Attachment_3 _Smugglers_Cove_Evaluation_Report_2015.pdf

Tree Evaluation

Smugglers Cove-Santa Cruz Island

Channel Islands National Park

‘2015’

Prepared For:

Laura Kirn

Chief, Cultural Resources

Channel Islands National Park

1901 Spinnaker Drive

Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 658-5752 laura_kirn@nps.gov.

May 13, 2015

Prepared By:

Edwin Slowik

Certified and Consulting Arborist

Registered Consulting Arborist # 462

ISA Board Certified Master Arborist # WE-0187B

ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

TREECO, Inc.

2100 Goodyear Avenue, Suite # 1

Ventura, CA 93003

(805) 652-0404 treecoventura@att.net • www.treecoventura.com

P15PS02197

Attachment 3 mailto:treecoventura@att.net http://www.treecoventura.com/

Tree Evaluation- Smugglers Cove

Channel Islands National Park, 2015

Edwin Slowik, Certified and Consulting Arborist, Treeco, Inc.

Table of Contents

Smugglers Cove Overview

Tree Evaluation Charts, Observations & Recommendations

Appendix I – Photos A-H, Smugglers Cove Overview

Appendix II – Photographs 1-13

Appendix III – ISA Pruning Guidelines

Appendix IV – Site Map

Appendix V – Assumptions and Limiting Conditions

Appendix VI – Certificate of Performance

Smugglers Cove Overview

On March 28, 2015, I evaluated the Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees around the high use areas at Smugglers Cove, which are adjacent to the beach area and surrounding the restroom.

An overview of the trees at Smugglers Cove can be viewed in Appendix I – Photos

A & B, Summary of Smugglers Cove.

Recommendations for specific trees can be found in the Tree Evaluation Charts on page 6. Photos of the trees listed are in Appendix II – Photographs 1-13.

The tree growing by itself adjacent to the park sign at Smugglers Cove appears to be in good health. (See Appendix II - Photo 1.)

The large Eucalyptus tree growing close to the beach has a relatively thin canopy.

It has a few broken branches hanging up in its canopy that should be removed. No pruning is needed on this tree at the present time. (See Photo 2 & 3.)

One of the Eucalyptus trees at the beach is seeping sap through the bark on one of its heavy branches. This is due to heavy end weight which caused the branch to crack. It is recommended to prune off the heavy end weight. (See Photo 4 & 5.)

A picnic table has been moved under a tree near the beach that has some heavy and large dead branches overhanging the table. This tree should be pruned.

(See Photo 6.)

There is a tall Eucalyptus tree near the restroom at Smugglers Cove. This tree has some heavy end weight branches high up in its canopy that are overhanging the pathway to the restroom. This is the only Eucalyptus tree near the restroom that requires pruning at the present time. (See Photo 7 & 8.)

The row of Eucalyptus trees (growing adjacent to the roadway going up to the

Adobe at Smugglers Cove) are beginning to have many side branches with heavy end weight on the roadway side of their canopies.

It appears that visitors typically walk on the roadway up to this Adobe and do not commonly walk underneath the branches of this row of Eucalyptus trees. It is optional for park management to have these heavy side branches pruned back to relieve weight. (See Photo 9.)

There is one Eucalyptus tree toward the west end of the row that is growing out toward the roadway, on an angle, that has a few heavy branches that should be lightened up. (See Photo 10.)

The three citrus trees growing up by the Adobe should be pruned and fertilized.

These citrus trees would grow healthier if they would receive adequate watering.

(See Photos 11- 13.)

In general most of the trees growing at Smugglers Cove appear to be doing well even though the island has had less than normal rainfall over the past few years.

Smugglers Cove Tree Evaluation Chart

Tree

Number and Type

Relative location

Use under trees

Condition Recommendations Photo

Eucalyptus

At beach, by the sign.

L Good No work needed. 1

At beach overhanging picnic table.

M

Fair. Density, thin, 60 % normal.

Obvious broken branch and some dead branches.

Remove broken hanging branch and dead wood.

2 & 3

2B

South of Tree 2 L

Fair. Sap seeping out of one limb on its south side in the upper canopy.

Prune to relieve weight on limb with sap leaking out.

Relieve weight on all branches that have heavy end weight. Selectively lighten up the entire canopy by 20%.

4 & 5

7A

Southeast of

Tree 7.

L

Fair. One sided canopy leaning over picnic table.

Numerous dead branches and heavy top end weight.

Prune out all dead branches. Prune back the long heavy branches in the upper canopy overhanging the picnic table.

Adjacent to restroom.

H

Good. Some heavy branch ends within the upper canopy overhanging the pathway to the restroom.

Prune all branches that have heavy end weight overhanging the pathway and growing toward the restroom.

7 & 8

Row of

Eucalyptus

Adjacent to roadway up to the

Adobe.

L

Good. Some trees have heavy branch ends growing toward the roadway

Prune back most obvious heavy, long branches growing toward the roadway to relieve the weight.

Smugglers Cove Tree Evaluation Chart

Tree

Number and Type

Relative location

Use under trees

Condition Recommendations Photo

3rd tree from the west end of the row of Eucalyptus.

L

Good. Some heavy branches growing toward the roadway.

Prune the side of the tree growing toward the roadway to remove some weight in the direction of the lean. Prune back long, low branches on the north side of the tree.

Lemon

Trees

Northeast of

Adobe.

L

Fair.

Numerous basal suckers, some dead branches and needs fertilizing.

Deep watering needed.

Prune off all basal suckers and remove dead branches.

Deep root fertilize with a complete fertilizer containing micronutrients.

Surface apply iron supreme fertilizer and water in thoroughly.

11 &

Orange

Tree

Adjacent to the front of the adobe.

L

Fair. Needs deep watering.

Numerous basal suckers, some dead branches and needs fertilizing.

Deep watering needed.

Prune off all basal suckers and remove dead branches.

Deep root fertilize with a complete fertilizer containing micronutrients.

Surface apply iron supreme fertilizer and water in thoroughly.

Appendix I

Smugglers Cove Overview

Photos A & B

Photo A

Overview of some of the Eucalyptus trees near the beach.

View from the roadway down to Smugglers Cove.

Photo B

Overview of the row of Eucalyptus trees, adjacent to the roadway, heading to the Adobe.

View from the roadway down to Smugglers Cove.

Appendix II

Photographs 1- 13

Photo 1: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus - Tree 1

Overall condition is good. No work needed at this time.

Photo 2: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus - Tree 2

This tree's canopy density is about 60% of normal.

All the dead branches and the large hanging, broken branch should be removed.

Photo 3: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus -Tree 2

Close up view of the canopy.

Photo 4: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus -Tree 2B

The arrows indicate heavy branch ends requiring weight relief.

Photo 5: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus –Tree 2B

Arrow is indicating where the sap is leaking out through the bark of the limb.

This is most likely due to limb cracking caused by the heavy end weight.

Photo 6: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus –Tree 7A

This tree is adjacent to Tree 2B.

As indicated by the arrow, Tree 7A has numerous dead branches and heavy top branches overhanging the picnic table

All the dead branches should be removed. All heavy top branch ends require weight relief.

Photo 7: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus –Tree 21

Arrows are indicating some of the heavy branch ends that are overhanging the pathway to the restroom (below the tree).

All the heavy branch ends in the canopy require weight relief.

Photo 8: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus –Tree 21

Close view of the upper canopy.

The arrows indicate heavy branch ends requiring weight relief.

Photo 9: Row of Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus

Some of these trees have heavy side branches growing out in the direction of the roadway going up to the Adobe. Although this is a low use area and most visitors stay on the roadway; it would be prudent to prune back the most obvious heavy branches extending out beyond the overall shape of the trees, as indicated by the arrows.

Photo 10: Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus –Tree 77

Arrows are indicating some of the heavy branches that should be pruned back to help relieve weight in the direction of the tree’s lean.

Photo 11: Lemon Tree

Prune to remove basal suckers and dead branches. Light thin and shape up overall.

Deep root fertilize with a complete fertilizer containing micronutrients.

Water the fertilizer in thoroughly.

Photo 12: Lemon Tree

Prune to remove basal suckers and dead branches. Light thin and shape up overall.

Photo 13: Orange Tree

Tree is in fair condition. Needs deep watering. Prune to remove all the dead branches and remove water sprouts on the lower trunk of the tree.

Appendix III

ISA Pruning Guidelines

ISA Pruning Guidelines

To be followed by Contracted Pruners

1. No more than 25% of live green foliage should be selectively removed from a branch or the entire tree unless recommended.

2. When a branch is cut back to a lateral, the remaining lateral branch must be at least one-third – one-half the diameter of the removed portion;

a. Lion tailing is a poor pruning practice and it is not acceptable.

This practice is when an excessive number of branches that are thinned from the inside and lower part of specific limbs or a tree crown, leaving mostly terminal foliage. This results in poor branch taper, poor wind load distribution, and higher risk of branch failure. (BMP. Tree Pruning Revised 2008)

3. All broken and cracked branches found in the canopy must be removed.

4. All dead branches two inches or greater in diameter must be removed.

5. If the qualified Tree Pruner observes a potential for failure in the canopy of the tree while they are working in, they are expected to use their experience to relieve weight on the problem branch to help prevent failure or remove the entire branch (if needed) back to its attachment or a suitable size lateral branch.

Appendix IV

Site Map of Smugglers Cove (Map not to scale)

Appendix V

Assumptions and Limiting Conditions

Assumptions and Limiting Conditions

1. Any and all legal descriptions provided to the consultant/appraiser are assumed to be true and correct. Any and all ownerships and titles to any property are assumed to be marketable and good. Consultant/appraiser assumes no responsibility for matters legal in character. Any and all property is evaluated and appraised as though free and clear, under responsible ownership and competent management.

2. It is assumed there are no code violations with regard to the subject property, such as ordinances, statutes or other governmental regulations.

3. All data supplied to consultant/appraiser has been obtained by reliable sources and verified as much as possible. The consultant/appraiser takes no responsibility for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the information provided by others and therefore cannot be guaranteed.

4. The consultant/appraiser shall not be required to give testimony or to attend court by reason of this report unless subsequent contractual arrangements are made, including but not limited to, payment of an additional fee for such services as described in the fee schedule and contract of engagement.

5. Unless required by law, possession of this report or a copy thereof does not imply right of publication or use for any purpose by anyone other than the person to whom it is addressed, without the prior expressed written or verbal consent of the consultant/appraiser.

6. Loss or alteration of any part of this report invalidates the entire report.

7. Unless otherwise stated, the report covers only the items that were examined and reflects the condition of those items at the time of inspection. The inspection is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that problems or deficiencies of the plants or property in question may not arise in the future.

Appendix VI

Certificate of Performance

Certificate of Performance

Property Address: Smugglers Cove- Santa Cruz Island

I, EDWIN SLOWIK, certify to the best of my knowledge and belief:

That the statements of fact contained in this report are true and correct; that the report analyses, opinions, and conclusions are limited only to the reported assumptions and limiting conditions, and are my personal, unbiased professional analyses, opinions, and conclusions based on my training and experience;

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

That my compensation is not contingent upon the reporting of a predetermined value or direction in value that favors the cause of the client, the amount of the value estimate, the attainment of stipulated result, or the occurrence of a subsequent event;

That my analyses, opinions, and conclusions were developed, and this report has been prepared, according to current scientific procedures and facts commonly used by certified, consulting arborists as accepted arboricultural practices;

That I have made a personal inspection of the plant/plants that are the subject of this report;

That no one provided significant professional assistance to the person signing this report;

I further certify that I am a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists, and I am an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist. I have been involved in the practice of arboriculture and the care and study of trees for over 21 years.

Edwin Slowik- ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist

May 13, 2015

Date of Signature