Seaview residents are in uproar after a much-loved, 150-year-old oak tree was cut down on the orders of one of the worlds best-known private schools.

The oak tree stood on land next to the public footpath which overlooks Seagrove Bay and St Helens Fort and is known to locals as the Donkey Field, as it used to house donkeys.

Owned by Eton CollegeThe land, which used to be part of the Seagrove Estate, is now owned by Eton College, the exclusive school that includes the current Prime Minister Boris Johnson, past PM David Cameron, Princes William and Harry and film stars Hugh Laurie and Dominic West among its old boys.

After the removal of the tree in September, residents have sprung into action to stop other trees on the field being taken down.

Save the Donkey Field campaign A campaign group called Save the Donkey Field has been started to oppose any potential development being proposed and preserve the iconic view as it is under threat.

A spokesperson for the group said,

Local residents are both upset and dismayed at what they see as the wanton, unnecessary, destruction of those trees.

No planning application has yet been made let alone granted. Tree preservation orders have now been obtained on an expedited basis to prevent Eton from felling any other tree in the field.

For more information or to get involved with the campaign, you can visit the campaign Website.

IWC: No offence was committedThe group had questioned whether the felling of the tree was legal, but the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed as the tree was on private land and it has no evidence to suggest otherwise, no offence was committed.

A spokesperson for the council said,

Following requests from local people and an assessment of the location, a tree preservation order was made which protects some of the other trees in that area.

In general, the order does not prevent planning applications from being made on land, but the protection of the trees will ensure that they are part of the planning discussion if an application to develop the site is received in the future.

Site deemed deliverable for up to 12 houses Asset manager of the land for the trustees of Eton College, Camilla Capaldi, of Clearbell, confirmed the site was deemed deliverable for up to 12 houses as a result of the councils strategic housing land availability assessment process.

Pre-application proposal for low-density residential schemeMs Capaldi said the oak trees removal was to facilitate access to the site and landscaping proposed as part of the housing plan would incorporate the planting of a good number of trees including native oaks.

She said,

We have submitted a pre-application proposal and taken on board comments from the council as to the type of development they would like to see here, with the ultimate intention of submitting an application for a low-density residential scheme in due course.

This article is from the BBCs LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may be been made by OnTheWight. Ed

More here:
Local uproar as Eton College cuts down 150-year-old oak tree to make way for possible housing development - On The Wight

Retired South Lake Tahoe city manager David Jinkens talks about the need for fire mitigation on Oct. 15, 2020. Reno Gazette Journal

Former South Lake Tahoe City Manager David Jinkens remembers when the 2007 Angora Fire blazed through the region and hes worried that state and federally-managed lands in the Tahoe Basin arent being managed properly to keep a wildfire at bay.

But California and Nevada land managers say government agencies are steadily reducing wildfire fuels and that homeowners should trust the system. They also cite previous failed attempts to allow residents to mitigate fuels on public land near their homes.

Its a unique situation up there where you live in a forested environment, and people should be aware they live in a forested environment, said Charlie Donohue, administrator for the Nevada Division of State Lands. We dont just manage our lands for fuels reduction. We manage them for wildlife and watersheds.

But Jinkens isnt satisfied with that answer.

Retired city manager David Jinkens poses for a portrait in an overgrown tract of California Tahoe Conservancy land near some homes in the Tahoe Keys neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 15, 2020.(Photo: JASON BEAN)

Jinkens is lobbying the South Lake Tahoe City Council to take legal action against state and federal agencies he feels arent properly managing public lands, and area fire chiefs late last year asked state agencies to allow private citizens to do fuel reduction work on state land.

Were happy we have open space, but they arent maintaining them, Jinkens said. You would think they would understand their job is to do that not on their timeline, but on an urgency basis.

I dont want us to become the town of Paradise. We are, in South Lake, less prepared than they were in the town of Paradise.

In 2018, the Little Hoover Commission, an independent state oversight agency, reported that of the 33 million acres of forest in California, about 57%is overseen by the federal government either the U.S. Forest Service of the Bureau of Land Management. About 40%is privately held, and the other 3%is state or locally managed.

In the Tahoe Basin, about 155,000 acres are federally managed, according to Forest Schafer, acting chief of natural resources for the California Tahoe Conservancy.Nevada manages about 7,000 acres; about 28,000 acres are privately owned or tribal property; and California owns about 13,500 acres.

Wildfires:Elderly couple died together seeking refuge from North Complex Fire

Of those 13,500 acres, the CTC oversees about half while the other half is primarily overseen by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

We can, and should, do more. But I dont want to put that responsibility on every citizen to manage the lands. I dont think the solution is you only get defensible space if you make it yourself.

Donohoe said Nevada acquired a substantial amount of its Tahoe-area property in the 1980sfollowing the Tahoe Bond Act, which allowed the state to acquire lands threatened with development, that provided lakeshore access for wildlife or public recreation, or to consolidate land ownership for more effective management.

The conservancy also acquired environmentally sensitive parcels, securing more than 6,500 acres on the California side of the basin since 1985.

The CTC oversees about 600 parcels in South Lake Tahoes city limits. Most of the parcels are small about a third of an acre or less.

Donohoe said that in the past, the state operated a Good Neighbor program that sold properties back to adjacent private property owners who would then manage the lands themselves, but the program was terminated within a couple of years.

That Good Neighbor policy went away because our neighbors werent really being that good in terms of performing good conservation values, Donohoe said.

A home is seen next to an overgrown tract of California Tahoe Conservancy land in the Tahoe Keys neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 15, 2020. (Photo: JASON BEAN)

Now, Jinkens advocates that policies allowing private homeowners to mitigate fuels around their properties should be considered.

They dont want to do the job and they dont want to let us do the job, Jinkens said. A good step would be for CTC to adopt a policy similar to the Forest Service to allow people to go onto their property to create fire breaks.

Jenkins is referring to the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Units Urban Lot Management Program, which allows homeowners to clear defensible space such as dead and downed trees and pine needles on federally owned urban lots within 100 feet of a residential structure. With additional permitting, residents can perform additional defensible space work including large tree removal and clearing beyond 100 feet from their residence.

Opinion:NV Energy CEO: Reducing fire risk a top priority

In late 2019, seven Tahoe Basin fire chiefs echoed Jenkins sentiments when they wrote to the CTC and the Nevada Division of State Lands requesting access for private property owners to implement defensible space measures on state-owned urban lots within 100 feet of residential structures.

I said no, Donohoe said. We already have problems with people going on our property and removing trees and vegetation illegally for views enhancement and calling it fuel mitigation.

Schafer agrees theres a problem, but says agencies are working toward solutions.

One of my goals is every private citizen doesnt have to come to us because we are doing it ourselves, he said. We can, and should, do more. But I dont want to put that responsibility on every citizen to manage the lands. I dont think the solution is you only get defensible space if you make it yourself. We want to make it consistent between every lot in the basin and we are working toward that.

To address fire concerns on its property, CTC takes two approaches, Schafer said. Neighborhood-wide fuel reduction cleanups are held every five to 10 years in each neighborhood, he said. And, the agency also responds to reports of individual parcel concerns.

A marker indicating a tract of California Tahoe Conservancy land is seen in the Tahoe Keys neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 15, 2020.(Photo: JASON BEAN)

About 95% of CTCs properties have had at least one fuel treatment, he said. The agency, as well as many other entities, are a little behind the ball with treatments though because treating for fuel reduction wasnt a major push until the early 2000s. The Angora Fire really pushed that even more. We started treating even more lots.

In 2019, the CTC treated 467 acres of conservancy land, the most it has treated in a year since 2007.

Donohoe said 99% of Nevadas properties in the Tahoe basin have received at least one fuel reduction treatment and that many properties have received three to four treatments.

There is risk in the city and there is risk in the basin of a really significant fire, Schafer said. There is still a lot more that can be done. Residents have done so much, agencies have done so much, but theres so much more we need to do to keep reducing our risk.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

There are courses of action residents can take besides just waiting for the state to remove dead trees, according to Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Marshall Eric Guevin.

What we tell our communities is reach out to your fire district and see what you can do with your partners, he said.

2020 wildfires:16-year-old boy killed in North Complex Fire

Guevin said if a private resident contacted his fire district, a crew member would visit the homeowner to address the concerns, andif they are valid, help the homeowner connect with the proper state or federal agency to remove the fuel.

There is a lot of fuel out there. We need to be always aggressive in approaching it. There is a fire threat in the basin, he said. The sky is not falling but we always need to be proactive.

City of South Lake Tahoe Fire/Rescue Chief Clyde Savacool said he is working with Jenkins to establish a committee with community stakeholders and the CTC to address the issue.

We want to have a global picture of this entire area and do a site inspection for all these lots. Where is our greatest risk for wildfire, whats going to be our evacuation routes? he said. The goal is leave the city with a wildfire plan that the current or any future administration could follow.

Say we all left tomorrow, we would be able to hand this plan over and say, here is the wildfire plan to protect South Lake Tahoe.

Amy Alonzo covers the outdoors, recreation and environment for Nevada and Lake Tahoe.Reach her at aalonzo@gannett.comor (775) 741-8588.Here's how you can support ongoing coverage and local journalism.

Read or Share this story: https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/10/19/california-nevada-wildfires-debate-fire-prevention-techniques-tahoe-basin/3642612001/

Continue reading here:
Residents, officials debate how to create a defensible wildfire buffer in the Tahoe Basin - Reno Gazette Journal

The Western United States is enduring yet another devastating fire year, with more than 4.1 million acres already scorched in California alone, at least 31 people dead and hundreds of others forced to flee their homes.

Wildland fires are increasingly following a now-familiar pattern: bigger, hotter and more destructive. A recent Los Angeles Times headline declaring 2020 to be The worst fire season. Again illustrated some of the frustration residents feel over the states fire strategy.

For decades, federal, state and local agencies have prioritized fire suppression over prevention, pouring billions of dollars into hiring and training firefighters, buying and maintaining firefighting equipment and educating the public on fire safety.

But as climate change continues to fuel dry conditions in the American West, many experts say its long past time to shift the focus back to managing healthy forests that can better withstand fire and add to a more sustainable future.

Fires have always been part of our ecosystem, said Mike Rogers, a former Angeles National Forest supervisor and board member of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees. Forest management is a lot like gardening. You have to keep the forest open and thin.

Federal forest management dates back to the 1870s, when Congress created an office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture tasked with assessing the quality and conditions of forests. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw the birth of the U.S. Forest Service, which manages 193 million acres of public land across the country.

In California, forest management also falls under the purview of the states Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.

Since 2011, Cal Fire has spent more than $600 million on fire prevention efforts and removed or felled nearly 2 million dead trees. In 2018, California set the goal of treating which can include slashing, burning, sawing or thinning trees 500,000 acres of wildland per year, yet Cal Fire remains far from meeting that target.

Its an ongoing process, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Christine McMorrow. There is always going to be more work.

Cal Fire is steadily receiving injections of money to do what it can to reduce wildfire risk, including better land management and training a new generation of foresters. In 2018, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that will allocate $1 billion over five years to Cal Fire to be used on fire prevention measures. But experts warn that more money is needed.

Is it enough? Well, its enough for what were doing right now, but is that enough to get all the work that needs to be done in one year or five years or 10 years? Its going to a take lot, McMorrow said.

Long before the countrys founding, Spanish explorers documented wildland fires in California. In 1542, conquistador Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo sailed along the coast and noticed smoke billowing up from what is now known as the Los Angeles Basin. He called it la baya de los fumos, or the bay of smoke.

Studies by archaeologists and historians support a theory that Cabrillo might have been witnessing an early form of land management, including the burning of shrubs and chaparral to clear dry brush and promote better conditions for hunting big game.

Prescribed and controlled burns were integral to the American landscape for generations. In 1910, focus started to shift away from forest management and steer toward fire suppression after The Big Burn ravaged 3 million acres across Washington, Idaho and Montana, killing at least 85 people and reshaping U.S. fire policy for years to come.

The U.S. Forest Service ordered that all wildland fires be extinguished as soon as possible, eventually settling on the so-called 10 a.m. policy, which emphasized suppressing fires by the morning after they started.

The states policy to stop fires as soon as they ignite resulted in a backlog of trees in forests now choked with brush and other dry fuels. According to the U.S. Forest Service, one researcher studying the Stanislaus National Forest in Northern California found records from 1911 showing just 19 trees per acre in one section of the forest. More than a century later, the researcher and his team counted 260 trees per acre.

With denser tree cover comes the danger of bigger fires, Rogers said.

We have more large trees per acre than weve ever had because they have continued to grow, and underneath these large trees are young shrubs that fuel fires in the crown of the trees, he said. When a fire starts in there, its unstoppable.

Drought, climate change and bark-beetle infestations have all contributed to the backlog of trees, leaving some experts to push for creative solutions to managing Californias crowded forests.

One potential solution could be turning dead and diseased trees into biomass energy before they start massive wildfires.

Jonathan Kusel founded the nonprofit research organization Sierra Institute for Community and Environment in 1993 in an effort to better understand how state and federal agencies could put leftover organic material to use. The institute is now working with federal and state partners on ways to supply wood chips made from low-value vegetation to biomass facilities that can then burn the organic matter to produce heat and electricity.

Kusel estimates the process, when done correctly in confined barrels, is exponentially cleaner than relying on natural gas for energy. It also facilitates what Kusel calls the appropriate thinning of forests, or the clearing of smaller growth, to not only lower the risk of wildfires, but also to contribute to cleaner waterways and lower carbon emissions by promoting healthier forests.

We arent going to be successful if all we do is try to stop fire, he said. But we can make it less damaging and we can try to introduce smaller fires that can maintain habitats in a healthy state.

But finding buyers for biomass remains a big question for the Sierra Institute. Biomass is considered a dirty word among environmentalists who warn that burning plant material and releasing it into the air can increase carbon emissions.

Removing small growth from forests is also more expensive and not as economically attractive as focusing on large-growth removal that can be turned into timber, Kusel acknowledged. Still, as wildfires threaten to become bigger and more dangerous, Kusel is hopeful that a new locally based biomass market could offset the cost of thinning out the states forests by creating smaller, better-maintained facilities that do not release dangerous pollutants into the air.

Societally we have to think differently about our forests, but we have to invest and manage them differently, too, he said. We have to do better.

Read more from the original source:
Decades of mismanagement led to choked forests now it's time to clear them out, fire experts say - NBC News

It seems like the Nevada City tree issue isnt going to leave anytime soon.

A groundswell of support for keeping the trees was followed by a local judge granting an injunction to stop PG&E from cutting them. The judge then reversed course and said he didnt have that authority.

Fast forward a bit and supporters this week climbed into the trees at Pioneer Cemetery as PG&E workers waited nearby. Officers responded to the scene. A police blotter entry states PG&E asked police to move the protesters so it could remove the trees.

The situation deescalated when the workers left.

All this makes you wonder what happened to the spirit of compromise around this issue.

The organizer of the Facebook group Saving Nevada Citys Trees has said he realizes most of the trees have to go. Theres over 260 of them. The group has indicated there are around two dozen of them that should be saved, with about half of those on private land and the other half on city-owned property.

And everything seemed to be going swimmingly, even with the judges ruling that the trees couldnt come down immediately. There was talk of a working group comprised of several different factions that could reach an agreement.

Discussion amongst different groups with opposing goals reaching compromise a fever dream realized.

Now were awake and reality has dealt us a hard lesson.

As with most problems, no one side holds all the blame, though all can play a role in bringing this situation to a successful conclusion.

For starters, PG&E could stop trying to cut every tree on its list while crowing about a fiat granted by the Public Utilities Commission. We get it. You have the authority to cut the trees. Now sit down at the negotiating table and work with the other players. Its much wiser to build goodwill in this way instead of burning it up.

And God knows PG&E could use some goodwill after the debacle of the past two years.

The Nevada City Council should take a stand instead of meekly ceding power to PG&E. Does it support the trees removal? Then do something about people loitering in trees on city property. Want PG&E to shove off? Then take the issue to a higher court.

Looking for the middle road? Then help bring everyone to the table. Well all be better for it.

As for the tree supporters dont say youve done everything you can, so now youre going to sit in a tree and risk arrest. Many of these trees are on city property. If the city wants them gone, thats it. Getting council members on your side is a better, and more effective, method of achieving your goals.

As for private property owners. Many, if not all, want their trees removed. Thats their business. Theyre not telling you what to do with your property.

But if tree advocates feel that strongly about it, maybe private property owners would like a seat at that table, too.

Theres a lot more at stake here than the loss of some trees. There are liability issues when a tree falls during a storm and takes power lines with it. No one wants to go to court to find out whos at fault.

Lets take a few steps back, take a few breaths and think this through. No side involved in this needs to go to extremes. A working group could reach an agreement, and identify the trees that absolutely must go.

If this is the route taken, a deadline must be set. Government meetings already can drone on for hours. Put time limits on discussions, and circle a day on the calendar.

In the meantime, cut the trees everyone agrees need to go. This is a compromise already forged.

Its worth giving this a shot. Invoking the power of the Public Utilities Commission, or alternatively camping out in trees, doesnt help, and only exacerbates the problem.

We need to work together on this, instead of barking up the wrong tree.

The weekly Our View editorial represents the consensus opinion of The Union Editorial Board, a group of editors and writers from The Union, as well as informed community members. Contact the board at EditBoard@TheUnion.com.

View original post here:
Our View: Barking up the wrong tree - The Union of Grass Valley

Allen Worrell/The Carroll News

The Carroll County Historical Society has requested the Carroll County Board of Supervisors remove the evergreen tree on the historic courthouse lawn and add two interpretive signs, including one for the Confederate solider monument.

The Carroll County Historical Society has requested the Carroll County Board of Supervisors remove the evergreen tree on the historic courthouse lawn in Hillsville and add two interpretive signs, including one for the Confederate solider monument that stands guard over the courthouse.

In a letter written to Carroll County Interim Administrator Cellell Dalton dated September 30, the Carroll County Historical Society requests removal of the tree in addition to permission to place a pair of interpretive signs on the lawn of the Historic Carroll County Courthouse Lawn. The evergreen has served as the centerpiece for the Tree Lighting Ceremony each December for the annual Christmas Parade in Hillsville.

The letter is written and signed by Carroll County Historical Society President Shelby Inscore-Puckett.

The Carroll County Historical Society has two requests concerning the historic Courthouse in Hillsville. First, we would like to see the evergreen tree removed from the front lawn; and second, we would like to have two interpretative signs located on the lawn, Inscore-Puckett wrote in the letter to Carroll supervisors. The evergreen tree has outgrown its space and now blocks the view of the historic courthouse, which is architecturally unique in the state of Virginia. The combination features of columns and arches, portico and porch are not found in any other courthouse in the state. The experiences of viewers and visitors would be enhanced by the removal of the tree and the placement of an interpretative sign about this historic building.

Inscore-Puckett continued by saying trees on the courthouse lawn have been an issue for a long time. To demonstrate her point, the historical society president included two articles one from September of 1953 and a second undated article, noting no source was available for either article. The article from 1953 states:

The county has never been content with the trees on the courthouse lawn. In 1872, there were locusts planted, but they were cut in the early 30s, the 1953 article said. Then these fruit trees were planted and after these, a huge pine or cedar was put there along with a Paw Paw tree. They too, all bit the dust. Now, Ive heard that the current foliage is about to be removed. Talk about waffling!

The second article, which is undated, begins with the headline, Trees On Court House Lawn Felled. The article reads as follows:

The orchard was chopped down in the Court House lawn Wednesday morning leaving a barren appearance on each side of the steps leading from the vent. A peach and an apple tree plus a lot of nice shade from the summer sun was sacrificed to a cutting tool. The shrubbery that will take their place should add to the elegance of the already stately Court House and premises, however. For some time, various individuals and organizations have endeavored to have some action taken on removing the trees, which practically hid the front of the courthouse. So, acting under orders, Dan Combs, Sanitation and Street Cleaning Commission of the Town, grabbed his trusty axe and at (time unreadable) on Wednesday he laid the orchard low.

According to Inscore-Puckett, the most recent Paw Paw tree that had been on the courthouse lawn broke in 2010 before being removed entirely later that year. She said the second requested interpretative sign would be for the statue of the Confederate solider in the courthouse lawn.

Since closing the museum we have noticed a good number of people who come to visit the statue (and they usually take pictures). Without the availability of museum staff or volunteers to answer questions or offer background information about the statue, there is a lack of information the Historical Society believes important to provide through an interpretative sign, Inscore-Puckett said.

She concluded the letter by saying the historical society is researching signage specifications and costs, which they will provide to the board as soon as they are available. Some sample signs can be found online at the website of Imperial-Images in Mount Airy, N.C., she said.

We hope the Board of Supervisors will agree that these two actions would be an enhancement for visitors to the courthouse and that they will approve and support the Historical Society in moving forward with these projects, lnscore-Puckett said.

UPDATE

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors took up the historicals society request during its Oct. 13 meeting. After hearing the presentation, Supervisor Rex Hill said he didnt have a problem with the interpretive signs, but wanted to wait before making a decision on the tree.

Ive got a little bit of concern about the removal of the tree until at least we check with Hillsville. They use that for the Christmas Tree lighting every year, Hill said. Whether or not we get to put another tree up or plant another tree is something we should consider.

Chairman Dr. Tom Littrell said the county could break the requests up and didnt have to do them both at the same time.

I make a motion we approve the intrepretive signs and then have a discussion with the Town of HIllsville on the tree, Hill said.

Supervisor Tracy Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on Twitter@AWorrellTCN

Read the original here:
Carroll asked to remove tree from courthouse lawn - The Carroll News

Google Streetview

With the removal of an unusually large oak tree from a Lunds & Byerlys parking lot, a Richfield landmark is no more.

The tree, located at6228 Penn Ave S, was on the chopping block due to a new housing development going in near the store; according to city documents, developers had hoped to save the tree, though it appears to have been taken down as a result of infrastructural upgrades at the site.

This is despite a community effort to save the old oak. There was a Change.org position that gathered hundreds of signatures and a "Save the Lunds and Byerlys Oak Tree" group launched bySandi Spanieron Facebook.

A Friday post from the page informed its followers that the tree had been cut down.

An announcement from Lunds & Byerlys Richfield explains that the oak's removal was necessary to make way for the construction project which will bring about 130"highly sought-after"residential units as well as a store remodel. The post explains that it's all part of "the revitalization taking place all along Penn Avenue":

In a recent post on the "Save the Tree" Facebook group,Spanier said she spoke to the arborist who'd been caring for the tree for the last 20 years, and found out that the oak was an estimated150-200 years old.

Steve Strm, Facebook

Spanier says the arborist, who was apparently not informed about the development plan, brought the tree back from the brink in the 1990s, and that Lunds & Byerlys has spent thousands of dollars on its maintenance since.

Read the original:
Amid opposition, beloved 'Lunds & Byerlys tree' in Richfield comes down - Bring Me The News

Also Offering Stump Removal, Tree Pruning, Tree Trimming a Various Tree Management Services

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Adelaide, Australia -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/14/2020 -- Leading tree removal services business offers top-notch tree removal and stump removal in Adelaide. When it comes to tree removal, it is always better to trust the professionals who completely understand the process and what it takes to complete the job. The expert arborists here are qualified, licensed, insured and certified to offer all types of tree removal in Adelaide along with a host of other services. Also offering tree assessment services wherein the experts here provide great advice on the status of the trees and help in determining whether the tree is considered regulated or significant.

"I was very happy with Michael's tree removal service. He was prompt, reliable and honest and did a great job at removing two large trees from my yard. I would be very happy to use his service again" says Julie D, a happy customer. The best thing about this team is that they tidy up the surroundings post tree services. They also handle the safe removal of fallen and storm-damaged trees on the property. In certain cases, the team also helps in lodging council applications; prepare backyards for fire hazard control; and also offer chipping mulch and firewood.

The company takes pride in their team which possesses the required knowledge and skills necessary for conducting a comprehensive tree management service. The tree management specialists can safely remove a tree from any kind of property residential, commercial, schools, hospitals, government departments, corporations, etc. Visit the links below to hire experts for tree stump removal in Adelaide or for any other tree services.

Tree removal Adelaide - https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/tree-services/tree-removal-adelaide/

Stump removal Adelaide - https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/tree-services/stump-removal-adelaide/

About https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au/ The company is a family-owned and operated business with over 20 years of experience in tree and stump removal in Adelaide. The certified arborists also offer top notch tree pruning, shrub and hedge trimming, tree assessment and many other services.

Media ContactA Bark Up The Right TreePhone: 0413-945-749Website: https://adelaidetreeremovals.com.au

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/trusted-reliable-and-certified-arborists-offering-expert-tree-removal-in-adelaide-1309667.htm

Read the original post:
Trusted, Reliable and Certified Arborists Offering Expert Tree Removal in Adelaide - Press Release - Digital Journal

Jerry and Sigrid Oaklief were unable to watch the spectacular sunsets from their front porch over Mobile Bay for weeks after Hurricane Sally pummeled coastal Alabama. Piles of debris blocked the view.

Some of that debris remains, but piles upon piles continue to be pulled to the roadsides from Baldwin Countys coast to the northern part of the county. Residents in Mobile County have also been placing large tree trunks and shrubbery on the sides of roadways while waiting for overworked crews to remove it.

The existing debris is just part of the vegetative mess in coastal Alabama that was damaged from Hurricane Sally. Trees are visibly leaning, collapsed power lines are still laying on the side of streets and acres of farmland are still scattered with large limbs.

Im just wondering that if everyone starts cleaning up the woods and dragging it out to the highway, that this (cleanup) could go on for years, said Jerry Oaklief, while sitting outside the Fairhope bungalow that he and his wife are temporarily living in after having to evacuate their Magnolia Springs home flooded during the storm.

Few streets in Baldwin County are without some sort of piled-up debris more than four weeks after slow-moving Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores and created widespread damage throughout the county.

Crews are working to remove both vegetative and household debris left over in the storms wake, but there is not a set timeline for completion and the ending dates vary from city to city and county to county. In Baldwin County, officials anticipate it could take well into March 2021, before the debris removal is complete. Mobile County officials are alerting residents to bring their all their debris to the side of the road by October 25.

We are seeing the level of debris youd see during a Category 3 storm from a vegetative perspective, said Reid Loper, vice-president of Mobile-based CrowderGulf, a family-owned company with 50 years of experience in hauling debris from hurricane-damaged areas. The company has the contract to oversee debris removal for most of Baldwin County Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Bay Minette, and the unincorporated portions of the county. The company also has a contract through the Alabama Department of Transportation to handle debris removal along the interstates and state highways.

Said Loper, This was a much more significant debris event than what it has been displayed in the national media.

225 football fields of debris

Hurricane Sally damage to Dauphin Island, Alabama. Sunken boats and heavily damaged docks at the marina. In coastal cities around Alabama, the cleanup of marina debris is expected to last for awhile. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

And there are some indications that, once CrowderGulf and other contractors are finished, the amount of debris left over from Sally will exceed any hurricane that has hit Alabama in at least 40 years. The amount of debris is expected to exceed Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 storm that slammed into Baldwin County in 2004 and is often viewed as the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the county in recent years.

According to Loper, his company hauled 2.4 million cubic yards of debris following Ivan; and 23 days after Sally struck, the company has hauled an estimated 1.8 million cubic yards.

When people think that operations are not moving as quickly as it should, they need to put it into perspective, said Loper. Its been a long time since Baldwin County has been hit with a storm. Debris is a function of not only the intensity of the storm, but also the function and population and households. Baldwin County has grown quite a bit since 2004, when Hurricane Ivan hit. Its definitely boomed. So, as far as ranking comparative to Ivan, I think the debris totals will exceed Ivan by quite a bit.

The numbers that city officials throughout coastal Alabama are releasing are staggering. Some highlights:

In Bienville Square in the heart of downtown Mobile, one of the large oak trees ringing the central fountain broke off at ground level during the passage of Hurricane Sally.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

-Mobile, where scenic parks and historic neighborhoods were inundated with downed oak trees, city officials estimate that close to 70% of the estimated 381,360 cubic yards of trash and debris has been removed. According to a newsletter released Tuesday by Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, the amount of debris would cover more than 1 million square feet enough to fill up the Mobile Civic Center Arena four times.

-Gulf Shores, where Sallys eyewall made landfill, crews are about 70% completed with the clearing debris from residential areas. The city has 27 trucks working to complete the process which city officials hope is wrapped up in a few weeks. So far, 250,000 cubic yards has been removed by the city, which they estimate to be the equivalent of 225 football fields.

Related: Small town, big comeback: Gulf Shores celebrates homecoming and football after Hurricane Sally

-Orange Beach, where homes were heavily damaged by storm surge from Sally, 65% of debris has been removed from city streets and sidewalks, but only 20% has been removed from waterways. As of Monday, 327,000 cubic yards of debris had been removed including 18,000 cubic yards from the waterways. The typical storm-generated marine debris includes destroyed piers, decks and boat houses, and personal property inside them that includes vessels, coolers, tackles, nets, and downed trees. According to Phillip West, the city of Orange Beachs Coastal Resource Director, the city estimates that over 90% of all marine structures (such as docks, piers, and boat houses) suffered substantial damage from Hurricane Sally i.e., more than 50% of their value.

-Fairhope, where massive oak trees were toppled throughout the Fruit and Nut District, work is ongoing to have the debris removed by November 19, which is the traditional Lighting of the Trees event in downtown Fairhope. As of Monday, the city was reporting that 113,000 cubic yards of debris had been removed.

-Foley has contracted with Auburn-based D&J Enterprises Inc., for its post-storm cleanup. As of Monday, the city of Foley had removed 322,000 cubic yards of debris while removing 501 leaning trees and 4,139 limbs, according to City Administrator Mike Thompson.

-Robertsdale contracted with TFR Enterprises of Austin, Texas, for its cleanup. Mayor Charles Murphy, on Thursday, said he anticipated the company finishing up its work within the next seven days, after which city work crews will be charged with further debris removal.

Public safety concern

Officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties remain concerned about public safety as the mounds of debris continue to pile up. Mobile County officials are asking the public to be mindful when placing debris near the roads. They are also concerned over piles of debris building up in the ditches, which could block the flow of water during rain evens and lead to washouts of roads and driveways. County officials are also encouraging people report a dangerous situation through email at HurricaneSallyDebrisRemoval@mobilecountyal.gov or to call 251-574-4930.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack said while there hasnt been any public safety incident from the debris, he is concerned about it.

Most of this debris is put on the right of way and individuals need to make sure that they are keeping the debris away from the fog line of the roadway, said Mack. Theres also an increased concern as the debris continues to age of possible fires. Individuals need to make sure they are not throwing anything from their vehicles such as cigarette butts or any other trash into these piles.

A burn ban remains in effect until October 31.

Mack said that peanut harvest season in Baldwin County is also likely to create additional traffic hazards.

A lot of agricultural equipment is being moved on the roadways, said Mack. Due to the debris on the side of the road, this may cause an additional traffic hazard. Individuals are asked to pay particular attention to any agricultural equipment and when able to pull off the roadway and allow the agricultural equipment to get by.

Related: Pecan farming: Future of growing Alabamas state nut murky in Baldwin County after Hurricane Sally

FEMA-driven cleanup

The debris cleanup is being financed largely by the federal government after President Donald Trump declared a federal disaster for 13 counties in Alabama. The declaration allows for individual and public financial assistances from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For debris cleanup, 75% of it is reimbursed through FEMA assistance while the state and local governments pitch in an additional 12.5%.

Counties and cities are providing loose estimates on how much the cleanup will cost, acknowledging that they wont know the extent of the expenses until the project is completed. Gulf Shores, for instance, estimates their debris removal costing around $8 million. Mobile County is estimating a cleanup cost of around $6 million.

In Daphne, original estimates were around $2.5 million but Mayor Dane Haygood anticipates it could be higher. He said the costs to the city are expected to run around $350,000 to $400,000, which he describes as unexpected but very manageable.

We implemented a reserve policy and set aside $8 million, said Haygood. Between COVID and the hurricane, this is why we have a reserve to make sure we can make it through the rainy days.

The FEMA involvement in the cleanup is one of the reasons why the process of removing the debris can seem meticulous.

Loper, with CrowderGulf, said the company has set up 19 debris management sites (DMS) throughout Baldwin County where the debris is hauled, measured, and ground down into wood chips where its hauled to a landfill. At each DMS is a third-party monitoring firm hired through separate contracts by each governmental entity that measures the volume of the debris that is collected within each truck.

Thats how we are paid on volume of debris hauled, said Loper. We are not paid by the hour, but we are paid on the actual volume of debris that is hauled.

He said that CrowderGulf subcontracts with crews that the company has worked with us for 20-plus years and who are familiar with the rules and regulations set by FEMA.

CrowderGulfs trucks and its subcontractors, according to Loper, will handle approximately three passes through streets in the cities where they are working. Haygood, in Daphne, said he anticipated the first pass through his city to be completed by the weekend.

The time frames toward completion will vary, Loper said, based on a city governments desire and how robust a public works department is to handle the continued operations.

Some cities collect for a long time, other places want three straight passes and no matter what is left, they will say, go home.

Haygood said in Daphne that they want CrowderGulf to make additional passes, and to continue doing the work for at least 60 more days.

I want to make sure we are giving citizens time to get their debris, he said. For some, its a financial burden or a physical toll to get the trees cut up and taken out to the road. Our aim is to have a second and a third pass.

Loper, who has been with CrowderGulf for the past 10 years, calls Hurricane Sallys cleanup a citizen-driven event. He said that estimates on the amount of debris collected and hauled will change quite a bit as more of it is hauled to the roadways and removed during subsequent passes through the county.

All told, more than 300 trucks are rumbling through Baldwin County daily. Loper said the company is doing about 4,000 dump truck loads of debris each day.

Typically, for a total debris collection operation, people are looking along the lines of three to four months with the county taking a bit longer because there is a much (larger) area of debris in the unincorporated area, said Loper.

Document everything: Assessing the damage after Hurricane Sally

Reimagining Alabamas power grid after Hurricane Sally: Bury power lines, use solar, electric cars

Power outages compound Hurricane Sally agony in coastal Alabama

Long lines for fuel, boats damaged: Coastal Alabama cleans up from Sally

Its mighty bad, Ivey says after coastal flyover

Read the original:
Tree trunks, limbs everywhere: Hurricane Sallys debris will exceed Ivan by quite a bit - AL.com

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sustainable Green Team, Ltd.(OTC: SGTM) (SGTM or the Company), a leading provider of environmentally beneficial solutions for tree and storm waste disposal, today announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mulch Manufacturing, Inc. was awarded a 1 year natural mulch supply contract with 2 additional 1 year extensions with the city of Vero Beach, FL. The contract was received shortly after the Company received a mulch contract from Circle K conventient store divisions.

SGTMs CEO and Director Tony Raynor states, We are pleased to be awarded this new government contract opportunity and it's all thanks to our recently completed construction in the Waste Management facility in central Florida.

About Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM)

Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM), through its subsidiaries, provides tree services, debris hauling and removal, biomass recycling, mulch manufacturing, packaging and sales. The Company was established with the objective of providing a solution for the treatment and handling of tree debris that has historically been disposed of in landfills, creating an environmental burden and pressure on disposal sites around the nation. The Companys solutions are founded in sustainability, based on vertically integrated operations that begin with collecting tree debris through its tree services division and collection sites and then, through its processing division, recycling and using that tree debris as a feedstock that is manufactured into a variety of organic, attractive, next-generation mulch products that are packaged and sold to landscapers, installers and garden centers. The Company plans to expand its operations through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions that are both accretive to earnings and are positioned for rapid growth from the resulting synergistic opportunities identified. The Companys customers include governmental, residential and commercial clients.

SGTM currently has two wholly owned subsidiaries to efficiently asses areas, recover, manufacture, and distribute:

National Storm Recovery, LLC

National Storm Recovery, LLC (NSR), is composed of a team that has expertise in dangerous tree removal, debris hauling and debris management. The Companys management team assesses storms by deploying its mobile command center to designated sites and then strategizing with its national partners, which include government agencies, prime contractors and subcontractors.

Central Florida Arborcare(CFA), a DBA of NSR has spent more than 40 years perfecting their technique for proper tree care, removal, and services. From tree removal, stump grinding, tree care, grapple hauling, and storm recovery, CFA ensures properties remain safe and businesses can continue as usual.

To learn more please visit: https://www.centralfloridaarborcare.com

Mulch Manufacturing, Inc.

Mulch Manufacturing, Inc. (MMI), being vertically integrated receiving large volume of wood fiber recovered from Central Florida Arborcare to feed raw material needs, MMI has the product line and distribution system to address a substantial customer base which can be expanded.

To learn more please visit: https://mulchmfg.com

For additional information regarding SGTMs operations, expansion plans and production facilities, view the Companys presentation.

SAFE HARBOR ACT: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, listing on the CSE, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No information in this press release should be construed in any matter whatsoever as an indication of the future performance of the Companys revenues, financial condition or stock price.

Company Contact:Anthony RaynorCEO & Director407.886.8733 Office

Go here to see the original:
Sustainable Green Team, Ltd. (SGTM) Receives an Annual Mulch Supply Contract with the City of Vero Beach, FL - GlobeNewswire

Fire Size (All Zones):1,030,182Containment:78%Personnel (All Zones):3,130

Weather:A Red Flag Weather Warningfor the August Complex continues today with gusty NE winds to 25 mph, relative humidity in the low teens and very low overnight humidity recovery this morning.Fire behavior will increase with predicted weather, causing interior unburned islands and aligned terrain to experience higher fire activity. Strong and gusty winds may cause dead standing trees to fall at higher rates, increasing hazards to firefighters.The strongest winds will be through the morning and will start to taper down through the afternoon. They will be persistently out of thenortheast. By late Friday into Saturday, we can expect better relative humidity recoveriesand diminished windsheading into the weekend.Overnighthumiditylevelsacross the fire werevery low. As a result, fuel moistures are now at critically low levels, especially in the lighter fuels; grasses and brush.

Northwest ZoneYesterday, Red Flag weather conditions increased fire activity in the northwest zone,testingcontainment features. Humidity levels in the teens, temperatures 10 to 15 above average, and winds with gusts as high as 30-mph combined toincreasefire behavior.The fire spotted over the line above Kettenpom and near the West Fork of the Van Duzen River. Firefighters were pre-positioned, and aircraft were standing by his facilitated a rapid response and allowed firefighters to contain the spot fires before they could become established.The majority of fire activity occurred inside the fire area, as interior pockets of unburned fuels were consumed.

Today, Increased fire activity is expected, with the potential for torching and long-range spotting where ladder fuels and unburned canopy fuels exist. High flame spread rates are expectedwithin the fire perimeterwhere light fuels and timber litter align with winds.Teams continue to evaluate suppression repair needs in the Ruth Lake corridor area. The intent of suppression repair is to return the area to as close as possible to its natural state and prevent future erosion and damage.PG&E is actively repairing power infrastructure to ready the Ruth Lake area for repopulation. Approximately 130 power poles must be replaced before the system can be reactivated.

Northeast ZoneYesterday, hotshot crew cut out brush in very steep terrain west of Bear Wallow Mountain to connect and further secure fire lines.East of Irish Mountain, firefighters took advantage of favorable NE winds and completed a small firing operation to fortify fire line to prevent the fire from spreading further north. Helicopters supported this mission with water drops to cool hot spots near the fire edge.Night shift resources held the fire in place, and further secured fire line adjacent to this area.In Beegum Creek, strong winds caused firefighters to disengage their mop up operation due to numerous dead standing trees falling near the fire perimeter helicopters were used in this area to add cooling water to flare-ups and keep interior heat from moving towards the fire edge. Hotshot crews continued mopping up hot spots on the southeast side of the 2017 Buck Fire perimeter.

For today in this northeast zone, NE winds will continue to push the fire back into the main fire footprint. Firefighters will secure and fortify fire lines near Progeny, Bear Wallow Mountain, South Fork Trinity River, Rattlesnake Creek and Beegum Creek. Guard rail repair and hazard tree removal on Hwy 36 continues near Forest Glen by Cal Trans crews.

Evacuations and Closures Evacuation information can be found on countywebsites referenced below or atinciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/.Hwy 36 remains closed from Southfork Summit Mountain east to the Hwy 3 intersection.Hunting and recreation are prohibited within the August Complex Fire Closure areas.

TrinityCountyevacuation Information,contact: 530-276-8034 orhttps://www.facebook.com/TrinityCoOES/.

Trinity County Private Property Damage Assessment Info.,contact:530-623-8223 orhttps://www.trinitycounty.org/recovery

Humboldt County evacuation Information,contact: 707-268-2500 or visit:HumboldtCoSheriff.

Road Closures:For updated Road Closure information, visit Caltrans athttps://roads.dot.ca.gov/.

Forest Closures are still in effect and can be found here:

Read the original here:
August Complex: Red Flag Weather Continues Today as Spot Fires Went Past Containment Lines at Kettenpom and Near the West Fork of the Van Duzen River...