Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/17/2017

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Comprehensive Oak Wilt Management Plan Brookfield 8th April 7, 2017 Capstone Homes has developed a comprehensive Oak Wilt Management Plan in conjunction with a certified Arborist from Precision Tree and Landscaping that will greatly reduce the chance for the disease to spread during our tree clearing process at Brookfield 8th. Currently, we expect to begin tree clearing May 1st, 2017, pending approval of Final Plat by the Ramsey City Council. After an inspection of the property, our arborist encountered sporadic examples of Oak Wilt infected trees within the center of the larger parcel. In the South West of this parcel and the adjacent North part of the smaller parcel, there is an Oak wilt infection center. Here, mortality at the center was almost complete. Our Management Plan includes sanitizing/purging the site of the diseased trees within the silt fence line and processes to limit it's spread. Given the fact that the disease is already on the site and surrounding parcels, expectations for remediation of future infected trees seems unreasonable and therefore is not included in this plan. Every effort will be made to prevent introducing further infection to the area. The process we recommend is as follows: 1) Before any ground clearing is started, Precision Tree and Landscaping will double trench at least 54" deep within the silt fence line identified in the Landscape Plan {Sheet 6 (2-24-17)1. Included in this plan is a copy of the sheet with a green line. This line will be incorporated into the full set of engineering plans upon approval of this Oak Wilt Management Plan. The double trench will break the common root grafts to stop the underground transmission of the pathogen. As identified in the Landscape Plan, all trees will be removed inside the silt fence. There will be no tree removal outside the silt fence on the remaining property. 2) All material removed material will be processed into chips or mulch on site and removed in enclosed containers. 3) During the clearing phase of the operation, we will have at the ready, an arborist or technician who could seal any wound that might occur. A mechanical felling machine will be utilized for this project. A mechanical felling machine will be utilized to cut, lift, and remove trees with minimal (or no) damage to the remaining trees.