Cd'A's urban forester shares tips for caring for damaged trees

The windstorm that ravaged the region on Tuesday toppled an estimated 145 trees in Coeur d’Alene alone and adversely impacted the health of dozens of others. Severe weather can have a lasting impact on our community trees. Here are some tips from the city’s urban forester for tending to trees after a storm:

Safety first. Damaged trees are often in contact with utility lines, creating a dangerous situation. Do not perform any tree work, or get near downed powerlines. To report a tree on utility lines or lines that are down, call Avista Utilities at 800-227-9187 or Kootenai Electric at 765-1200.

Take responsibility. Property owners are responsible for the care of the trees growing on their property and within the public rights-of-way. When a fallen tree is blocking a public street, contact the Parks Department 769-2252, or Street Department, 769-2233.

Procure a permit. City ordinances require a permit through the Parks Department to work on trees. Permits are free and come with helpful information.

Seek a licensed tree service. Only tree services that are city-licensed are authorized to work on trees growing within the public rights-of-way in Coeur d’Alene.

Having storm damaged branches pruned out and subsequent follow up work can significantly extend the life of trees and ensure public safety. In some cases however, tree removal may be necessary. Tree removal requests generally go through the city’s Urban Forestry Committee, but after severe storms and depending on the extent of damage, the urban forester may permit tree removal for safety purposes after inspection.

For more information, contact the city’s urban forester at 769-2266.