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ApprovedHazardTreeRemoval.pdf Shoffner Consulting TH 21529 4 A. W #C31 B, WA 98021 M:(206)755-2871 VEOTHELLOBILE April 3, 2016 Amy Ross 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA 98026 RE: Tree condition evaluations and risk assessments - 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA. Amy: This report is provided to address the trees I recently assessed for condition and risk at your request. Your concerns over the conditions and risk these tree pose to your property were prompted by the recent failure of a single, large western hemlock that impacted your house causing considerable damage. We met recently on your property to discuss you concerns and for you to identify the trees of concern. I revisited your property shortly after our meeting to conduct my evaluations of the trees and label those of concern with numbered metal tags. This report presents the findings of my assessments. 1.0 Site Conditions and History There are eleven trees on the bluff including the following species: ¥ White Fir (Abies concolori) ¥ Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) ¥ Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) ¥ Western hemock (Tsuga heterophylla) The trees of concern are located in front of your house, atop the bluff. They stand well exposed and subject to winds directly off the water out of the south, west and north. Recently, a large western hemlock situated at the northern end of the stand failed and fell onto your house causing considerable damage. The failure of this tree heightened your concerns, prompting you to contact me to evaluate the remaining trees and assess their risk which was a good idea as any time there is a history of failure on a site (particularly when damage to a high value target occurs) there is reasonable cause for concern and potential reason for removal of additional trees that pose a risk. Given the presence of decay within the hemlock that failed, there is the potential, even likelihood, that the other trees are infected with decay to a degree that would pose a high risk. 2.0 Tree Evalution Methods and Results I conducted visual assessments of the trees, observing conditions in the crowns of each as the crown provides much information as to the overall health and vigor of a tree. I also inspected each tree up close to observe conditions of the trunks to identify any defects such as decay. For trees showing symptoms or possessing defects, I took core samples with an increment borer of trees that showed symptoms warranting that level of assessment. Following are the results of my assessments for the four trees identified with tags: # Species Dbh Conditions/Defects of Concern 1 Bigleaf maple 34Æ There is a decay pocket at the base and an extensive decay column up the bole as indicated by a vertical seam in the trunk. The growth from last year is severely stunted and there is a considerable amount of dead limbs. Clearly the decay is affecting the health of this tree. As the decay progresses, the health of the tree will rapidly decline and the strength of its trunk will decrease. This tree is recommended to be removed. 2 Western hemlock 16Æ This tree is rooted with tree #3 (which is recommended to be removed), and with the removal of #3, this tree will be significantly compromised. There is a crook in the trunk of this tree which is a defect representing a weak point in the trunk. It is rooted very near to the tree that failed. This tree is recommended to be removed. 3 Western red cedar 40Æ This tree has multiple leaders at a height of approximately 20 feet. It suffered a significant horizontal fracture near the base from the impact of the failed western hemlock. Such a horizontal fracture greatly weakens the trunk. Significant internal decay was uncovered from borings. This tree is recommended to be removed. 4 White fir 58Æ This very large tree has a very sparse upper crown and significant amount of dead wood resulting in a live crown ratio of no more than 40%. It has multiple tops. For a tree of this size, the symptoms of stress are certainly indicative of its decline and very likely a compromised root system. This tree is recommended to be removed. See the accompanying tree risk assessment forms for each of these trees for reference to this report. The removal of these trees will have no affect upon the remaining trees so long as the stumps are either left in place or ground down to just below the ground surface. 3.0 Use of This Report and Limitations This report is provided to you as a means of addressing the trees of concern located just west of your house.. Natural decline and failure of trees is not predictable, therefore, Shoffner Consulting and Tony Shoffner cannot be held liable for damage resulting from the faiilure of trees recommended to be removed or not to be removed. Cordially, Tony Shoffner ISA Certified Arborist #PN-0909A CTRA #1759 Amy RossApril 3, 2016 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA1 Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)34"85'62' Tony Shoffner CTRA#1759 PN-0909A nono House, parking areas4 Codominant trunk failed at base leaving large scar and decay s to w 45 shallow SigniÐcant decay in trunkTrunk decay likely spreads down into root Ñare. TrunkLarge wound and 85' 34"4 NoneHigh decay at base, approximately 50% of tree is lost Decay at the base of the trunk. The best mitigation option for this tree is removal of the tree.none Amy RossApril 3, 2016 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA2 Western hemlock16"55'35' Tony Shoffner CTRA#1759 PN-0909A nono House, parking areas4 s to w 55 55 shallow SigniÐcant decay in trunkTrunk decay likely spreads down into rootTrunk decay likely spreads down into root Ñare. TrunkRemoval of 55' 16"4 NoneHigh damaged tree #3 will compromise the stability of this tree Removal of damaged tree #3 will compromise the stability of this tree creating sigiÐcant risk. The best mitigation option for this tree is removal of the tree.none Amy RossApril 3, 2016 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA3 Western red cedar40"70'40' Tony Shoffner CTRA#1759 PN-0909A nono House, parking areas4 Failure of western hemlock damaged this tree s to w 55 65 shallow SigniÐcant damage (horizontal crack) SigniÐcant damage (hoizontal crack) resulting from impact of failed tree. resulting from impact of failed tree. TrunkHorizontal crack 55' 16"4 NoneHigh signiÐcantly affects stability of tree. The horizontal crack from the impact of the failed tree is signiÐcant on the surface. It likely spreads deeply into the trunk affecting the tree's stability and strength. The best mitigation option for this tree is removal of the tree.none !is datasheet was produced by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is intended for use by Tree Risk Assessment Quali"ed (TRAQ) arborists Ã 2013 Amy RossApril 3, 2016 16119 73rd Pl. W. Edmonds, WA4 White Ðr58"115'45' Tony Shoffner CTRA#1759 PN-0909A nono House, parking areas4 Failure of western hemlock damaged this tree s to w 40 40 Crown is very sparse with signiÐcant dead wood, indicating tree is in advanced state of decline. shallow TrunkSparse crown and 115 58"4 NoneHigh signiÐcant deadwood indicates decline and potential root decay. The health of this tree is very poor. All symptoms indicate advanced decline. As this tree continues to decline its failure potential increases in kind. The best mitigation option for this tree is removal of the tree.none !is datasheet was produced by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is intended for use by Tree Risk Assessment Quali"ed (TRAQ) arborists Ã 2013 Lien, Kernen From:Amy Andersen Ross <amy@andersenross.com> Sent:Thursday, April 07, 2016 5:21 PM To:Lien, Kernen Subject:Tree removal Attachments:Approval letter.pdf; Ross Tree #1.pdf; Ross Tree #2.pdf; Ross #3.pdf; Ross #4.pdf; 2016-73 Amy Ross.pdf Follow Up Flag:Flag for follow up Flagged Flag Status: Hello, Please find attached the replanting plan, approval letter, arborist report and list of trees to be used: Trees to replant with are two dogwoods, two birch and four weeping willows. 1 Please let me know if you need any additional information. Best, Amy amy andersen ross owner.president amy@andersenross.com www.andersenross.com w.206.605.5554 3