When it comes to trees, Ypsilanti knows how to pack 'em in. The city has just completed the first phase of its urban forestry plan – an inventory of the trees, roughly 8,000, growing within its bounds. The city will use the inventory results to proactively manage its tree stock by pinpointing the exact location of each tree, its species, and condition, and to see where other trees can be planted.
"I am actually impressed," says Aren Dottenwhy, arborist and project manager for Davey Resource Group, during the team's fieldwork. "There are places to plant trees, but... the streets are lined with trees. One thing that the city should concentrate on is species distribution." The majority of the trees are maples, particularly Norway and silver varieties, she says.
Best canopy management practices recommend a mix of trees to be planted in any given area to prevent widespread eradication of any one type from invasive beetles or disease. For instance, many of Michigan's ash trees have been felled by emerald ash borer disease.
The nine-member team, led by three arborists employed by Davey, and employing six youth from the
Michigan Works! program, used GIS mapping to conduct the inventory. The project is funded through a $141,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for Urban Forestry grant.
Once the city receives the official inventory report and recommendations from Davey, it will commence an urban nursery project. The city will use the nursery to replenish its tree stock. A city official has said a likely interim location will be a portion of the city's downtown Water Street property that's slated for redevelopment.
Source: Aren Dottenwhy, arborist and project manager for Davey Resource Group
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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