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2010 Urban Forestry Program Development Grant Establishing the Foundation for a Well Managed Urban Forest Implementation of TreeWorks GIS Based Tree Inventory Software and UFORE Ecosystem Analysis Submitted To: Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation Submitted By: The City of Missoula, MT Parks and Recreation Department ---PAGE BREAK--- Project Description: Describe your project and clearly outline its purpose and goals. The City of Missoula is one of the largest communities in the state of Montana, and with a population increase of 12% since the year 2000 the city is rapidly expanding. As the city grows, so with it grows the size of one of its most valuable natural resources, the urban forest. Within the center of the city, Missoula's urban forest is dominated by an even aged, virtual monoculture of Norway maple trees that are entering the end of their active growing period and moving into senescence. A rapidly increasing number of these maples are moving into a period of irreversible decline, a problem that is only exacerbated by an extended period of drought that has left the valley with below average annual rainfall totals for more than 10 years. The decline of the city's Norway maple population is not the only facet of the urban forest that is currently in jeopardy. Increasing populations of mountain pine beetle (MPB) have decimated ponderosa and lodgepole pine stands statewide, and Missoula is by no means exempt from this problem. Although infestation levels are not currently as visible as other areas of the state, the number of trees showing signs and of MPB infestation is on the rise throughout the Missoula valley. This pest poses a threat not only to trees located in parks and open spaces, but also to host species located on private parcels and in resident's backyards. The City of Missoula Department of Parks and Recreation is requesting grant funding to establish the groundwork for a number of programs that will help city staff and residents minimize the impacts of the aforementioned threats to urban forest health, enhance the current urban forestry program, and allow for development of future green ventures. In order to appropriately manage a resource, an individual or organization must first determine the properties, condition and extent of resource to be managed. To ascertain the desired information the City of Missoula is proposing implementation of TreeWorks (or similar), GIS based tree management software, and conduction of a UFORE ecosystem analysis. The goals of a sound urban forestry program include creation of a safe environment for the public, establishment and maintenance of good forest health, improvement of community wide aesthetic, minimization of infrastructure conflict, implementation of green concepts, public outreach, and facilitation of recreation and leisure activities. Achieving these goals is a complex task that involves significant planning and efficient execution. Currently the City of Missoula's Urban Forestry division does not possess the necessary building blocks to successfully complete these goals. Past efforts to attain higher staffing and budgetary levels have not been successful in Missoula because insufficient information was unavailable to paint the bigger picture for both residents and city council. The stagnant budget and staffing levels, in combination with tree decline and increases in maintained areas has led to an extended period of insufficient management of the urban forest. The addition of TreeWorks urban forest management software, transference of inventory data collected in 2003, and field data updating will be the first steps in developing a sustainable urban forestry program. This software will assist in not only appropriately conveying the needs of the urban forestry division to the pertinent parties, but the inventory and associated management software will facilitate maintenance tracking, planning assistance, and development of future management needs. Access to accurate inventory data will open the potential for a future application of the U.S. Forest service software "Streets" (formerly stratum). The use of this free program enables urban forest managers to assess the dollar value of boulevard trees as they relate to energy conservation, air quality improvement, CO2 sequestration, storm water interception, and increases to property value. ---PAGE BREAK--- Effective use of a comprehensive right of way tree inventory and the associated management tools is only one component of the complete management of Missoula's urban forest. Management software will be a means for conveyance of a portion of relevant information and a tool to efficiently govern day to day operations, but it does not sufficiently represent the needs of the entire urban forest. Execution of a UFORE ecosystem analysis will produce information that is useful not only for day to day operations and fiscal needs of the urban forestry division, but information that provides a snapshot of the health of the entire urban forest. UFORE is an application that was developed by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with private sector entities and professional organizations to help communities ascertain the value of their natural resources in both qualitative and quantitative capacities. When conducting a UFORE analysis, communities evaluate specific attributes of sample plots located in random or stratified random locations throughout the geography of the management area. The analysis incorporates plots sampled on public and private land with local meteorological data to provide valuable data including tree effects on air pollution, greenhouse gases and global warming, and building energy use. The potential applications that result from this program include future green infrastructure analysis, development of MPB management strategies, and a variety of outreach campaigns. The Missoula Parks and Recreation Department is currently in the process of developing an Urban Forestry Task force (UFTF). This group of individuals will act outside of the current Tree Board, and ideally be comprised of state and local forestry/natural resource managers, members of the private sector of forest management, University of Montana staff, and informed residents. The task force will act as an advisory committee designed to help the Urban Forestry Division prioritize management needs and contribute ideas for outreach programs. If possible the UFTF will meet on a basis throughout the duration of the grant execution period to monitor grant progress, develop ideas for outreach projects, and assist the Urban Forester in decision making. The group will ideally remain intact after the grant execution period concludes, but meetings will occur on a less frequent basis. Public opinion and the support of residents will play a key role in the progression toward a healthy urban forest in Missoula. Public sentiment will directly affect the outcome of initiatives undertaken to expand the city's urban forestry program. Incorporation of outreach programs and press releases will play a vital role in adequately informing the public throughout execution of the items proposed in this grant. Under direction of the UFTF it is proposed that Parks and Recreation communication staff generate press releases and informational material for the public keeping them aware of the progress and benefits of the grant throughout execution and after results are calculated. The proposed project will also provide information indicating high risk areas for MPB infestation. The information gathered from these projects would be used to supplement outreach campaigns, press releases and informational programs designed to educate the public about the MPB threat. Ultimately, our goal is to begin the process of building public advocacy for funding the Urban Forest at a level that sustains and grows the forest. Developing an Urban Forestry Program: How will this project help your community develop or improve a sustainable urban forestry program? The lifespan of a forest or more applicably, an urban forest is much greater than that of a human being. The longsighted nature of urban forest management is reliant on the fact that the forest managers have the tools necessary to do their jobs effectively. The proposed items set the table for a long term management plan while at the same time giving the forestry division tools that will make a management ---PAGE BREAK--- difference immediately. The results of the project may also be used to develop a future management plan, assist in planning and development of subdivisions and parks, and serve as a basis for ordinance modification and rewrite. The city of Missoula's urban forest is currently in jeopardy. The even aged monoculture of Norway maple and invasive pest threats, in combination with a lack of increased staffing and frozen budget amounts has led to the under management of the urban forest. The results of the UFORE analysis and data extrapolated from inventory updates will allow Parks and Recreation staff to compile a presentation with concrete support for a substantial budget modification. Well planned outreach, educational presentations, and press releases will help to assure public support. Project Justification: How will this project provide a positive impact on the community? What community needs will be met? The primary goal of any urban forestry program is to assure the safety of the public. Undermanaged urban forests inherently jeopardize this objective. The proposed projects will help to improve public safety by allowing forestry staff to have a better grasp of what potential hazards exist, and where these hazards may be located. Without a functioning inventory that is regularly updated the vast majority of high risk trees go undocumented and often will not be brought to the attention of the forester until a concerned citizen calls to enquire. This reactive approach to forestry is less than ideal and does not sufficiently minimize risks to the public and to the city from a liability standpoint. A complete inventory will not only give forestry staff a comprehensive idea of what high risk trees exist, but it would also assist in justifying the need for increased staffing and contractual funds to abate these hazards as quickly as possible. Regular, cyclic tree pruning and maintenance are also benefits of inventory establishment. The establishment of a regular pruning cycle in the ideal 5-7 year range will also improve the aesthetic value of Missoula's street trees and prolong their viability as they move toward senescence. The effect on tree pruning, removal, and regular maintenance are not the only benefits of an inventory and UFORE analysis to the community. The completion of the items proposed in this narrative will also increase the City of Missoula Urban Forestry Division's capacity to plan the future of the urban forest. Identification of available planting locations throughout the city will allow for proactive planning when considering large scale plantings. The GIS framework that TreeWorks operates in is the perfect system to monitor geographic distribution of annual tree planting and will prove beneficial when considering potential infrastructure and utility conflicts. The notation of available planting locations will also allow forestry staff to establish current boulevard and park tree stocking percentage. Many communities use tree stocking percentage as a measure of planting success and an indicator of what numbers of trees must be installed annually in order to achieve the desired tree canopy coverage. The effects of the proposed project will also reach outside the scope of traditional maintenance forestry, serving as a means for larger planning projects. In recent years a trend for green building and incorporation of green ideas into infrastructure has become a hot button topic across the country. The execution and subsequent results of a UFORE analysis will aid community planning staff by providing the effects of trees on a number of environmental factors and therefore aiding in green infrastructure planning. The results of a UFORE analysis will also benefit the community by providing an idea of total canopy coverage, percentages of a variety of groundcover, and percent hardscape. These types of statistics are beneficial to community planners because they allow for ideal percentages for categories ---PAGE BREAK--- such as percent canopy coverage to be established and thereby providing goals for the community to work toward. The extent of the mountain pine beetle infestation in the Missoula valley is somewhat of a mystery at this point. USFS fly over surveys have indicated that several clusters of standing dead beetle kill exist on both Mount Jumbo and Mount Sentinel. Resident concerns and initial survey work indicates that MPB is located in parks throughout the city. The exact extent of the infestation will always be somewhat illusive, but the completion of a UFORE analysis will provide an estimate of to what extent the problem exists. The query fields in a UFORE survey are somewhat dependent on the information desired by the entity collecting the sample data. The presence of pitch tubes and other MPB indicators can easily be added as fields for data collection and therefore provide a picture of the potential infestation level. An added benefit of a random or stratified random survey is that it will include private property sample plots, thereby providing an idea of current infestation levels as well as infestation potential for private land. This valuable information can be included in an outreach program designed to help educate private land owners about the MPB threat, as well as options for management. Project Personnel: Who will supervise and carry out the project? Please include name, title/qualification, project role, and level of involvement. The various facets of the proposed projects will be carried out by current and proposed parks and recreation staff, consulting/support/technical staff from the developer of TreeWorks software, and volunteer members from the community participating in Urban Forestry Task Force meetings. The personnel and associated project contributions included below will facilitate completion of the proposed project. Ben Carson, City of Missoula Urban Forester: The Urban Forester will assume the lead role in project execution, and will act as the DNRC contact. The forester will be responsible for the following roles/tasks throughout the course of the project: participation in the UFTF, data collection and entry, employee training and task delegation, outreach development, providing updates and presenting project results to administration/elected officials, data submission to USFS for analysis, resident correspondence, and arrangement of consulting services. Donna Gaukler, City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Director: The Parks and Recreation Director will play a guiding role in the smooth progression of the proposed projects. Contributions include: networking, UFTF participation, contribution to the development and presentation of project progress and updates on the results to administration/elected officials, outreach and public relations input, assistance in hiring interns. Rob Thames, City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Superintendent: The Parks and Recreation Superintendant will play a supporting role in the execution of the proposed project. The superintendant will participate in the UFTF, aid in outreach development, assist with intern staffing, and contribute to the development and presentation of project progress and results to administration/elected officials. Becky Goodrich, City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Communications Specialist: The communications specialist will take the lead role in assuring thorough dissemination of information to the public. Press release composition, outreach development and implementation, and resident correspondence ---PAGE BREAK--- document creation will be among this staff member's contributions. Other tools will include brochures, flyers and web. Christopher Gray, Paul Hauns, City of Missoula Arborist Technicians: The arborist technicians will be trained on the use of the inventory software and associated hardware elements. These individuals will conduct data collection and assist in training of attendant/intern positions. City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Forestry Attendant/Intern: The forestry attendant position is currently vacant, but it is a full time seasonal position that will be filled again next spring. The Forestry Attendant will assist in data collection and inventory updating. The forestry intern positions are new positions that are proposed 6 week internships, likely offered to U of M students for the spring semester of 2010. The forestry interns will likely work part time collecting field data and assisting with data entry. City of Missoula Park Operations Receptionist: This position is currently vacant, but when filled the staff member will assist with clerical assistance, dissemination and follow up for varieties of resident correspondence (e.g. clearance for private property) access, data entry. TreeWorks Software (or similar) Support: Jim Flott is the Northwest Region representative for TreeWorks. He, along with a GIS support technician will conduct the initial software installation and training. A programmer from TreeWorks software support will be required for the transfer of previous inventory data. Urban Forestry Task Force members: Please refer to the volunteer section. Do you plan to use volunteers? : If so, how many will be involved? Please include number of adults and youth. What will they do? The members of the City of Missoula Urban Forestry Task Force that are not currently employed by the City of Missoula will be asked to donate their time to fill scheduled meetings. The UFTF will likely contain nine members outside of city staff, all of whom will be adults. Members of the UFTF will assist in prioritization of tasks, networking, development of outreach material, and development of presentations to administration. It is proposed that 6 meetings take place during the grant execution period. Project work plan and schedule: Describe your plan of work and schedule for completing each activity including the project activity and timetable for completion with start and finish dates. Projects must be completed by June 15th, 2010. The following bullets are an estimated timeline for project completion. Parks and Recreation staff is currently working to form the Urban Forestry Task Force Preliminary meetings have occurred to develop an outreach program for mountain pine beetle December-January 2009, 2010 - Installation of TreeWorks and Data transfer would occur. Arborist technicians would spend a portion of this month collecting, updating and checking for data inconsistencies. January – April 2010 – Create randomized or stratified random plot locations for UFORE analysis, and send letters to private property owners to receive clearance. Hire on interns and complete ---PAGE BREAK--- UFORE data collection. Data entry for this portion of the project would occur throughout the course of this timeframe. Press releases and outreach development would occur during this time. April – May 2010 – Complete data entry for UFORE data and submit to USFS for analysis. Intern staff would move to inventory update upon completion of UFORE data collection. May – June 2010 – Create presentation for administration/elected officials using information collected from inventory analysis and UFORE results. Urban Forestry Task Force meetings would be scheduled from January through June. Does your community have a tree board/committee? : Please provide member names and title/qualifications. The City of Missoula currently has a 3 member tree board that exists as a subcommittee of the Missoula Park Board. Members include: Janet Sproull City of Missoula resident for 56 years B.S. Recreation Resource Management and Wildlife Biology, University of Montana Missoula Park Board member Kevin Verlanic City of Missoula resident for 27 years B.S. Range Management, Montana State University Missoula Park Board member Patrick King City of Missoula Resident for 50+ years B.A. History/Political Science, University of Montana Missoula Park Board member Does your community currently have a tree or vegetation ordinance? Please find included copy of Missoula City Ordinance #3043 Amending Chapter 12.32 Missoula Code Entitled "Comprehensive Tree and Shrub, Planting, Pruning, and Maintenance Regulations and corresponding Technical Appendix.