2020 Urban Forest Management Plan
This plan was developed to assist the City of Bondurant with managing its urban forest, including budgeting and future planning. Trees can provide a multitude of benefits to the community, and sound management allows a community to best take advantage of these benefits. Management is especially important considering the serious threats posed by forest pests such as the emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB is an invasive insect imported from Eastern Asia on wood shipping crates that kills all species of ash trees (this does not include mountain ash). There is a strong possibility that 9% of Bondurant’s city-owned trees (ash) will die once EAB becomes established in the community unless preventative treatment is used. With proper planning and management, the costs of removing dead and dying trees can be extended over years, mitigating public safety issues.
- Bondurant’s trees provide $52,302 of benefits annually, an average of $96.67 a tree
- There are over 52 species of trees from 29 different genera.
- The top three genera are: Maple 21%, Apple 11%, and Catalpa 9%
- 18% of trees are in need of some type of management
- 45 trees are recommended for removal.
- Of the 45 trees needing removal, 7 trees are over 24 inches in diameter at 4.5 ft and must be addressed immediately
- 28 of the 49 ash trees should be carefully examined, as they have one or more symptoms that could be related to an EAB infestation
- All trees should be pruned on a routine schedule- one-third of the city every other year
- Plant a diverse mix of trees that do not include: ash, maple, cottonwood, poplar, box elder, Chinese elm, evergreen, willow, or black walnut
- Check ash trees with a visual survey yearly