Tree Removals Will Pause From December 22 – January 2 For The Holidays
HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Parks and Recreation Department, which stewards and manages parkland, greenspace and the urban forest for the City of Houston, released a December status update on the removal of hazardous trees killed by this summer’s unrelenting drought. The hazardous tree removal process began on October 16, 2011, when DRC Emergency Services Company, overseen by HPARD Urban Forestry/Greenspace staff, began the removal of hazardous city trees across Houston. The $4.5 million dollar contract was approved by Houston City Council in October.
Since the hazardous tree removal process began, crews have worked 7 days a week across the city with the exception of a break for the Thanksgiving holiday and weather related stoppages. To date, over 7,000 hazardous trees have been removed from COH parkland, greenspace and esplanades maintained by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
All hazardous trees that are being removed have first been inspected and marked for removal by HPARD’s Forestry/Greenspace Section. A Forestry/Greenspace team member accompanies each DRC crew on a daily basis to supervise removals and insure that only those trees marked by HPARD Forestry/Greenspace staff are removed.
Crews will pause the hazardous tree removal process from December 22 through January 2nd for the holidays. Work will resume across the city on January 3, 2012.
December Hazardous Tree Removal Project Status Report
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As Of December 19, 2011 |
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Keeping safety first in mind, hazardous trees have been and will continue to be removed in the following order:
1) Dead street trees and right-of-way trees that could pose a hazard to traffic and the public
2) Dead park trees that could pose a hazard to people using parks, park trails, and facilities
3) Dead trees within forested parks which could pose a fire danger
The hazardous tree debris will be recycled. Four different products could be produced from the debris, including:
1) Lumber
2) Pulp wood
3) Paper mill chips
4) Biomass – this would produce compost or boiler fuel
All tree removal information will be collected in accordance with F.E.M.A. guidelines in case the opportunity for filing for retrieval of disaster recovery funding becomes available. In addition, DRC will donate 20,000 seedlings at a future date to begin the process of reforesting city greenspace and parkland.
The DRC removal crews will be off in observance of the holidays Thursday, December 22, 2011, through Monday, January 2,2012. Work will resume across the city on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Citizens are advised to report any tree issues during this time frame by calling 311 or online at http://hfdapp.houstontx.gov/311/index.php . HPARD Forestry crews will be on duty to respond to these calls.
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