Ames city forester says tree health is all about diversity – Ames Tribune

An urban forest is a fluctuating community in itself.

Ames Forester Gabriele Edwards helps the local forest thrive, but she's in need of support from the city's residents.

A vast community of trees, like that in Ames, requires regular pruning to maintain its health. The local tree inventory is massive, and the forestry team isn't always aware of issues. Teamwork is the easiest solution.

"Our number one issues is safety," Edwards said.

Like a community of trees connected by their roots and the soil, Edwards asks residents to speak up before it's too late. There are always improvements to be made, trees to be removed and branches in need of cutting back.

"When people have an idea or see things or an interesting program or have a thought to share, please reach out. I appreciate that feedback and partnership," Edwards said. "I know I don't have all of the answers."

Edwards is Ames' second forester. The city has employed a dedicated arborist since 2018. The newest forester took over her position last August.

Few cities in the state have a dedicated forester, Edwards said. Other towns in Iowa with a forester, also known as an arborist, on staff include: Iowa City, Burlington, Decorah, Hiawatha, Des Moines, West Des Moines and Marion.

Edwards' role as forester aims at rejuvenation as well as maintenance of the area's forest and tree population. Without her, the lovely community that has accented the Ames landscape for decades could quickly dwindle.

"Managing and planning the urban forest is a critical component to a healthy community," Edwards said. "I see trees as important as any other infrastructure like clean water, clean air, roadways and parks. The one thing that connects all of these is trees."

Her work focuses on species diversity in the urban canopy as a way to avoid catastrophic depletion from disease and pests.

In 2013, Ames' canopy survey indicated 26% of the trees were maple and 16% were ash.

Edwards hopes to grow that population after recently initiating the planting of 340 additional trees across town in a shade over eight months.

With that in mind, Edwards almost never relies on any maple species when preparing for plantings, and certainly not ash since the Emerald Ash Borer infiltrated the US. Last fall, she directed the addition of 160 trees and another 180 this spring. She focuses on roughly 15 different species including oaks, native species, hackberry, hickory, sycamore, hornbeam, redbud, plum and serviceberry.

Edwards' main responsibilities as forester include overseeing trees in street right-of-ways as well as in the many city parks. Right-of-way property is an easement of the land between a sidewalk and the curb of a street. If there is no sidewalk, Edwards clarified that last 10 to 15 feet of a front yard next to the street is actually a public right-of-way easement owned by the city, not by the private homeowner.

She and her team are in the midst of a five-year cycle inspecting trees throughout town the city's public parks and in all right-of-ways. The department attacks the massive undertaking by splitting Ames into 29 different zones for inspections.

If trees require pruning or need to be taken down, the responsibility falls on the city and Edwards' team.

The forestry team inspected 996 trees during the winter months. But because they monitor the trees once every five years, Edwards says she needs help. The forester asks residents to reach out to her when they notice a tree in need of care.

She looks for branches hanging over sidewalks, roadways and structures. She also considers whether each branch should still be there in five years.

"Younger trees are deceptive in the say they grow," Edwards said. "When a branch is created, it doesn't stretch up away from the ground as the tree ages. That early branch, perhaps two feet off the ground, will always be just two feet off the ground.

The process is different from the growth of human limbs, she said. The branches remain stationary no matter how tall the tree becomes.

She said it might be fine for some trees to have branches just four or five feet off of the ground. But not if that tree is next to a sidewalk or roadway.

Edwards also said a well-structured tree has one primary leader trunk going straight up. If homeowners aren't careful they'll end up with co-dominate leaders, meaning a "V" shaped divergence in the tree trunk appears and weakens the structure.

Another reason for pruning is if the branches are crossed and rubbing each against other, or if a branch has a structurally unsound joint.

All of those issues, a missing primary leader, rubbing branches and weak joints can cause a tree to fall over or cause a heavy branch to fall, which could not only destroy property, but could prove fatal to people passing by.

The city has guidelines for what kinds of trees can be planted on the right-of-ways. Ames also has a rebate program to help encourage citizens to plant and grow trees. The rebate is for a specific approved list of native trees. It is available for a maximum of $75 per tree as well as two trees per year. Rebate information and forms can be found at the city's Smart Watersheds website.

Ames recently announced receiving a $10,000 Tree Planting Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The funds are designated for communities still recovering from the August 2020 derecho and tree loss from the Emerald Ash Borer.

The grant will be used to plant 75 trees in the Toronto Street neighborhood.

The city invites volunteers to join the parks and recreation department as well as the Ames Foundation from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 20 to help plant trees. Volunteer signup is available on the Ames Foundation website. Residents will meet at the corner of Toronto Street and Alberta Avenue.

Next week's planting is just one small step in Edwards' overall growth plan.

"I have big dreams for Ames," Edwards said. "I'd like to improve communication and share the benefits of trees. Like new research showing the mental health benefits and physical well-being of having more trees. Research finds that communities with a high level of tree canopy have a lower incidence of police calls and a lower incidence of domestic violence."

One of her most recent projects has been to salvage trees in need of removal.

She recently identified 85 trees that required pruning in Brookside Park. Four trees were also removed two of those were dead while another was split in a storm. Two of those 85 trees are being transitioned for alternative use. A black walnut struck by lightning is being carved by a chainsaw artist. Another tree, a silver maple, had it's canopy removed but the trunk remained.

"We took out the hazardous canopy over the trail but kept the trunk for wildlife habitat," Edwards said. "We are very deliberate, trying our hardest to create unique solutions and provide for wildlife needs."

The urban forest of Ames is in good hands with Edwards at the helm.

Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowafor the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.

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Ames city forester says tree health is all about diversity - Ames Tribune