Parowan

In 2009 Parowan beefed-up its care and stewardship of the1,700City Street and Park trees for which the Shade Tree Commission is responsible. Our community of 3,000 residents used $8,000 ($5,000 Community Forest Council Grant plus $3,000 City allotment,) and $60,000* of contributed labor, equipment-use and donations, to generate a tree care program totaling $68,000.*

The broad-based program was to plant, prune and remove street trees, expand the City Co-op Nursery and Meeks Arboretum, initiate a strategic planning effort, recertify as a Tree City USA City with a “Growth Award,” send key City employees to Arborist Training and sponsor Arbor Day programs for students and townsfolk alike. We doubled the size of the “Tree Care Collection” at the City Library and early in 2009 Parowan received the Utah Community Forest Council’s prestigious “Utah Community of the Year” award for 2008.

Trees planted: 160 of which 75 were seedlings at the Co-op Nursery

Trees pruned: 196 of which 138 were street tree saplings

Trees removed : 62 of which 40 were dead street tree saplings

The Shade Tree Commission thanks the many citizens who donated their time, money and equipment-use to make this happen and especially to City crews who supported this program all the way. We also say farewell and “job well done” to Jim Shurtleff, Parowan High Ag teacher, who has finished his term on the Shade Tree Commission after more than six years of service. Thanks Jim.

Vern Fridley, Shade Tree Commission Chair.

* Figures rounded to the nearest $100.

A plan for the long-range future of our street and park trees was started last fall and will be completed and presented to the City Council this spring. So far we have investigated and described the current situation and identified five overriding issues that we as a community need to address if we are to restore our shade tree heritage. We would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions regarding these issues:

1. Undesirable Trees Need Replacing: The shade tree inventory identified 270 undesirable trees of the 1600 street trees surveyed in the following four groups: (Siberian elm* 133 ea, Cottonwoods 63 ea, White poplar 45 ea, and Box elder 29 ea). There are also many trees growing under power lines that are too big a species for the site and should be phased out and replaced by shorter-growing trees.

2. Many Trees Need Pruning: The shade tree inventory showed that there are approximately 630 trees needing pruning. Three situations are common: (1) mature trees were not pruned at a stage in their development to improve structure when they should have been, (2) Trees have been periodically “topped”** by inexperienced pruners (often well-meaning family members) or by unqualified workers of tree care companies who feel that they are giving their customer their “money’s worth,” (3) many trees have never been pruned at all and are full of dead wood.

3. Need Shade Tree Cover Where Lacking: The inventory identified 2,580 vacant places where tree cover could be provided. The potential forest would total about 4,200 trees if dead and poor condition trees are removed, those in fair condition rehabilitated and where water is available, the vacant spots filled.

4. Tree Specie Diversity Needs to be Enhanced: Five tree species (Green Ash, Norway maple, Siberian elm,* and Black and Honeylocust make up nearly 2/3 of all street trees. If you include the next most prevalent species the top ten comprise nearly 80 % of all trees. Lack of diversity leaves the city vulnerable to insect and disease problems in the future.

5. No Water to Some Trees : Some residents don’t water their street trees and tree health suffers. Also trees adjacent to some rentals and vacant properties are not being watered and occupants often have absentee landlords. Realtors often do not realize their responsibility for watering, pursuant to the shade tree ordinance, for homes that they sell, lease or rent. Vacant fields on city streets pose a difficult irrigation challenge, especially when owned by absentee landlords.

To have your suggestions considered please let us know your thoughts by March 19. Watch for a response form mailer in your P.O. box or call Vern Fridley, Shade Tree Commission @ 477-1765.

* Siberian elm which sets seed in spring is commonly called Chinese elm in Parowan.

**Topping: the practice of cutting off tree tops, trunks and major limbs between limb intersections (crotches) usually larger than 3” in diameter.