HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree Cutting Request - OT General - 8/5/2020 IFI,LGUT INFORMATION BELOW:
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RECEIVED (Parcel Number)
(Property Owner Name) AUG 0 5 2020 (Signature)
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(Mailing address)
Species (of tree) Disease Structural Defect Roots Exposed Exposed to>50% Windthrow
TREE # 1 Yes / No Yes / No
TREE#2 Yes / No Yes / No
TREE#3 Yes / No Yes / No
TREE#4 Yes / No Yes / No
TREE#5 Yes / No Yes / No
TREE#6 Yes / No Yes / No
If, after reviewing this request, the danger is not apparent to the reviewing County Planner or if the trees are
within 50 feet of a Landslide Hazard Area,you will be required to submit a report or letter prepared by a
professional forester or certified arborist.
If the County determines that one or more of the trees are in a FWHCA buffer or Wetland buffer and do not
meet the definition of danger tree, a Mason Environmental Permit and a Habitat Management Plan will be
required to cut the tree(s). If the County determines that one or more of the trees are in a Landslide Hazard
Area or buffer and do not meet the definition of danger tree, a Mason Environmental Permit and a
Geotechnical Report will be required to cut the tree(s).
Mason County Use Only: Date Received:
Need a report/letter from a certified arborist or forester?: Yes / No If yes, date received:
Approved (#of trees) A_ by(initials)= on �'-CS Zd with the following mitigation required:
Plant native trees (min of 3 years old). �Z (0
❑ Leave tree trunk on ground in the buffer.
Additional:
Denied (#of trees) by (initials) on because l�a`ox'�� O t^
Attachment to"Danger Tree Cutting Request Form"
Tree#1: Identified as Tree#2 in attached Findings Report.
Douglas Fir. Severe root damage from past access development to shoreline.
avy/pronounced lean easterly into property. ^50%roots exposed/removed from past
Dclearing. Exposed to Windthrow. Failure could strike future house and septic system.
Tree#2: Identified as Tree#6 in attached Findings Report.
0� Douglas fir. Poria Werrii (root rot)fungus. Impaired roots(rot)due to fungus. No root
7 exposure. Exposed to windthrow due to fungus. Tree leans easterly into property. Failure could
strike drain field with heavy branching potentially penetrating ground damaging system.
Tree#3: Identified as Tree#10 in attached Findings Report.
Douglas fir. Probable Poria Werrii (root rot) fungus. Impaired roots(rot)due to fungus. No
root exposure. Exposed to windthrow due to fungus. Tree leans easterly into property. Failure
could strike future house and drain field with heavy branching potentially penetrating ground
damaging system.
Tree#4: Identified as Tree#11 in attached Findings Report.
Pacific Madrona. Severe root damage from adjacent parcel clearing. Nearly horizontal
northerly lean across subject parcel. -50% roots exposed/removed from past clearing. Exposed
to Windthrow. Tree presents no danger to future improvements but is likely to fail.
Trees#5: Identified as"Other Trees"in attached Findings Report.
Small understory trees made up of Douglas fir, Red Cedar, Maple and Willow. Primarily locate
between the easterly edge of the large overstory trees within the buffer and an existing clearing.
Rot is present in the Maple. Subject to windthrow and snow/ice damage due to small diameter
stems relative to height of trees. Trees present no threat to future drain field and house.
Remove all the Maple due to rot(1 cluster) and those trees most prone to further/additional
damage from exposure to elements.
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Other Notes:
Request full removal of trunks(trees 1, 2 and 3)from property in a manner that would
minimally disturb the ground and understory vegetation. These trunks when left on the ground
will become "magnets"for carpenter ant colonies once they start to degenerate. Given
proximity to future house they will become pest. Eradication of carpenter ants from within a
home best includes removal of ant colonies outside of home. Stumps would be cut at ground
level and left in place.
Removal of understory trees would include removal of trunks. They contribute no significant
value due to their small size.
Operations within the buffer would be conducted in a manner to prevent/minimize soil and
understory disturbance.
Other mitigation would include planting of ornamental shrubs and/or trees.
Overstory trees within the buffer will need to be continually monitored for progression of Poria
Werrii (root rot). Future removal of trees may be required subject to County approval.
July 28, 2020
RE: Tree inspection Findings Report
To Whom It May Concern:
Rob Hansen requested me to evaluate trees on his property (parcel 12108-43-00120)for their
health and risk of failure lying westerly of a proposed drain field and future home. Site address
560 E Stretch Island Rd S, Grapeview WA 98546.
Note: Future house was not located on property other than a verbal indication. Drain field is
assumed to be located in the middle of the existing clearing with the perk hole pit.
In brief my findings are:
• Root stress comprising thinning foliage, drooping top and/or distress cone crop was
observed to various levels in several Douglas fir on the parcel. No visible cause for the
stress could be seen above ground that could cause this: IE recent ground disturbance
from clearing/digging . . . Poria Werrii (root rot fungus) is very common and active in
this area. It is my opinion that the cause of root stress seen is likely due to this fungus.
Infected trees should be treated as high risk when found surrounding property and/or
frequent high use by people
• Trees 2 and 10 are high risk to the future house. High is defined as the potential of the
tree to fail (in part or more due to root impairment/rot, lean) onto the house foot print.
• Trees 2, 6 and 10 are considered a moderate risk to the future drain field. Moderate is
defined as the potential of the tree to fail (in part or more due to root impairment/rot,
lean) across the drain field with heavier branches potentially penetrating the ground
causing damage to the field. Trees 1, 7, 8 and 9 are considered low risk to the future
drain field. Low risk deviating from moderate in that there is less potential to fail across
the drain field and/or the tops striking the field are not as heavy so less prone to
potentially damaging the field.
• Tree 11 lies in a nearly horizontal position in a northerly direction. Roots damaged from
adjacent parcel clearing. Although it has no risk to property it overhangs the
constructed path down to the water. Recommend its removal.
• Predicting a tree's failure and/or future health is difficult. Infected trees can survive the
Poria Werrii fungus and remain standing or they can easily fail with little to no visible
symptoms. This makes prediction of when and if a tree will fail very difficult. Any
presence of the fungus in a tree that can strike a home, other property or endanger
human activity around it is sufficient cause to remove the tree: if the fungus is present
the risk is high.
Refer to the attached individual tree report detail.
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I am a Professional Forester with 38 years of experience identifying and evaluating defect in
trees. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from the University of
Washington. I have witnessed firsthand the damage caused by tree conditions and defects
discussed in this report. If needed I can meet on site to discuss my findings.
Respectively,
Mark Pentony
Professional Forester
180 E. Vuecrest Drive
Union, WA 98592
360-490-4742
m.f.pentonv@hcc.net
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Tree Number 1
Douglas fir
75' Tall
72' west of proposed drain field, -30' east of break in slope
Tree sits just inside southern property line. Roots have been disturbed at an earlier age by cut
bank from an access path built down to the water. If Poria Werrii is active within this parcel's
trees the roots can be further compromised. Foliage shows some sign of stress with a slightly
drooping top and feathery (thinned) foliage. Tree leans northerly into property.
Perspective: Location of tree is not proximate to any current or known future structures. In
case of root failure tree would likely fall northernly away from any future structures. Tree is a
low risk to the future drain field and no risk to the future house. Stress seen in the tree mimics a
root rot fungus common in Douglas fir in Mason County, Poria Werrii. See discussion at end
pertaining to this fungus and its possible infection of trees within this parcel.
Tree Number 2
Douglas fir
80' Tall
43' west of proposed drain field,-60' east of break in slope
Roots have been disturbed at an earlier age by cut bank from an access path built down to the
water. Tree has a severe lean easterly into property. If Poria Werrii is active within this
parcel's trees the roots can be further compromised.
Perspective: Given the severe easterly lean towards future home and drain field and impacted
root system the tree is of moderate to high risk. Failure of the tree could potentially strike
future home and drain field.
Picture—Tree 2 is on the left. Note the lean to the right.
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Tree Number 3
Red cedar
55' Tall
90' west of proposed drain field, sits on break in slope
Healthy tree with a westerly lean towards the water.
Perspective: Failure of the tree would likely be towards the water. Failure towards the future
drain field and house would have no impact, tree would fall well short of these future
improvements. Tree has no risk to drain field and future house.
Tree Number 4
Madrona
45' Tall
90' west of proposed drain field, sits on break in slope
Healthy tree with a lean towards the water.
Perspective: Failure of the tree would likely be towards the water. Failure towards the future
drain field and house would have no impact, tree would fall well short of these future
improvements. Tree has no risk to drain field and future house.
Tree Number 5
Red cedar
45' Tall
90' west of proposed drain field, sits on break in slope
Healthy tree with a lean towards the water.
Perspective: Failure of the tree would likely be towards the water. Failure towards the future
drain field and house would have no impact, tree would fall well short of these future
improvements. Tree has no risk to drain field and future house.
Tree Number 6
Douglas fir
100' Tall
71' west of proposed drain field,-20' east of break in slope
Foliage shows sign of root stress with a drooping top, feathery (thinning) foliage and distressed
cone crop. Tree leans easterly into property.
Perspective: Failure of tree would likely land on the future drain field but fall short of future
house. Tree is a moderate risk to the future drain field and no risk to the future house. Stress
seen in the tree mimics a root rot fungus common in Douglas fir in Mason County, Poria Werrii.
Picture—Tree 6 is in the middle. Note drooping top and feathery/thinning foliage. Compare its
foliage to that of tree 2 on the left to get a perspective of the thinning foliage.
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Tree Number 7
Douglas fir
102' Tall
84' west of proposed drain field, -10' east of break in slope
Foliage has minimal sign of stress with some feathery foliage. Tree leans Westerly towards the
water.
Perspective: Failure of tree would likely be towards the water away from future improvements.
Tree is a low risk to the future drain field and no risk to the future house Stress seen in the tree
mimics a root rot fungus common in Douglas fir in Mason County, Poria Werrii.
Tree Number 8
Douglas fir
110'Tall
80' west of proposed drain field, sits on break in slope
Tree appears healthy with no easily apparent visible root issues as seen in the nearby trees.
Tree leans westerly towards the water. If the neighboring trees are compromised by Poria
Werrii it is likely this tree would be also with no symptoms readily visible at this time.
Perspective: Failure of tree would likely be towards the water away from future improvements.
Tree is a low risk to the future drain field and to the future house
Tree Number 9
Douglas fir
106'Tall
79' west of proposed drain field, "6' east of break in slope
Tree appears moderately healthy with no easily apparent visible root issues as seen in the
nearby trees. It is difficult to fully see the top of the tree, hard to discern if there are minimal
signs of stress in the top. Tree has no discernable lean. If the neighboring trees are
compromised by Poria Werrii it is likely this tree would be also with no symptoms readily visible
at this time.
Perspective: Tree is a low to risk to the future drain field and to the future house
Tree Number 10
Douglas fir
100' Tall
60' west of proposed drain field, -30' east of break in slope
Tree appears "moderately" healthy with some feathering of the foliage which can be an
indicator of a root issue. Tree leans easterly into property. If the neighboring trees are
compromised by Poria Werrii it is likely this tree would be also with no symptoms readily visible
at this time.
Perspective: Tree is a low to moderate risk to the future drain field and moderate to high risk to
the future house. If tree does fail it could strike the future house.
Picture-Tree 10 is on the right. Note some thinning of foliage compared to tree 2 on the far
left.
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Tree Number 11
Pacific Madrona
50' Tall
82' west of proposed drain field, -20' east of break in slope
Tree has a horizontal to flat lean to the north. Roots damaged from adjacent parcel clearing.
Perspective: Tree has no risk to the future drain field and house Given its near horizontal lean
crossing access to the beach it should be removed before it fails on its own.
Poria Werrii Discussion:
Very common fungus to a great extent of Douglas fir within Mason County. Other conifers are
prone to this fungus also but to a lesser extent than Douglas fir. Fungus causes rot within the
roots and lower boles of the trees. Infected trees readily fail by breaking off at the root collar
due to strength loss from the rot. Visible symptoms include drooping top, thinning foliage,
distressed cone crop. Foliage symptoms generally show in the top portion of the crown which
will work their way down as roots become more compromised. Drooping top and thinning
foliage is due to the trees inability to pull enough water up into the top. Distress cone crop is
an abundance of cones to reproduce before the tree succumbs to the fungus. Infected trees
can survive the fungus and remain standing or they can easily fail with little to no visible
symptoms. This makes prediction of when and if a tree will fail very difficult. Any presence of
the fungus in a tree that can strike a home, other property or endanger human activity around
it is sufficient cause to remove the tree: if the fungus is present the risk is high.
Another key indicator of the fungus' presence is finding failed trees immediately adjacent to or
within other trees. What is not apparent on this site is failed trees within or outside this parcel.
It should be noted that the parcel to the south has been cleared to the break in the slope. It is
possible that the fungus was present in the now cleared trees and stumps which is the source
of the potential infection within this parcel. When an infected tree is removed including the
stump, remnant infected roots remain in the soil were the fungus can survive a very long time.
When a healthy root makes contact with these remnants the fungus passes to the healthy tree.
It is via this root contact that the fungus spreads. If you have an infected tree the immediate
surrounding trees are likely to be infected also even though they do not show any symptoms
yet of the fungus.
With that said, other causes can mimic the symptoms/stress of root rot. Disturbance to the
soil, drought, insect or other disease. This parcel has had no recent disturbances to the soil.
Other disease or insect issues were not seen. Although we have had drought, severe drought
generally will kill the tree quickly without seeing the slower process of the root rot taking place.
Additionally, other neighboring trees would show signs of drought too. Cutting the trees and
removing the stump to inspect for infection is the most definitive way to say with certainty that
Poria Werrii fungus is present in this parcel's trees.
In short: If drooping top, thinning foliage and distress cone crop are present and no other
cause/reason for these symptoms can be seen 1 strongly believe root rot is present.