Cheyenne Department of Urban Forestry, caring for trees in Cheyenne, Wyoming
F o r    M a p    C l i c k    H e r e

Urban Forestry is a Division of the City of Cheyenne Parks & Recreation Department
Contact Us:
Address: 520 W. 8th Ave.
Cheyenne WY 82001
Phone: 307.637.6428
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 6:30am - 3:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 12:00noon
Saturday & Sunday: Closed










Photo of Trees
Lake Absarraca
Photo: Cheyenne Urban Forestry


Mission and Scope of Work - Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division

VISION:
Every feasible planting space in Cheyenne occupied by a suitable and thriving tree of good health and safe structure.

MISSION:
Dedicated to improving the urban forest by: Working with citizens, businesses, government agencies and tree care professionals in maintaining and renewing a safe, healthy, and diverse mature tree canopy to enhance the beauty and prosperity of the community.

Our Definition of an Urban Forest: The relationship of all trees and woody shrubs existing, alive or dead, within an area developed, lived in, worked in, and managed, by people.

SCOPE OF FORESTRY DIVISION'S MISSION:

  • Providing educational opportunities and information to citizens and professional tree care personnel.
  • Leading by example in tree planting, and overall tree care on city owned and maintained lands.
  • Through research and experimentation plant a wide variety of tree species that are able to grow in this planting zone.
  • Working with architects, planners, developers, governing body, business owners, and citizens to design and incorporate ideal tree planting locations and species along new and existing city streets.
  • Minimize public right-of-way safety concerns caused by trees and shrubs.
  • Monitor tree mortality causing insect and disease threats with inspection, action, and follow-up.

GOALS FOR TREES IN CITY MAINTAINED AREAS:

  • Perform a whole system tree evaluation to determine: the different tree species and percent of whole, health, safety, insect and disease problems, and available planting spaces.  (Overall tree evaluation Completed 2004, Click here for more info)
  • Attain a tree replacement to removal ratio of 5 to 1.  (Ongoing goal)
  • Attain an overall tree species mix not to exceed 10% of total for any one species.  (Ongoing process that will take many years)
  • Determine the best watering and fertilizing regime for each species and area to attain the best tree health without application of pesticides.  (Ongoing)
  • Research and develop maintenance methods to maximize tree growth and longevity for this area.  (Ongoing)
  • Reduce the use of treated water for watering trees. The Board of Public Utilities (water department) has installed pipe for reuse water delivery to some park areas, cemeteries, some athletic fields, and a golf course. The line went into service Summer of 2007. We also draft untreated water out of Lake Absarraca.
  • A citizen's forestry advisory committee called Cheyenne Community Forestry Committee was formed in January 2007.
  • Find ways to keep beetle infested trees, removed commercially and privately, out of the landfill. (The forestry division peels the bark off of tree trunks using a chainsaw powered bark peeler).

Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division  -  2007

The
Urban Forestry Division is responsible for the development and maintenance of trees, shrubs, vines, and hedges, on all City of Cheyenne public properties. Tree maintenance on street right-of-ways is the responsibility of the abutting homeowner or business. However, the property owner must consult with the City Forester and acquire a permit before any right-of-way tree trimming, planting, or removal is conducted.

• The Urban Forestry Division is responsible for testing, licensing and regulating the work of commercial arborists and pesticide applicators within the City of Cheyenne. Click here for the current list of licensed arborists.

• The Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division consists of nine full-time employees. Two of the eight are professional foresters, with six full-time arborists, and one secretary. Seven of the full-time forestry division professionals and arborists are International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists. The six arborists (five are Certified Arborists), in the forestry division are the employees doing the hands-on tree work in the areas maintained by the city.

• The Urban Forestry Division maintains over 13200 trees in city parks, golf courses, cemeteries, ball fields, including more than 850 trees found along the Greenway. There are over 3100 trees that require hand watering, trees that are not located in automated irrigation areas. Included in the 3100 hand-watered trees total, there are 1200 evergreen trees that require hand watering in winter during dry spells.

• The Urban Forestry Division inspects trees along the public right-of-ways (i.e., streets, alleys and sidewalks), and notifies property owners about vegetative concerns.  In 2007, 250 code violation notices were sent to property owners regarding visibility obstructions, tree and shrub limbs growing into public right-of-way use areas (i.e., streets, sidewalks, and alleys), tree mortality causing insect infestations, and private property trees and shrubs posing a danger to the safe use of the public right-of-ways. Ordinance info.

• The forestry division reviews landscape plans for new commercial development and change-of-use or expansion-of-use for commercial properties inside city limits.  In 2007 we reviewed 113 site plans compared to 79 plans reviewed in 2006,  71 plans in 2005,  58 plans in 2004,  and 46 plans in 2003.  The Cheyenne Development Office oversees the zoning ordinance which develops and regulates requirements for commercial development.  The landscaping requirements for development are found in the zoning section, Chapter 17, of the city code.

• In 2007, over 450 elementary, home-school, and private school students, parents, and teachers participated in guided Lions Park tree walks which included the Nature Center and the Tree House.

• Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division receives over 1200 calls per year with citizens asking questions about their personal trees. Cheyenne Forestry personnel inspected 175 private properties, upon the request of the property owner, regarding tree problems. The number of private property inspections concerning tree problems has decreased over the years due to a higher number of citizens using this Website to answer their questions about their tree problems.

• In 2007, the City of Cheyenne implemented a citizen Service Request program. Via the Internet, this program allows citizens to voice their concerns and point out problems to City of Cheyenne employees. The Forestry Division received 19 requests from citizens to help solve a tree or shrub related problem.

• This Website updated by the Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division had 68,115 visits in 2007 compared to 49,069 visits in 2006, and 39,048 visits in 2005.   In 2007, 39% of the visits to the Website were by first time visitors.  A few site visitors (32), from all over the US, have sent e-mail questions about tree problems, sometimes photos of tree problems are included with the e-mail.

• The Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division works with Cheyenne Youth Alternatives in assisting youth in need of community service. Each year, several youth work with the forestry division crew in helping our trees grow.


2007 Summary of Tree Maintenance
           
(In parks, golf courses, cemeteries, city buildings, and on other city property)

  • Trees Removed: 318
    Trees are removed due to poor structural support caused by past lightning strikes, decay, wind damage, or winter desiccation.  Many of the removals this year were trees that had been killed by bark beetles.
    Drought stressed trees are an easy target for insects and disease, which can be the final cause in killing the trees.  Ips bark beetle, and Mountain Pine Beetle, are very small insects, which in high numbers, attacked and killed over 40 large spruce trees and pine trees.  We remove the bark off of beetle killed pine and spruce trees, prior to storing the trunks.  We use two chain saw powered bark peelers to remove the bark.  Bark removal is required to keep the beetles from emerging and attacking other trees.  None of the wood debris generated by tree removal or pruning by City Forestry goes into the landfill.

  • Trees Pruned: 1,816
    Larger park trees are generally pruned in the dormant season, November through March.  Smaller trees are pruned year-round.  Many smaller trees in unirrigated areas are pruned while they are being hand-watered during the summer months.

    Pruning small trees, 51% of the 1,816 total number in 2007, allows us to direct the growth of the tree as it matures.  We remove small poorly positioned branches, which affect the growth of more desirable branches, before the branches become larger.  Tree care industry guidelines recommend pruning every other year on newly planted trees beginning a year after planting and continuing for six years.  Pruning in larger trees primarily removes dead, broken, or weak branches.  Squirrels feeding on the high food value layers of cells under the bark in smaller branches causes significant die-back in many larger trees.  Smaller limb die-back, if severe enough, causes larger limb die-back.  We have had to remove many large trees due to repetitive and heavy squirrel damage.  Squirrels can kill trees!

  • Trees Planted: 487
    New trees purchased and planted - 410
    Trees transplanted from city maintained tree nurseries - 77
         Over 300 trees exist in various tree nurseries and are maintained by this division.  As the trees mature,      they are transplanted into the parks, golf courses, ballfields, cemeteries, and the Greenway using a 44      inch diameter, trailer mounted, hydraulic tree spade.
    For every tree removed we planted 1.5 trees.

  • 8 Trees were Removed: vandalism, vehicle damage, wind damage, or other damage.
    Using an internationally recognized formula to determine tree value, the dollar value of trees lost for the year 2007, in Cheyenne, was $15,917.
         
    One large tree was lost because of a water main break:  Valued at  $10,859.
         Four trees lost from high winds:  Valued at  $3,905.
         Three trees lost from damage caused by vehicles:  Valued at  $1,153.


  • Tree Watering Events: 9,926   (Trees are hand-watered several times throughout the year)
    The calendar year 2007, was a near normal precipitation year, .61 inches below normal, a normal year is 15.45 inches of precipitation.  Watering trees by hand was less critical last year.

    Trees watered by hand are located in non-irrigated areas, including the Greenway, North Cheyenne Community Park, Downtown core area, and parts of Lions Park.   All conifer trees (e.g., pine, spruce, fir and juniper) require supplemental hand watering water during the late fall and winter.  The amount of water used in 2007 for hand watering trees was 1.29 acre feet or 419,950 gallons.  An acre foot of water is the amount of water needed to cover one acre (43,560 square feet) to a depth of one foot of water, 325,851 gallons. Most of the water used to water the trees, 80%, was taken out of Absarraca Lake, which is untreated water, also known as raw water.  We recycled 14,000 gallons of water out of Johnson Pool at the end of summer.


                                           
    Drafting water out of Absarraca Lake into a 350-gallon water tank, for hand watering trees.  The tank is hauled in the bed of a one-ton pickup truck or dump truck.  Nine trees can be watered with each full tank of water.  Depending on the distance from the lake to the trees,
    6 to 10 tanks of water can be filled each day, watering 54 to 90 trees per day per vehicle.  We have 6 tanks, 350 gallons each, for hauling water.  We also have a 4500 gallon tanker that we use to flood irrigate trees and to water 500+ trees in the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) area.  The tanker is also used as a "reservoir on wheels" to supply water for several 350 gallon/pickup truck units working in the same area.

  •  Special Projects:  (Landscaping, Tree work for city projects along city streets - 360 personnel hours).
    - Planting trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants and installation of rock mulch at the Spray Park in Lions Park.
    - Installing weed barrier fabric, plants, and mulch in E. 8th Avenue median island in front of the Airport Terminal.
    - Installing weed barrier fabric, plants, and mulch along the Greenway at the E. 4th Avenue cul-de-sac at Evans.
    - Installing metal edging in the Buffalo Soldier Triangle on Randall Ave. and W. 32nd St.
    - Pruning and removing trees and shrubs in the public right-of-way for:  Installation of sewer lines, ADA accessible sidewalks, curb        and gutter replacement, and storm water drainage conflicts.
    - Moving, removing, and pruning trees at Kingham Prairie View Golf Course for reuse water irrigation line installation.


    Chart of Forestry Division Crew Activities 2001 - 2007:

                                



  • Park Tree Inventory and Evaluation

    A good informational Website on the value of trees is:  Colorado Tree Coalition.


Tree Maintenance Photos


Ips bark beetles and drought led to the removal of this
spruce tree in the cemetery.


44-inch diameter hydraulic tree spade in position
to plant a tree.


Using a crane to place a larger blue spruce in the Depot Plaza

                           
Most of our tree pruning is done during the late fall and winter months.  We can drive large maintenance vehicles on the frozen soil without damaging the grass and soil too much.  There is less chance of spreading tree diseases during the winter months. Without leaves the overall structure of the tree and problem limbs are easily seen.  It is safer to do tree maintenance with fewer park visitors.

      
Initial tree decline is usually due to drought or root damage, culminating in the final blow of insect or disease attack causing tree mortality.  Trees left standing in poor health are open to insect attack, which increases the chance of mortality causing insects increasing in population.  In mass, insects can successfully attack healthy trees.  Spruce Ips bark beetles typically cause tree mortality beginning at the top of the tree and moving downward.  All spruce trees in the cemeteries were sprayed in late Summer 2006, Spring 2007, and will be sprayed again in Spring 2008.


Fast growing trees, such as cottonwoods, silver maples, boxelders, willows, and Siberian elms, usually equate to weak-wooded trees. The life expectancy of these fast growing trees is usually 40 to 80 years in an urban setting. Weak-wooded trees are more susceptible to wood decay than most other slower growing trees. Wood decay can cause a tree to be hazardous. Wind, snow load, or even water saturation from rain can cause a decaying limb with or an entire tree with decay to structurally fail. Frequently, there is no outward indication of interior wood decay. If outward indications of wood decay are present, the extent of the decay and how it affects the structure of the tree is unknown. Sometimes decay and structurally weakening is fairly obvious such as in the cottonwood tree below. The photos below are before and after pictures of a cottonwood tree that was removed in Holliday Park in January of 1998.



Cheyenne Community Forestry Committee  

The Cheyenne Community Forestry Committee (CCFC) was formed in January 2007. A resolution authorizing creation of the Cheyenne Community Forestry Committee (resolution #4932) was signed by Mayor Jack Spiker on April 9, 2007. See a copy of the By-Laws.

The mission statement of the Committee is:

"The Community Forestry Committee recognizes that trees are vital to the health and well-being of our community. The Committee is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and enhancement of our community forest through professional efforts in planning, planting and the maintenance of trees for the enrichment of our residents and future generations to come. The Committee will strive to build an effective and positive partnership among citizens, industry, local government, schools and volunteers."

Drought and Trees
brochure developed by the CCFC

The Committee members are:

Don Bainter
Clint Bassett - Vice Chairperson
Jim Cochran
Jim Lambert - Secretary
Jeff Marsolek
Diane McKillip
Steve Roseberry - Chairperson
Lisa Olson
Jane Darnell

CCFC Meeting Minutes: January 2007February 2007March 2007April 2007May 2007June 2007July 2007August 2007September 2007October 2007November & December 2007,  January 2008, April 2008.


Tree City, USA

Cheyenne has been named "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 25 consecutive years.  See photos of Cheyenne's Arbor Day 2007.  Cheyenne is the oldest Tree City USA community in Wyoming. Cheyenne has also received four "Program Growth Awards" and two "Merit Awards" from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

 

 

 

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