CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

STATE OF THE FOREST

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15
Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 1

Mike Branson
City Forester
March 2, 2015

What Carmels Urban Forest Provides to Our Community

Upper canopy trees impart a distinctive ambiance and identity to the City.
Living in a pine forest with a mix of upper and lower canopy trees establishes
a powerful sense of place.
Trees establish visual harmony and continuity along City streets. The
pleasure of walking, a large part of the Carmel experience is enhanced
by the sheltering canopy of trees over meandering streets.

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 2

Trees soften and screen urban development. Combined with good planning
and design, treesblend diverse structures with a green unity that adds a
natural dimension to the Citys development over time.
Trees enhance peoples sense of connection to nature and history. Since
trees, like people, grow and change through time, we identify with them
and since they often live longer than us, they link us to times beyond our
own, spanning past and future generations.

Forest Management Plan

First Plan completed in 1966

Current Plan Adopted 2004
Appendix to the Carmel-by-the-Sea General Plan
2014 City Council Initiative for Implementation

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 3

G9-13

Preserve and enhance the Citys legacy of an urbanized

forest of predominantly Monterey pine, coast live oak and
Monterey cypress.

O9-35

Maintain a Forest and Beach Commission and a Forest, Parks and

Beach Department that have specific responsibility and
jurisdiction for the health and well being of the forest, parks and
beach.

P9-211 Maintain restore and enhance a predominantly indigenous forest

of native Monterey pines and coast live oaks.
O9-41

Educate and involve the public in tree issues.

CHALLENGES TO THE FOREST

Development
Space
Age
Climate
- short term
- long term
Pests and Diseases
Attitudes

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 4

MANAGING THE FOREST

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 5

Resources:
Staff
1 - City Forester, Mike B.
1 - Tree Care Specialist, Kelley G.
1 - Forest Care Worker (half-time), Kimberly M.
1 - Public Services Worker (currently assigned), Mike F.
Funding
General fund
Deposit account
Contractors
Very useful and effective
Specialized equipment
Support Group & Volunteers
Friends of Carmel Forest
Grants
Project oriented

MANGING THE FOREST

Education/Outreach

Staff Consultations
Arbor Day
Educational Flyers, Advertisements, and Documents
Workshops
City Web Site
FOCF Events

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 6

The Benefits of Trees

Trees are a vital part of the Carmel-by-the-Sea community. They produce oxygen, reduce pollution
from soil erosion and runoff, add beauty, increase property value, give shade, and habitat for birds and
wildlife. Trees provide the following:

Absorb carbon dioxide, counteracting the global greenhouse effect. Photosynthesis fixes carbon in a tree where it stays as

long as the tree lives. An average tree captures nearly half a ton of carbon dioxide over the first 30 years of its life.

Reduce soil erosion and urban runoff pollutants from entering storm drains which lead straight to the bay.
Block wind. A grove of trees will cut a 20mph wind to 5mph.
Oxygen production for the planet which is vital for all living creatures.
Refuge and habitat for birds and other wildlife. Upper canopy trees shelter and protect the environment

of native understory trees and vegetation. Coastal fog condenses on the foliage and limbs of the upper canopy
trees and then drips to the ground providing moisture to the understory.
Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15
Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 7

Diffuse noise. Dense foliage blocks the sound of traffic and neighborhoods.
Add visual harmony and a sense of connection to nature and lifetime. The pleasure of exploring Carmel is enhanced
by the canopy of trees over the meandering streets and homes. Trees, like people, grow and change through
time and are often planted to mark significant milestones such as the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one.

Yards are improved and property value increases from 7 to 20 percent. Properly maintained trees are identified
in California surveys as a desired amenity in home sales.

For more information go to: http://ci.carmel.ca.us/carmel/

UC Davis Integrated Pest Management: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
Text: Mike Branson, City Forester & Maris Sidenstecker, Consultant Photo: Becky McFarland

MANGING THE FOREST

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 8

Operations and Processes

Tree Removals public & private
Replacement Tree Monitoring
Stump Removals
CBD issues
Planting and Growing
CBD issues, in-house tree propagation
Watering and Care
time to establishment and carryover
Tree Pruning
health, future, risk management, utilities
Planning and Building
tree protection, site assessments, plan checks,
project review and finals inspections

Remove Tree
dead, hazard,
other
Grow to Maturity
contribute to
the forest

Remove Stump 30 to 100 days

depending on
location

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 9

Maintain Tree
pruning, other
care as required

Plant Tree tree

type, tree well,
plant and stake

Monitor Tree ,
watering, address
problems, replace
if needed

Water Tree
once a week, 15
to 20 minutes

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 10

Forest Composition
Forest Inventory Data
Collection since 1974
City collected data until 2005
Friends of Carmel Forest
volunteers have collected data
since 2006
Used for identifying trends

PUBLIC FOREST COMPOSITION 1981-1984

OTHER
11%

REDWOOD 1%
CYPRESS

ACACIA

5%

8%

43%

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
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32%
OAK

PINE

PUBLIC FOREST COMPOSITION 1993 - 1996

OTHER, 14%
REDWOOD, 1%
CYPRESS, 4%

ACACIA, 8%

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 12

OAK, 38%

PINE, 34%

PUBLIC FOREST COMPOSITION 2001-2004

OTHER
15%
REDWOOD
2%
PINE
34%
CYPRESS
7%
ACACIA
6%

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
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OAK
36%

PUBLIC FOREST COMPOSITION 2009 - 2012

OTHER, 14%

PINE, 28%

REDWOOD, 3%

CYPRESS, 7%

ACACIA, 6%
Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15
Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 14

OAK, 42%

PERCENTAGE OF PINES PER INVENTORY CYCLE

50%
45%

43%
39%

40%

39%
34%

35%

35%

1981-84

34%
30%

30%

28%

1985-88
1989-92

25%

1993-96

20%

1997-00
2001-04

15%

2005-08

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
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10%
5%
0%

2009-12
3958
9190

4026
10314

4043
10363

4230
12291

3872
11097

PUBLIC PINES

3096
9153

2692
8881

2513
8992

PINE POPULATION BY DIAMETER CLASS

700
600
500
400

2001 -04
2005 - 08

300

2009 - 12

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
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200
100
0

1" - 6"

7" - 12" 13" - 18" 19" - 24" 25" - 30" 31" - 36" 37" - 42"

43" +

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Agenda Item: Work Study Session
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GOALS FOR 2015 (and beyond)

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 27

FMP Implementation
Increase Resources for FPB Programs:
Additional Tree Care Specialist
Forest Care Worker full time
Maintenance Worker for beach
Support Vehicles and Equipment
Planting 125 150 trees
Data Collection and Evaluation

GOALS FOR 2015 (and beyond)

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 28

Increase Funding to Support:

Timely Removal of Dead Trees and
Stumps
Increased Safety and Structural
Pruning
Review and Revise the City Tree List
Dedicated Funding Source

GOALS FOR 2015 (and beyond)

Council Meeting Date: 3/2/15

Agenda Item: Work Study Session
Page 29

Enhance Outreach and Accessibility

Carmel City Web Site
Advertisements / Flyers
Workshops and Events
Contractor Seminars
Tree and Landscape
Developers and Builders