Report - Environmental Study_Tree Inventory_Sch A_Hwy-385.pdf

Tree Inventory

LANDSLIDE AND ROAD DAMAGE

EVALUATION AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS

PROJECT – PR-5568 - KM 0.80

Corozal, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway Authority # ER-HWY-385

Submitted to:

Eng. Rafael Rosa Castro

Torres – Rosa Consulting Engineers

PO Box 9023763

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3763

Submitted by:

Héctor E. Quintero Vilella Ph.D., Ecology

PO Box 5100 - 61

San Germán, Puerto Rico 00683

Tel.(787) 487-5204

E-mail: hequintero@yahoo.com

December, 2018

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

Table of Contents

Page

1.0 Introduction 3

1.1 Location of Study Area 3

2.0 Methods 5

3.0 Results 5

4.0 Mitigation 7

5.0 Planting Plan 8

5.1 Species 9

5.2 Planting Details 10

5.3 Maintenance Plan 10

6.0 References 13

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

1.0 Introduction

This report covers the results of a tree inventory needed to comply with the possible environmental effect of a proposed project to restore highway PR-5568 at KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico. This is project number

ER-HWY-385 of the Puerto Rico Highway Authority.

1.1 Location

The study area is located on highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 in the municipality of Corozal, Puerto Rico, See

Figure 1A. Figure 2A presents an aerial view of the study site. The site area is 4,600 Sq. M.

Figure 1. Topographic map of the study area, from USGS Corozal Quadrangle.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

Figure 2. Aerial photo of study site.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

2.0 Methods

Field work was conducted on November 23, 24 and 26, 2018. All the trees with a DBH ≥ 4.0 inches within the study area were identified. If any plant could not be identified in the field, portions of a single specimen were collected for later identification at the laboratory. Plant nomenclature follows Liogier and

Martorell (2000). Each tree was identified with a number, the DBH and height was measured, the GPS coordinates were obtained and general observations of conditions and other features were tabulated.

3.0 Results

Figure 1 presents a map with the trees found on the study site. Table 1 presents the results of the tree inventory at the study site.

Table 1. Tree species with a DBH ≥ 4.0 inches found at the study site.

# Common name Scientific name Location N/W DBH Height Condition Action

1 Bambú Bambusa vulgaris 18.311712° 4” 25’ Healthy Cut 66.349049°

2 Guaba Inga vera 18.311789° 7” 15’ Healthy Cut 66.349030°

3 Bambú Bambusa vulgaris 18.311757° 4” 25’ Healthy Cut 66.348954°

4 Cieneguillo Myrcia deflexa 18.311985° 8” 15’ Healthy Cut 66.349099°

5 Guaba Inga vera 18.312184° 15” 25’ Healthy Cut 66.349067° 6 Bambú Bambusa vulgaris 18.312177° 4” 25’ Healthy Cut 66.348864°

7 Guaba Inga vera 18.312218° 12” 25’ Healthy Cut 66.348827° 8 Hoja menuda Myrcia splendens 18.312281° 9” 15 Healthy Cut 66.348774

9 Cafeillo Casearia sylvestris 18.312204° 5” 15’ Healthy Cut 66.349003°

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

Figure 3. Location of trees found in the study area.

Figure 4. Tree 1. Figure 5. Tree 2. Figure 6. Tree 4.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

Figure 7. Tree 5. Figure 8. Tree 7, cover with vines. Figure 9. Tree 8.

4.0 Mitigation

Section 47.5.2 of the OGPe requirements to mitigate trees that will be impacted by the construction of a project indicates that:

A. Two (2) trees should be planted for each tree with a DBH of 4” or more.

B. Three (3) trees should be planted for each tree with a DBH of 24” or more.

C. Four (4) trees should be planted for each tree with a DBH of 40” or more.

The following tables indicates the quantity of trees in each size category and the quantity needed to mitigate the impact in each alternative.

DBH more than Quantity X Total to Mitigate

4” 9 2 18

24” 0 3 0

40” 0 4 0

Total number of trees 9 18

The 18 trees could be mitigated by monetary compensation as delimited in OGPe new Permits

Regulations section 47.10.2.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

5.0 Planting Plan

If the option of planting the 18 trees to mitigate the impact of the proposed project is selected a planting plan must follow the new requirements of the OGPe regulations in Section 47.7. The trees should be planted along the proposed project. The planting standards specified are:

A. Every tree that will be planted most be at least six feet (6‘) in height and shall reach the size of a tree small, medium or large as adults.

B. At the time of planting, the tree must have the following characteristics:

1. The foliage will be distributed in two-thirds (2/3) parts of the tree and not only in its upper section, except for the palms.

2. The tree should have a main stem without damage caused by tools or other objects.

3. The foliage most be green and free of insects or disease.

4. The root system of the tree will be in the form of ball, protected from dryness.

C. For social interest projects, the trees most have a minimum height of four (4 ") ft. and 50% can be shrubs. Three (3) shrubs can be planted to substitute each tree required for planting.

D. The species to be selected will have the following proportions:

1. A maximum of twelve percent (12%) of palms trees, at least ten percent (10%) of the species are those that provide food for wildlife, 60% of native and endemic species and lastly, exotic.

2. Species that provide food for wildlife will be selected from the list included in Law 97 of June 24, 1998, better known as the Law to Promote Planting Tree Species whose Fruit or Seeds Provide Food to Wild Birds of Puerto Rico.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

5.1 Species

If planting the 18 species to mitigate the impact is selected as an alternative the recommended species are presented in table 2.

Table 2. Recommended species for mitigation.

Common

Name Scientific Name Quantity

Planting

Spacing Size Native/Exotic

Food

Source

Péndula Citharexylum fruticosum 2 10’ 5’ N X

Palma real Roystonea borinquena 2 10’ 5’ N X

Roble blanco Tabebuia heterophylla 2 10’ 5’ N X

Moca Andira inermis 2 10’ 5’ N X

Maga Thespesia grandiflora 4 10’ 5’ N X

Maricao Byrsonima spicata 2 10’ 5’ N X

Yagrumo hembra

Cecropia schreberiana 4 10’ 5’ N X

5.2 Planting Details

Common silvicultural practices indicate if trees should be planted at a distance of 10’ from each other.

The trees should be planted along the highway after the construction is finished. They can be also planted along the Casio River and the unnamed creek to the south.

Planting design.

Section 47.8 of the OGPe new Permit Regulations present some conditions that must be followed when planting trees for mitigation. These are:

a. No trees will be planted within 30´ of road intersections.

b. No trees will be planted within 10´ of a fire hydrant.

c. Trees will be planted at least 10´ away from any structures, in this case roads and streets.

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

d. No tree will be planted at least 15´ feet from power lines considering the adult height of the tree.

e. No tree will be planted above underground energy infrastructure.

All measures presented in section 47.9 of the OGPe new Permit Regulations to protect existing trees will be considered.

Planting details.

5.3 Maintenance Plan

A. Watering

The key to newly planted tree survival is providing adequate water. Although the first 3 years are most critical, a tree's watering needs should be maintained for life. Initially, a newly planted tree needs to be properly watered with an adequate amount to pack the soil, to remove root-drying air and to moisten the root ball. On adequately draining soils, 5 gallons of initial water should be enough. Fast draining soils may need more frequent watering than a slow draining soil.

Year 1 - 3: It is most critical to provide adequate water during the annual growing season, between late spring and autumn. Year 4 and after: You can relax a bit on tree watering in later years but water may be needed during long periods of drought.

http://forestry.about.com/od/treephysiology/p/tree_water.htm http://forestry.about.com/od/treeandforestcare/ss/tree_drought.htm

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

B. Mulching and Fertilizing

Mulching a newly planted tree ensures that moisture is available to roots over time and reduces grass competition. A good mulch (organic materials like leaves, bark, needles and fine wood chips) should ring the tree base (over the critical root zone) but never touch the tree. No fertilizer is necessary when quality composted mulch is used.

Year 1 - 3: Maintain the mulch level with no more than 4 inches of material over the roots (the wider the better) but not touching the tree. Year 4 and after: Avoid using nitrogen fertilizers - use complete fertilizers only after a soil test.

C. Cleaning the Root Collar

Roots that encircle the trunk at the root collar can cause tree health and safety problems. A tree's root collar is its transition zone between stem and root at the ground line. Proper planting depth can go a long way toward keeping the root collar clean and free of encircling roots. Year 1 - 3: Proper planting and mulching will go a long way toward solving most root collar problems. The first several years of growth after planting is when tree collar problems develop, exposed the collar by removing soil and mulch. Over fertilization can speed up the process and make the condition worse. Year 4 and after: Revisit and check the root collar every 4 years.

D. Inspecting

This conditions should be inspected: (1) is the current year's growth much less than past years' growth?

Although fast growth does not necessarily mean good health, a dramatic reduction in growth rate may be an indication of poor health. (2) Are there dead limbs, odd colors on leaves and bark or a patchy crown?

These tree symptoms can be the first indicators that a tree is unhealthy and should be inspected in detail.

E. Pruning

Only prune critical branches should be pruned. Critical branches are those that are either dead or broken.

Another approach is to remove multiple leaders and only leave one central stem. It may be best to postpone pruning to avoid transplanting shock due to loss of leaves.

Year 1 - 3: Prune only critical branches or to eliminate extra leaders in the tree's first year, prune lightly in Year 2 or 3. Year 4 and after: Prune the tree for form and function every three years.

http://forestry.about.com/od/arboriculture/ht/mulchatree.htm http://forestry.about.com/od/arboriculture/ss/vert_mulch.htm http://forestry.about.com/od/arboriculture/a/How-To-Spot-A-Dangerous-Tree.htm http://forestry.about.com/od/arboriculture/ht/transplant.htm http://forestry.about.com/od/silviculture/p/fertilizing.htm

Tree Inventory Landslide and Road Damage Evaluation and Repair Recommendation

Highway PR-5568 KM 0.8 Corozal, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Highway Authority Project # ER-HWY-385

6.0 References

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2003. Bejucos y Plantas Trepadoras de Puerto Rico e Islas Vírgenes. Smithsonian

Institution U.S. National Herbarium. Natl. Museum of Natural History. MRC-166, Washington, DC 20560, USA. 491p

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 1996. Flora of St. John U.S. Virgin Islands. Bronx, New York: The New York

Botanical Garden. 581 p.

Ewel, J. S. and J. L. Whitmore. 1973 Ecological Life Zones of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

USDA – Forest Serv. Res. Paper ITF-18. 72 p.

Liogier, H.A. 1985. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands, Vol 1. Río Piedras, PR:

Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 357 p.

Liogier, H.A. 1988. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands, Vol 2. Río Piedras, PR:

Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 481 p.

Liogier, H.A. 1991. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands, Vol 3. Río Piedras, PR:

Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 461 p.

Liogier, H.A. 1995. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands, Vol 4. Río Piedras, PR:

Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 617 p.

Liogier, H.A. 1997. Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands, Vol 5. Río Piedras, PR:

Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 436 p.

Liogier, H.A., and L.F. Martorell. 2000. Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: A Systematic

Synopsis. San Juan, PR: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 382 p.

Little, E. L., F. H. Wadsworth y J. Marrero. 1977. Árboles Comunes de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes.

Editorial Universitaria, UPR, Río Piedras, P.R. 731pp.

Más, E. G. & M. de L. Lugo-Torres. 2013. Malezas Comunes en Puerto Rico & Islas Vírgenes

Americanas/Common Weeds in Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands. Universidad de Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez/Mayagüez Campus. USDA

Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales. Natural ResourcesConservation Service.

Área del Caribe/ Caribbean Area

Más E. G. y O. García Molinari, 1990. Guía Ilustrada de Yerbas Comunes en PuertoRico. U.P.R.- R.U.M.

Servicio de Extensión Agrícola, Mayagüez, PR. 103pg

Más, E.G. 1994. Caribbean Area Grasses: Identification Field Guide. 113pg. Soil Conservation Service, San Juan, Puerto Rico.