Retain an urban forestry or certified arborist consultant to coordinate the city's community forest management program City Manager Annually X X X X X X

Establish and fill a city arborist position with a full‐time employee City Manager, Mayor and Council To be determined-----X Purchase or locate a computer and provide printer access for the city arborist; include MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, and internet connection City Manager As soon as possible X - - - - - Periodically review and revise Community Forest Master Plan to City Arborist, City Manager, Mayor meet needs and Council Every 3 years - - X - - X Periodically update the Master Work Plan with additions, changes, and information on completed activities City Arborist Annually X X X X X X City Arborist, Public Works Director, Parks and Recreation Director, Jefferson City Schools Superintendent, Main Street Jefferson, Jefferson Heritage Tree Coordinate annual planning meeting Council Annually X X X X X X Hold bi‐monthly JHTC meetings; submit a report on program activities to the City Aborist Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Bi-mon monthlythly X X X X X X Attend bi‐monthly JHTC meetings; submit a report on program activities to the JHTC City Arborist Bi-monthlyXXXXXX Expand membership in the council to 11 voting members Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Dec 2010 X - - - - - Revise city code to include the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council as an official advisory board to the Mayor and City Council and to add more specific city tree protection and management City Arborist, City Manager, Mayor requirements and Council As soon as possible X - - - - - Submit and present quarterly reports to the City Manager and the Mayor and City Council on program activities City Arborist Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct X X X X X X Summarize program activities and expenses in a year‐end report or state of the trees report City Arborist Jan - Feb - - X X X X

August 2010 Page 1 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ FUNDING Coordinate an annual budgeting meeting City Arborist Apr - MayXXXXXX Develop and submit a budget request for community forest City Arborist, Jefferson Heritage management and the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Tree Council Jun - AugXXXXXX Approve a community forest management program budget Mayor and City Council XXXXXX Apply for a DOT GATEways grant Public Works Department Submit application for DOT GATEway Grant Public Works Department Oct XXXXXX Apply for a Fiskars Project Orange Thumb grant for equipment for Jefferson Tree Stewards City Arborist As soon as possible X X X X X X Apply for an Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, grant City Arborist May XXXXXX

Streamline the system for tracking and reporting volunteer and Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, staff time for recordkeeping and reporting and for grant projects City Arborist As time permitsXXXXXX Streamline grant administration and reporting procedures Jefferson Heritage Tree Council As soon as possible X - - - - - Partner with Eric Taylor of Morgan‐Taylor Designs to donate services to develop a comprehensive landscape design plan for Jefferson Heritage Tree Council, Curry Creek Park City Manager, City Arborist Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 X X X X X X Partner with landscape architecture professionals to donate Public Works Director, Jefferson services for the development of landscape plans for city gateways City Schools, City Arborist, and city schools Jefferson Heritage Tree Council As opportunities arise X X X X X X Solicity donations for Gift Trees Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Throughout the year X X X X X X Solicity donations for general tree program activities Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Throughout the year X X X X X X ARBORICULTURAL STANDARDS Adopt and implement standards for tree care operations and arboricultural best management practices for city trees and trees Mayor and City Council, City Staff, regulated by the LUMC Jefferson City Schools Dec 2010 X X X X X X

Advertise the requirement for compliance with tree care standards and best management practices and the availability of standards for review at City Hall to target audiences City Arborist Annually X X X X X X Develop a consolidated glossary of arboricultural terms and their definitions City Arborist As time permitsX-----

August 2010 Page 2 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ COMMUNITY FOREST INFORMATION Every 10 years; 2020, 2030, 2040, 2050, Coordinate the re‐inventory of city trees City Arborist 2060, etc. ------Coordinate the re‐measurement of tree canopy cover and impervious surfaces City Arborist Every 5 years - - - X - - Purchase ArcGIS software for tree inventory database management and graphic display of information City Manager As budgets permit - X - - - -

Develop a tree removal and planting tracking system and track changes to tree canopy cover on city and private property City Arborist Dec 2010 X X X X X X Update tree inventory information as changes occur City Arborist MonthlyXXXXXX Provide tree resource information to staff, the JHTC, and the community City Manager As needed X X X X X X CITY TREE ESTABLISHMENT As time and funding Develop a comprehensive, city‐wide tree planting plan City Arborist permit - - X - - -

Establish a City of Jefferson Official Tree Species List with information on mature height, canopy size, approved planting In conjuction with LUMC locations, and relative tolerance to construction damage City Arborist revisionsX----- Select tree planting sites, species, and trees for annual planting program City Arborist May - NovXXXXXX Plant trees on street rights‐of‐way and in city parks, mulch, and Street Department, Parks and install watering devices Recreation Department Dec - MarXXXXXX Plant trees on city school campuses, mulch, and install watering devices Jefferson City Schools Dec - MarXXXXXX Plant Gift Trees for the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Street Department Dec - MarXXXXXX Water newly planted trees Street Department Apr - OctXXXXXX Establish and conduct a matching tree planting program and reporting system City Arborist As soon as possible - X - - - - Develop an online arboretum to provide information about recommended tree species, their preferred locations, and their City Arborist, Jefferson Heritage As time and funding characteristics Tree Council permit - - - X - -

City Arborist, Street Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Transplant trees from local private nursery using GFC tree spade Jefferson City Schools December to February X X X - - - Achieve 100 percent stocking of street tree planting sites Street Department Within 10 years-----X

August 2010 Page 3 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ NEW TREE MAINTENANCE

Develop and conduct an ongoing Jefferson Tree Steward program City Arborist As soon as possible X X X X X X

Inspect all newly planted trees during their first growing season City Arborist Jun - AugXXXXXX Mulch all newly planted trees for 3 years Jefferson Tree Stewards Nov - FebXXXXXX New Tree Maintenance Jefferson Tree Stewards Feb - Nov XXXXXX Prune 30 city park trees each year Jefferson Tree Stewards Nov - Feb, Jul-AugXXXXXX Prune 50 school campus trees each year Jefferson Tree Stewards Nov - Feb, Jul-AugXXXXXX Prune 50 street and facility trees each year Jefferson Tree Stewards Nov - Feb, Jul-AugXXXXXX Remove watering devices from trees Jefferson Tree Stewards Nov - FebXXXXXX Install watering devices on trees Street Department At time of planting X X X X X X Water trees weekly during the growing season in the absence of adequate rainfall Street Department Mar - OctXXXXXX ESTABLISHED TREE MAINTENANCE Develop and implement a tree work order system to provide notification of tree maintenance needs and track the time requirements and expense of tree care City Arborist As soon as possible X X X X X X

Generate lists of trees requiring specific tree maintenance, such As soon as possible, and as removal,removal, ppruning,runing, ppestest management,management, fertilization,fertilization, cablingcabling and annuallyannually fforor pplanninglanning bracing, and inspections using the tree inventory information City Arborist purposesXXXXXX Inspect existing trees on regular inspection list City Arborist Annually X X X X X X Passively protect city trees on an ongoing basis Everyone AlwaysXXXXXX Street Department, Private Property Owners, Businesses, Actively protect city trees during site disturbance Contractors, Developers As required X X X X X X Street Department, Parks and Water existing, high value trees during the growing season in Recreation Department, Jefferson periods of low rainfall City Schools Throughout X X X X X X

August 2010 Page 4 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+

Mulch existing street trees where practical and most necessary Street Department Annually X X X X X X

Mulch existing facility trees where practical and most necessary Street Department Annually X X X X X X

Mulch existing park trees where practical and most necessary Parks and Recreation Department Annually X X X X X X Mulch existing school campus trees where practical and most necessary Jefferson City Schools Annually X X X X X X Ask city residents and businesses to mulch and water established city street trees adjacent to their properties City Arborist Annually X X X X X X Prune medium and large street and facility trees per the inventory Street Department, Contractors 20 per year X X X X X X Prune medium and large park trees per the inventory Street Department, Contractors 10 per year X X X X X X

Prune medium and large school campus trees per the inventory Jefferson City Schools, Contractors 16 per year X X X X X X Prune existing trees on regular cycle Street Department, Contractors Every 10 years ------Complete non‐routine or emergency tree pruning Street Department As needs are identified X X X X X X Remove mistletoe from city trees Street Department During routine pruning X X X X X X

Cable and brace street, facility, and park trees, per the inventroy Street Department, Contractors 1 per yearXXXXXX Cable and brace school campus trees Jefferson City Schools 1 per yearXXXXXX RRemove street, facility,f ili andd parkk trees per year as recommendeddd in the inventroy Street Department 5 or moreXXXXXX Remove school campus trees per year as recommended in the inventory Jefferson City Schools, Contractors 5 or moreXXXXXX Remove girdling roots, vines, metal and wire, and saplings from around the base of street, facility, and park trees Street Department As time permitsXXXXXX Remove girdling roots, vines, metal and wire, and saplings from around the base of school campus trees Jefferson City Schools As time permitsXXXXXX Remove dead trees as they are identified Street Department As needed X X X X X X Remove live trees in hazardous or poor condition or in an irresolvable conflict with infrastructure as they are identified Street Department As needed X X X X X X

City Arborist, Street Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Develop fertilization recommendations and fertilize trees Jefferson City Schools As needed X X X X X X Tree care monitoring City Arborist Periodically X X X X X X

August 2010 Page 5 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ PRIVATE TREE MANAGEMENT Conduct assessments of trees on completed developments City Arborist As required X X X X X X Coordinate a review and revision of the LUMC provisions related to trees City Arborist, City Planner Periodically and as needed X - - X - - Revise the Land Use Management Code with input from a stakeholder group City Planner As required X - - X - -

Coordinate community stakeholder meetings to review, discuss, City Arborist, City Planner, City and gather input on recommended revisions to the LUMC Manager Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 X - - X - - Establish a Jefferson tree bank Mayor and City Council As soon as possible X - - - - - Establish an environmental fee for development plan and variance reviews and site inspections City Manager As soon as possible X - - - - - Provide recommended revisions of the LUMC to the City Manager, Quad Cities Planning Commission and the Mayor and City Council City Arborist, City Planner As needed X - - X - - Review site plans and variance requests, conduct site visits, and make recommendations for conditions of site plan or variance approval City Arborist As required X X X X X X Conduct site visits to monitor compliance with the LUMC and for Periodically and as the release of the landscape bond City Arborist required X X X X X X EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Conduct educational programs on standards for tree care operations and best management practices for staff, developers, and contractors City Arborist Throughout the year X X X X X X Review safety standards for tree care operations with all city and city schools staff and with Jefferson Tree Stewards City Arborist Annually X X X X X X Conduct a tree planting and/or tree benefits demonstration on one (1) commercial site in partnership with a commercial property owner City Arborist Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 X X - X - X Conduct two (2) tree conservation and planting workshops in two (2) different neighborhoods City Arborist Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 X - X - X -

Provide continuing education for city and city schools tree Throughout the year as maintenance staff through field sessions and tail‐gate programs City Arborist time permitsXXXXXX Conduct landscape, tree service, and construction contractor tree care information sessions focusing on planting, protection, pruning, and mulching City Arborist To be determined - - X X X X Prepare and distribute bullet point lists for basic tree care activities to staff City Arborist As time permitsXXXXXX

August 2010 Page 6 City of Jefferson MASTER WORK PLAN Sustainable Community Forest Master Plan

MANAGEMENT YEAR FREQUENCY OR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016+ PROGRAM ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION LEADERS TIME FRAME 123456+ Oct - Dec and every 3 to Conduct ISA Certified Arborist Training for city and schools staff, City Arborist, Professional Arborists 5 years after initial local landscape contractors, local tree service contractors and Urban Foresters training program - - - - X -

Staff certification (2 city, 1 city schools) as ISA Certified Arborists City and City Schools Staff To be determined - - - X - - Provide information and education on the importance of trees and tree care through a variety of media Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Periodically X X X X X X Provide training for Jefferson Tree Stewards on mulching and City Arborist, Jefferson Tree pruning Stewards Annually X X X X X X Provide training in recognizing pest signs and symptoms to city City Arborist, City Staff, City Schools and schools staff Staff Bi-annually X X X Provide training in removal of girdling roots to city and schools City Arborist, City Staff, City Schools staff Staff Nov - FebX----- Purchase books, manuals, and brochures City Arborist As budgets permit - X - - - - Purchase four (4) sets of ANSI standards and ISA best management practices and updates as they are available City Arborist 2010 X - - - - X Conduct a Gift Tree Program Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Throughout the year X X X X X X Conduct a Heritage Tree Program Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Throughout the year X X X X X X Develop a Heritage Tree Calendar as an educational tool and fundraiser Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Sept - NovXXXXXX Develop a Heritage Tree Owner's Educational Event Jefferson Heritage Tree Council To be determined - X - X - X

Conduct a multi‐event tree festival for the city's Arbor Day On or around 3rd Friday celebration to include a tree sale and tree care demonstration Jefferson Heritage Tree Council in FebruaryXXXXXX Partner with arboricultural service contractors to conduct tree climbing and arboricultural techniques demonstrations at the On or around 3rd Friday tree festival Jefferson Heritage Tree Council in FebruaryXXXXXX Conduct a park clean‐up/tree work day as the city's Earth Day On or around Earth Day Celebration and Education Event Jefferson Heritage Tree Council April 22XXXXXX Develop a JHTC display and exhibit at local events Jefferson Heritage Tree Council Sept 2010 - Aug 2011 X X X X X X Purchase, develop, and distribute program and tree care brochures Jefferson Heritage Tree Council To be determinedXXXXXX City Arborist, Jefferson Heritage Provide continuing education opportunities for JHTC members Tree Council To be determinedXXXXXX Complete the recertification application for Tree City USA and the City Arborist, Jefferson Heritage Growth Award application Tree Council NovemberXXXXXX

August 2010 Page 7

Appendix F: Glossary of Arboricultural Terms A Administrator The person responsible for administration of the tree regulations or his/her designee. Aeration Provision of air to the soil to alleviate soil compaction and improve its structure Aeration system Set of vertical holes or trenches created in the tree’s root area to improve oxygen availability to the roots and gas exchange with the atmosphere; aeration systems sometimes include an underground arrangement of porous tubing Angiosperm Plant with seeds borne in an ovary; consisting of two large groups—monocotyledons (grasses, palms, and related plants) and dicotyledons (most woody trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and related plants) ; compare to gymnosperms ANSI Acronym for American National Standards Institute ANSI A300 standards In the United States, industry-developed, national consensus standards of practice for tree care ANSI Z133.1 standards In the United States, industry-developed, national consensus safety standards of practice for tree care Appraisal Placing a monetary value on a tree or landscaping Arboriculture Practice and study of the care of trees and other woody plants in the landscape Arborist (see also Certified Professional who possesses the technical competence gained Arborist) through experience and related training to provide for or supervise the management of trees and other woody plants in residential, commercial, and public landscapes B Backfill (1) soil (and amendments) used to fill the hole when planting a tree; (2) soil, common fill, aggregates, or contaminants in various combinations put back into an excavation; may not be hospitable for tree root growth and function Balled and burlapped Tree or other plant removed from the ground for re-planting, with (B&B) the roots and soil wrapped in burlap; compare to bare root, container grown, and containerized Bare root Tree or other plant removed from the ground for re-planting without soil around the roots; compare to balled and burlapped, container grown, and containerized

Bark Protective outer covering of branches and stems that arises from the cork cambium or cambium Barrier (1) fences or other means of establishing a protection zone around trees on construction sites; (2) membranes or sheets installed vertically in the soil for limiting or directing the growth of tree roots Best management practices Best-available, industry-recognized courses of action, in (BMPs) consideration of the benefits and limitations, based on scientific research and current knowledge Bracing Installation of metal rods through weak portions of a tree for supplemental support Branch Stem arising from a larger stem; a subdominant stem; pith in true branches has no connection to the parent stem Branch bark ridge Raised strip of bark at the top of a branch union, where the growth and expansion of the trunk or parent stem and adjoining branch push the park into a ridge Branch collar Area where a branch joins another branch or trunk that is created by the overlapping vascular tissues from both the branch and the trunk; typically enlarged at the base of the branch Branch protection zone Chemically and physically modified tissue within the trunk or parent branch at the base of a subordinate branch that retards the spread of discoloration and decay from the subordinate stem into the trunk or parent branch Branch union Point where a branch originates from the trunk or another branch; crotch Bulk density Mass of soil per unit volume; often used as a measure of compaction C Cabling Installation of hardware or synthetic rope in a tree to provide supplemental support to weak branches or crotches Callus Undifferentiated tissue formed by the cambium, usually as the result of wounding; compare to woundwood Cambium Thin layer(s) of meristematic cells that give rise (outward) to the phloem and (inward) to the xylem, increasing stem and root diameter Caliper Canopy Collective branches and foliage of a tree or group of trees

Canopy tree Cavity Open or closed hollow within a tree stem, usually associated with decay Central leader Main stem of a tree, particularly of an excurrent specimen Certified Arborist Chlorosis A whitish or yellowish leaf discoloration caused by lack of chlorophyll, often caused by nutrient deficiency Cleaning In pruning, the selective removal of dead, dying, diseased, and broken branches Clearance Amount of open space between a tree branch and a power line, the ground, or a structure Climbing spurs Sharp devices strapped to a climber’s lower legs to assist in climbing poles or trees being removed; also called spikes, gaffs, irons, hooks, or climbers Codominant branches, Forked branches nearly the same size in diameter, arising from a Codominant stems common junction and lacking a normal branch union Conifer Cone-bearing tree or other plant that has its seeds in a structure called a cone; many, but not all, conifers are evergreen Conk Fruiting body or non-fruiting body (sterile conk) of a fungus, often associated with decay Container grown Tree or other plant that has been grown in a container; compare to balled and burlapped, bare root, and containerized Conservation Sound forest management within given social and economic constraints producing direct benefits for humans without depleting natural ecosystem quality while acknowledging the naturally dynamic character of forest systems Containerized Field-grown plant placed into a container for a time and then sold as a potted plant; term does not include a plant initially grown in containers; compare to balled and burlapped, bare root, and container grown Critical root zone (CRZ) Soil area around a tree where the roots are located that provides stability and a significant uptake of moisture; defined as a circle around the trunk with a radius of 1.25 feet for every 1 inch in DBH, or as an area established by a certified arborist Cross section Section perpendicular to the axis of longitudinal growth Crown Upper part of a tree, measured from the lowest branch, and

including all the branches and foliage Crown cleaning Removing dead, dying, diseased, and/or broken branches from the tree crown Crown reduction Method of reducing the height and/or spread of a tree by making appropriate pruning cuts Cultivar Cultivated variety of a plant; cannot be reproduced without human assistance; usually propagated asexually (cloned); compare to variety D DBH Acronym for diameter at breast height; standard measurement of tree size; the diameter of a tree trunk measured at 4.5 feet (1.3 meters) above ground Deadwooding Removing dead and dying branches from a tree Decay (n.) an area of wood that is undergoing decomposition; (v.) decomposition of organic tissues by fungi or bacteria Deciduous Tree or other plant that sheds all of its leaves according to a genetically scheduled cycle during the cold season in temperate zones; compare to evergreen Decline Gradually diminishing health or condition of a tree Dieback Condition in which the branches in the tree crown die from the tips toward the center Decurrent Rounded or spreading growth habit of the tree crown; compare to excurrent Diameter at breast height See DBH Directional pruning Removing branches from a tree in such a way as to encourage new growth in a particular direction; usually applied to direct growth away from overhead conductors or other structures Disease Condition that impairs the performance of one or more vital functions; usually associated with infectious conditions Disorder Abnormal condition; term usually associated with noninfectious problems Dormancy Period of naturally reduced activity in plant growth with the potential for reactivation of growth Dormant State of reduced physiological activity in the organs of a plant Drip line Imaginary boundary on the soil surface defined by the branch spread of a single plant or group of plants

E Easement, planting Defined strip of land adjacent to the public right-of-way for which access is granted for a limited time by a private property owner to a local government for the purpose of planting trees Easement, utility Defined strip of land beneath a utility line over which the utility has rights-of-way to maintain clearance; essentially part of the right-of- way Ecosystem Complex system of living organisms and their abiotic (non-living) environment Evapotranspiration (ET) Loss of water by evaporation from the soil surface and transpiration by plants Evergreen Tree or other plant that does not shed all of its foliage annually; compare to deciduous Exotic Species not native to a region; may or may not be invasive F Fertilization Application of essential minerals to a plant, usually through the soil Fertilizer Substance added to a plant or the surrounding soil to supplement the supply of essential elements Flush cut Pruning cut through and/or removing the branch collar, causing unnecessary injury to the trunk or parent stem Foliage Leaves of a plant Forestry Management of forests, using silvicultural treatments, to provide a variety of forest benefits including timber, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, and/or recreational opportunities Fruiting body Reproductive structure of a fungus; the presence of certain species may indicate decay in a tree; see conk Fungus (pl. fungi) Group of organisms from the kingdom Fungi, including yeasts, molds, mushrooms, and smuts; typically multicellular, saprophytic, or parasitic and lacking vascular tissue and chlorophyll; reproduces by spores borne in fruiting bodies G Gall Abnormal swelling of plant tissues caused by gall wasps, mites, nematodes, and various insects and less commonly by fungi or bacteria Genus Taxonomic group of species having similar fundamental traits; botanical classification under the family level and above the

specific epithet level Girdling Restriction or destruction of the vascular system within the stem, branch, or root that causes an inhibition of the flow of water and photosynthates in the phloem Girdling root Root that encircles all or part of the trunk of a tree, or other roots, that constricts the vascular tissue and inhibits secondary growth and the movement of water and photosynthates Grade (1) surface level of the ground; (2) quality determination for nursery stock Gymnosperm Plants with exposed seeds, usually within cones; compare to angiosperm H Hardiness Genetically determined ability of a plant to survive low temperatures Hazard assessment P rocess to determine the risk potential of a tree Hazard potential Degree of risk posed by a tree due to a structural or biological defect Heading (heading back) Cutting a shoot back to a bud, or cutting branches back to buds, stubs, or lateral branches not large enough to assume apical dominance; cutting an older branch or stem back to a stub in order to meet a structural objective Herbicides Chemical compounds that kill vegetation Horizontal boring Alternative to trenching for installation of underground utilities; avoids cutting of tree roots; compare to trenching and tunneling Horticulture Art and science of growing, handling, and processing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants I Impervious surface A surface through which water cannot penetrate, such as concrete, asphalt, rooftops, or severely compacted soil Included bark Bark that becomes embedded in a crotch (union) between branch and trunk or between codominant stems; causes a weak structure Inorganic fertilizer Mineral fertilizer, not coming from plant or animal sources; compare to organic fertilizer Insecticides Substances toxic to insects Integrated Pest Method of controlling plant pests by combining biological, cultural, Management (IPM) mechanical, physical, and/or chemical controls

Internode Region of the stem between two successive nodes; compare to node Introduced species Organisms not native to a region; compare to native species and naturalized species Invasive species Non-native organisms likely to spread, disrupting the natural balance of an ecosystem L Lateral Secondary or subordinate branch or root Lateral bud Vegetative bud on the side of a stem; compare to terminal bud Leader Primary terminal shoot or trunk of a tree; large, usually upright stem; a stem that dominates a portion of the crown by suppressing lateral branches Leaf Primary, photosynthetic organ of a plant that is connected to a stem by a petiole Limb Large, primary branch of a tree Line clearance Process of removing vegetation around utility lines Live crown ratio Ratio of the height of the crown containing live foliage to the overall height of the tree M Macronutrient Any of the nine (9) essential elements required by plants in relatively large quantities; in fertilizer, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the primary elements; compare to micronutrient Macropore Relatively large spaces between soil particles that are usually air filled and allow for water movement and root penetration; compare to micropore Mass grading Process of reshaping landscape to specified elevations for the construction of buildings and/or to provide drainage Mature height Maximum height that a plant is likely to reach if the conditions of the planting site are favorable Meristem Undifferentiated tissue in which active cell division takes place; found in the root tips, buds, cambium, cork cambium, and latent buds Micronutrient Any of the essential elements required by plants in relatively small quantities: boron (B), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn); compare to macronutrient

Micropore Space between soil particles that is relatively small and likely to be water filled; compare to macropore Mitigation In tree risk management, process of reducing, alleviating, or minimizing damages or risk Monitoring Keeping a close watch; performing regular checks or inspections Monocotyledon Plant with an embryo that has one seed leaf (cotyledon); examples are grasses and palms; compare to dicotyledon Mulch Material that is spread on the soil surface to reduce weed growth, retain soil moisture, moderate temperature extremes, prevent damage from lawn-maintenance equipment, and improve aesthetic appearance of the landscape; only organic materials such as compost, leaves, pine straw, or wood chips are considered proper mulch Mycorrhizae Symbiotic association between certain fungi and the roots of a plant N Native species Plants indigenous to a region; naturally occurring and not introduced by man; compare to introduced species and naturalized species Natural (target) pruning P rocess of branch removal in which the pruning cuts are made at nodes and in relation to the positions of the branch collar and branch bark ridge Naturalized species Non-native species that has become established in a region and propagates without human assistance; compare to introduced species and native species Node Slightly enlarge portion of a stem where leaves and buds arise; compare to internode O Organic fertilizer Fertilizer derived from plants or animals; compare to inorganic fertilizer Organic layer Layer of organic matter at the soil surface Organic matter Material derived from the growth (and death) of living organisms; compost, humus Overstory, overstory tree The u ppermost layer of the forest canopy; or a tree or tree species with a crown that exists in or has the potential to reach the uppermost portion of the forest canopy P

Parent branch Larger branch or stem from which a smaller, lateral branch arises Pathogen Causal agent of disease; usually refers to microorganisms Permanent branches In pruning, branches that will be left in place, often forming the initial scaffold framework of a tree Pest Organism that is damaging, noxious, or a nuisance Pesticide Any chemical used to kill unwanted organisms such as weeds, insects, or fungi pH Unit of measure that describes the alkalinity or acidity of a solution; negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration; measured on a scale from 0 to 14; > 7 is alkaline, < 7 is acidic, and 7 is neutral (pure water) PHC See Plant Health Care Phloem Plant vascular tissue that transports photosynthates and growth regulators; situated on the inside of the bark, just outside the cambium; is bi-directional (transports up and down); compare to xylem Photosynthesis Process in green plants (and in algae and some bacteria) by which light energy is used to form glucose (chemical energy) from water and carbon dioxide Plant Health Care Comprehensive program to manage the health, structure, and appearance of plants in the landscape Planting specifications Detailed plans and statements of particular procedures and standards for planting Pollarding High-maintenance, specialty pruning technique started on a young tree with a large-maturing form; the technique results in the development of callus knobs at the cut ends of the branches; requires regular removal of sprouts Protection zone See tree protection zone Pruning Cutting away unwanted or damaged parts of a plant Pruning cycle In utility and municipal arboriculture, the time scheduled between pruning events that is established as a guideline for providing reasonable clearance between trees and conductors Qualified line-clearance In utility arboriculture, utility arborists who have been trained to arborists specified standards for line-clearance work R Radial trenching Means of aerating the soil around a tree by removing and replacing

soil in trenches made in a spokelike pattern in the root zone to improve conditions for root growth Raising Selective removal of lower limbs from a tree to provide clearance; lifting Reduction Pruning to decrease height and/or spread of a branch or crown Reduction cut Pruning cut that reduces the length of a branch or stem back to a lateral branch large enough to assume apical dominance Removal cut Cut that removes a branch at its point of origin; collar cut Resistant varieties Plant varieties that are tolerant of, or not susceptible to, certain disease or pest problems Restoration (1) pruning to improve the structure, form, and appearance of trees that have been severely headed, vandalized, or damage; (2) management and planting to restore altered or damaged ecosystems Right-of-way (ROW) Defined area of land, usually a linear strip, over or through which utilities or streets are constructed, maintained, and operated, or to which access is granted Risk assessment Process of determining the level of risk posed by a branch, tree, or group of trees on a property Root ball Soil containing all (containerized) or a portion (B&B) of the roots that are moved with a plant when it is planted or transplanted Root barrier Membranes or sheets installed vertically in the soil to limit or direct the growth of tree roots Root collar Flared area at the tree trunk base where the roots and trunk come together; root crown Root collar excavation Process of removing soil to expose and assess the root collar of a tree Root crown Area where the main roots join the plant stem, usually at or near ground level; root collar Root flare See trunk flare Root protection zone Surface area of tree root concentration to be protected from construction damage, usually soil compaction damage; best accomplished by fencing off the entire root protection zone Root zone Area within the soil profile where roots exist; typically the root zone of trees extends beyond the drip line ROW S ee right-of-way S

Scaffold branches Permanent or structural branches of a tree Sign Physical evidence of a causal agent (e.g., insect eggs, borer hole, frass); compare to symptom Silviculture Study and practice of the maintenance and growth of forests Site analysis Determination of the conditions, restrictions, and environment of a planting site Site considerations Factors that must be taken into account when assessing a planting site to select plant species Soil aeration See aeration Soil amendment Material added to soil to improve its physical, chemical, and/or biological properties Soil analysis Analysis of soil to determine pH, mineral composition, structure, salinity, and other characteristics Soil compaction Compression of the soil, often as a result of vehicle of heavy- equipment traffic, that breaks down soil aggregates and reduces soil volume and total pore space, especially the macropores Soil horizon Layer or zone of soil which physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that differ from adjacent soil layers Soil profile Vertical section through the soil and all of the soil horizons Soil structure Arrangement of soil particles into aggregates Soil texture Relative fineness or coarseness of a soil due to particle size (sand, silt, and clay) Species Taxonomic group of organisms composed of individuals of the same genus that can reproduce among themselves and have similar offspring Specifications Detailed plans, requirements, and statements of particular procedures and/or standards used to define and guide work Staking Supporting a newly planted tree with stakes and ties Stem Woody structure bearing foliage and buds that gives rise to other stems (branches) Street tree Trees growing along street frontages, either within the public street right-of-way or the front yards of adjacent lots Stress Factor that negatively affects the health of a tree Structural defects Any naturally occurring or secondary conditions such as cavities, poor branch attachments, cracks, or decayed wood in the trunk,

crown, or roots of a tree that may contribute to structural failure Structural pruning Pruning to establish a strong branch scaffold system Structural roots Large, woody, tree roots that anchor and support the trunk and crown; roots characterized by secondary thickening and relatively large diameter giving form to the root system and functioning in anchorage and support Structural soil Pavement substrate that can be compacted to meet engineering specifications yet remains penetrable by tree roots in the urban environment; composed of angular crushed stone, clay loam, and hydrogel mixed in a weight ratio of 100:20:0.03; developed at the Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Stub The portion of a branch or stem remaining after an improper pruning cut or branch break Stub cuts Pruning cuts made too far outside the branch bark ridge or branch collar that leave branch tissue attached to the stem Subordinate (v.) pruning to reduce the size and ensuing growth of a branch in relation to other branches or leaders; (adj.) dominated by other trees, branches, or parts; suppressed Symptom Plant reaction to a disease or disorder (e.g., wilting, dieback); compare to sign T Tap root Central, vertical root growing directly below the trunk that may or may not persist into plant maturity Target (1) person, object, or structure that could be injured or damaged in the event of tree or branch failure; (2) in pruning, the final location where the tree part is removed Target (or natural) pruning Process of branch removal to achieve a specified goal in which the pruning cuts are made at nodes and in relation to the positions of the branch collar and branch bark ridge Temporary branches When conducting structural pruning of young trees, branches, generally the lower, that are left in place or subordinated for the time being but that will be removed later Terminal bud Bud at the tip of a twig or shoot; apical bud; compare to lateral bud Thinning Selective pruning to reduce density of live branches; removing unwanted branches and limbs to provide light or air penetration through the tree or to lighten the weight of the remaining branches Through-pruning Removing branches from the middle of the tree crown to provide

clearance from utility lines; similar to V-pruning, except that some branch overhang remains above the lines Timber harvesting Topping Inappropriate pruning technique to reduce tree size; cutting back a tree to buds, stubs, internodes, or laterals not large enough to assume apical dominance Topsoil Surface layer of soil that may be rich in nutrients from decaying plants and bacterial material; often removed when lots are graded in preparation for construction Transpiration Water vapor loss through the stomata of leaves Transplanting Moving a plant to a new location Transplant shock Plant stress following transplant; characterized by reduced growth, wilting, dropping foliage, or death Tree Woody perennial usually having one (1) dominant trunk, but sometimes multiple trunks, and a mature height greater than 15 feet Tree establishment The activities associated with planting a tree, including site selection, species selection, tree selection, tree transport, site preparation, tree planting, irrigation, and mulching; also includes regular inspection, pruning, and other new tree maintenance. See also establishment period. Tree island Enclosed planting bed surrounding a tree, such as a bed within a paved area Tree protection zone Defined area within which certain activities are prohibited or restricted to prevent or minimize potential injury to designated trees, especially during construction or development Tree value Appraised, monetary value placed on a tree Tree well Wall constructed around a tree, with the original grade raised, to protect the trunk by maintaining the original soil level and to provide oxygen and water to the root zone Tree wrap Material used to wrap the trunks of newly planted or transplanted trees Trenching Linear excavation, often used to install utilities or structural footings; can cause tree root damage; compare to horizontal boring or tunneling Trunk flare Transition zone from trunk to roots where the trunk expands into the structural roots; root flare Tunneling Alternate method to trenching for installation of underground

utilities; compare to horizontal boring and trenching U Undercut Cut on the underside of a branch or stem being removed to prevent unwanted tearing as the part being removed falls Understory, understory tree The layers of the forest canopy that exist beneath the overstory; or a tree or tree species with a crown that exists in or has the potential to reach only to the lower to middle layers of the forest canopy Urban forestry Management of naturally occurring and planted trees in urban areas Utility line-clearance Selectively removing vegetation and vegetation parts from around pruning utility lines, primarily to keep trees and branches clear from overhead lines and equipment; also used for other management reasons Utility pruning Pruning around or near utility facilities with the object of maintaining safe and reliable utility service V Variety Naturally occurring subdivision of a species having a distinct difference and breeding true to that difference; compare to cultivar Vegetation management Management and control of vegetation to achieve established goals and objectives Vertical mulching Drilling vertical holes in the soil and filling them with materials such as composted mulch, gravel, perlite, peat, or sand to improve aeration and sometimes fertility Vigor Overall health; capacity to grow and resist stress Vitality Overall health; ability of a plant to deal effectively with stress V-pruning Providing clearance from utility lines by removing branches from the middle of the tree crown such that the cut appears as V-shaped when viewed from a specific angle W Windthrow Tree failure due to uprooting caused by wind Wire basket Type of metal basket used to support the root ball of a balled and burlapped tree or a tree dug eiwht a tree space Wound dressing Compound applied to tree wounds or pruning cuts Woundwood Lignified, differentiated tissues produced on woody plants as a response to wounding; compare to callus X

Xeriscape Use of plant materials (usually native plants) and practices that minimizes landscaping water use; term for environmentally friendly form of landscaping; term was copyright by Denver Water in 1981 Xylem Main water- and mineral-conducting tissue in trees and other plants; provides structural support, becoming wood after lignifying; is unidirectional (conducts up only); compare to phloem