Your PUD News Release
Hazardous trees to be removed from seven PUD parks for public safety
Chelan County PUD
News Release
1/11/2010
A number of larger trees that have been identified as safety hazards will be removed in the next 60 days from seven parks operated by Chelan County PUD along the Columbia River and near Chelan. Removal may require short closures of portions of the Apple Capital Loop Trail while crews do their work, and hazardous areas will be marked.
PUD commissioners were told Monday afternoon that a recent safety assessment by Community Forestry Consultants, Inc., of Spokane identified 15 trees that are at the highest level of hazard, another 14 that are slightly less hazardous and another 22 that should also be seriously considered for removal. The study was requested after a large limb fell from a tree at Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park last summer. Parks evaluated include Riverfront Park and Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee, Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park in Douglas County, and Beebe Bridge Park, Powerhouse Park, Chelan Falls Park and Chelan Riverwalk Park, all in the Chelan area.
The 51 problem trees consist of black cottonwood, silver maple, Siberian elm, black locust, weeping willow and poplars. Almost all are naturally occurring trees that either existed when the parks were built or have grown up during the 20-plus years that most of the parks have existed. Parks staff estimate there are thousands of trees of varying sizes in the parks.
Community Forestry Consultants examined 206 trees whose trunks were at least 10 inches in diameter and recommended that 51 either be removed immediately or put on a timeline for eventual removal. PUD parks staff began visiting each tree Monday to establish a priority list for the work. Parks crews may be able to remove some of the trees and will begin Tuesday. The PUD also has a contracted tree-removal company that will do work that is too big for PUD staff to handle. Some of the trees are more than 50 inches in diameter.
Chelan PUD periodically removes trees that are considered hazardous as part of protecting public safety and minimizing liability risk for the utility. The last time was in March 2008 when approximately 25 trees were taken from an area of Confluence State Park.
Shared Services Director Steve Currit told PUD commissioners that the parks staff will be developing a plan for future plantings in the parks based on the changing use patterns that are emerging with increasing development in some areas, especially the Wenatchee riverfront. It’s possible some trees will be replaced with varieties more suited for the area.
PUD staff estimated the work can be done for less than $50,000, money that is already in the budget.
In other action Monday, commissioners:
- Took no action on a request from Chelan Mayor Bob Goedde and Chelan City Administrator James Reinbold to postpone action related to docks near Water Street along the south shore of Lake Chelan. The city wanted a delay until a Chelan County Shoreline Master Plan could be updated, but that may have required more than a year. Instead, PUD staff will be free to grant permits to several privately owned docks in the area under new provisions adopted by the PUD in 2008. The new permits increase the fees to match market rates for docks that are located on PUD land. Several shoreline residents of the area attended the meeting and thanked PUD commissioners for allowing the private dock permits to move ahead.
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The next regular commission meeting is at 1p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org