Summary and Background

1310 Bryant Street Atlas Cedar Assessment July 10, 2019

July 10, 2019

Walter Passmore - Urban Forester Public Works Department City of Palo Alto 3201 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303

Summary and Background The blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’) is in irreversible decline and should be removed prior to losing all its leaves or bark begins to separate from the trunk. It is in the first phase of death for a conifer sometimes referred to the as the “red phase” in forestry and once the tree loses all its leaves (gray phase) there may be increased risk of branch or stem failure. There are no therapeutic treatments that will reverse the tree’s spiral of decline.

I was asked by Walter pass more the City of Palo Alto Urban Forester to inspect and assess the blue atlas cedar located in front of 1310 Bryant Street (Castilleja School). The tree is located at the entrance along Kellogg Avenue and had been assessed by two other ISA Certified Arborists® (Ron Walker, June 11 and Michael L. Bench June 12, 2019).

Assignment and Limits Provide an arborist’s report including an assessment of the blue atlas cedar. The assessment is to include the species, size (trunk diameter/circumference), condition (health, structure, and form).

I inspected the crown, trunk, trunk flare, above ground roots, and site conditions around the tree following the guidelines for a Level 1: Limited Visual assessment as described in Best 1

Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment: International Society of Arboriculture, 2017. The assessment is limited to the tree and site conditions during my visit on July 1, 2019. The assessment considered only known and visibly detectable conditions. No risk rating is provided for this assignment and it does not account for the likelihood of the tree or its parts to fail and 2

strike a target, or a determination of the consequences of such an event.

A visual assessment from a specified perspective such as foot, vehicle or aerial patrol of an individual 1

or population of trees near specified targets to identify conditions or obvious defects of concern.

The chance of an event occurring. In the context of tree failures, the term may be used to specify: 1) 2

the chance of a tree failure occurring: 2) the chance of impacting a specified target; and 3) the combination of the likelihood of a tree failing and the likelihood of impacting a specified target.

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Purpose and Use of the Report

The purpose of this report is to inform the City of Palo Alto about the condition of the tree. The report is to be used by the City of Palo Alto and the property owners to help make decisions about the future management of the tree.

Observations The blue atlas cedar is 50 inches in diameter and the crown spreads elliptically about 55 feet north to south and 45 east to west. Foliar color is abnormal and chlorotic with sparse density. The crown is about 60 to 70 percent transparent (about 30 to 40 percent opaque) consisting of mostly yellow and dead leaves (needles) (Photo 1). The trunk is vertical with one primary leader and one secondary top. The trunk flare is partially exposed with no visible buttress roots (Image 2). The entire root zone is covered in hardscape including the compacted river rock up to the trunk flare, an asphalt driveway turn around, and the building itself. There are no visible bare or non-compacted soil surfaces around the tree.



Image 1: near dead transparent crown with necrotic and chlorotic leaves.

Image 2: Trunk flare covered in river rock and adjacent hardscape.



Discussion

Condition Rating (Health, Structure, and Form)

A tree’s condition is a determination of its overall health , structure , and form . The assessment 3 4 5

considers observable defects or conditions in the crown, trunk, trunk flare, and includes site conditions. The assessment considered all three characteristics for a combined condition rating (Adapted by ISA 2018).

• 100% - Exceptional = Good health and structure with significant size, location or quality. • 61-80% - Good = Normal vigor, well-developed structure, function and aesthetics not

compromised with good longevity for the site. • 41-60 % - Fair = Reduced vigor, damage, dieback, or pest problems, at least one significant

structural problem or multiple moderate defects requiring treatment. Major asymmetry or deviation from the species normal habit, function and aesthetics compromised.

• 21-40% - Poor = Unhealthy and declining appearance with poor vigor, abnormal foliar color, size or density with potential irreversible decline. One serious structural defect or multiple significant defects that cannot be corrected and failure may occur at any time. Significant asymmetry and compromised aesthetics and intended use.

• 6-20% - Very Poor = Poor vigor and dying with little foliage in irreversible decline. Severe defects with the likelihood of failure being probable or imminent. Aesthetically poor with little or no function in the landscape.

• 0-5% - Dead/Unstable = Dead or imminently ready to fail.

The blue atlas cedar is in “very poor” condition with little foliage and in irreversible decline. The crown transparency/opacity along with the amount of dead and chlorotic leaves are key health indicators. The crown is significantly transparent and chlorotic as opposed to normally dense (90 percent opacity) with dark blue/green needles throughout. The symptoms of decline are consistent with root issues. The sparse crown is an indication of poor conduction of water and nutrients, and limited root function (Dunster, J. A., Smiley E. T., Matheny N., and Lilly, S. 2017). There are both biotic and abiotic conditions that can cause the kind of sparse crown the tree is exhibiting and it is likely tied to lack of water, nutrients, and heavily non-compacted soil space.

health: Assessment is based on the overall appearance of the tree, its leaf and twig growth, 3

and the presence and severity of insects or disease.

structure: Evaluation focused on the crown, trunk, trunk flare, above ground roots and the 4

site conditions contributing to conditions and/or defects that may contribute to failure.

form: Describes a plant’s habit, shape or silhouette defined by its genetics, environment, or 5

management.





Conclusion and Recommendations The tree is in irreversible decline and should be removed prior to losing all its leaves or sloughing of bark. It is in the first phase of death sometimes referred to the as the “red phase” in forestry and once the tree loses all its leaves (gray phase) there may be increased risk of branch or stem failure. There are no therapeutic treatments that will reverse the tree’s spiral of decline.

BibliographyAmerican national standard for tree care operations: tree, shrub and other woody plant management : standard practices (Tree risk assessment a. Tree structure assessment). Londonderry, NH: Secretariat, Tree Care Industry Association, Inc., 2016. Print.

Clark, James R., and Nelda P. Matheny. A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas. Bedminster, PA: International Society of Arboriculture, 1994. Print.

Dunster, Julian. Tree Risk Assessment in Urban Areas and the Urban/Rural interface: Course Manual. Silverton, Oregon: Pacific Northwest Chapter, International Society of Arboriculture. 2007

Dunster, Julian A., E. Thomas Smiley, Nelda Matheny, and Sharon Lilly. 2017. Tree Risk Assessment Manual. Champaign, Illinois: International Society of Arboriculture.

Smiley, E, Matheny, N, Lilly, S, ISA. Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment: International Society of Arboriculture, 2017. Print





Appendix A: Tree Location





Qualifications, Assumptions, and Limiting Conditions Any legal description provided to the consultant is assumed to be correct. Any titles or ownership of properties are assumed to be good and marketable. All property is appraised or evaluated as though free and clear, under responsible ownership and competent management.

All property is presumed to be in conformance with applicable codes, ordinances, statutes, or other regulations.

Care has been taken to obtain information from reliable sources. However, the consultant cannot be responsible for the accuracy of information provided by others.

The consultant shall not be required to give testimony or attend meetings, hearings, conferences, mediations, arbitration, or trials by reason of this report unless subsequent contractual arrangements are made, including payment of an additional fee for such services.

This report and any appraisal value expressed herein represent the opinion of the consultant, and the consultant’s fee is not contingent upon the reporting of a specified appraisal value, a stipulated result, or the occurrence of a subsequent event.

Sketches, drawings, and photographs in this report are intended for use as visual aids, are not necessarily to scale, and should not be construed as engineering or architectural reports or surveys. The reproduction of information generated by architects, engineers, or other consultants on any sketches, drawings, or photographs is only for coordination and ease of reference. Inclusion of said information with any drawings or other documents does not constitute a representation as to the sufficiency or accuracy of said information.

Unless otherwise expressed: a) this report covers only examined items and their condition at the time of inspection; and b) the inspection is limited to visual examination of accessible items without dissection, excavation, probing, or coring. There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that structural problems or deficiencies of plants or property may not arise in the future.





Certification of Performance I Richard Gessner, Certify:

That I have personally inspected the tree(s) and/or the property referred to in this report, and have stated my findings accurately. The extent of the evaluation and/or appraisal is stated in the attached report and Terms of Assignment;

That I have no current or prospective interest in the vegetation or the property that is the subject of this report, and I have no personal interest or bias with respect to the parties involved;

That the analysis, opinions and conclusions stated herein are my own;

That my analysis, opinions, and conclusions were developed and this report has been prepared according to commonly accepted Arboricultural practices;

That no one provided significant professional assistance to the consultant, except as indicated within the report.

That my compensation is not contingent upon the reporting of a predetermined conclusion that favors the cause of the client or any other party, nor upon the results of the assessment, the attainment of stipulated results, or the occurrence of any other subsequent events;

I further certify that I am a Registered Consulting Arborist® with the American Society of Consulting Arborists, and that I acknowledge, accept and adhere to the ASCA Standards of Professional Practice. I am an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist®. I have been involved with the practice of Arboriculture and the care and study of trees since 1998.

Richard J. Gessner

ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist® #496 ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® WE-4341B ISA Tree Risk Assessor Qualified CA Qualified Applicators License QL104230

Copyright

© Copyright 2016, Monarch Consulting Arborists LLC. Other than specific exception granted for copies made by the client for the express uses stated in this report, no parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise without the express, written permission of the author.




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Summary and Background