Georgia Tech Campus Tree Care Plan

I. Thepurposesofcampustreecareplanareto: Facilitatetheachievementof55%treecanopyoncampusasrecommendedbythe2006Campus LandscapeMasterPlan. Facilitatetheachievementof22%woodlandscoverageoncampusasrecommendedbythe2006 CampusLandscapeMasterPlan. Protectandmaintainthecampusurbanforestbymanagingtheimpactofdevelopmentand constructionsoncampustrees. Provideprotectionandtomakesurethatremovalofalltreesoncampusareconductedwithproper considerationsandadequatereplacementprogram,accordingtoourapproved2006Campus LandscapeMasterPlan. II. TheresponsibilityoftheCampusTreeCarePlanrestswithGeorgiaTechFacilitiesDepartment. III. TheCampusTreeAdvisoryCommitteeiscomposedof: HyacinthIde,FacilitiesLandscapeManager AnneBoykinSmith,MasterPlanner,CapitalPlanning&SpaceManagement JerryYoung,LandscapeProjectManager,FacilitiesDesign&Construction LisaJackson,InformationAnalysisIII,CenterforGIS,SchoolofArchitecture ByronAmos,VineCityNeighborhood Dr.GeraldPullman,Professor,SchoolofBiology GeorgeRoberts,ConstructionForeperson,LandscapeServices MichaelWalsh,HorticulturistII,CertifiedArborist,LandscapeServices BrettTesta,HorticulturistI,CertifiedArborist,LandscapeServices DonnaChronic,HorticulturistII,LandscapeServices EdLanz,ProjectSuperintendent,GeorgiaCertifiedLandscapeProfessional,HousingDepartment PaulThurner,HomeParkNeighborhood MarciaKinstler,DirectorofSustainability,GeorgiaTech BrentBeamon,ArboristfromtheCityofAtlanta RitchieBrown,SeniorFacilitiesManager,Parking&Transportation,GeorgiaTech DrewGetty,KristieChampion,DeannaMurphy,JasonVargo,RahnAustin,JosephStaubes,YiLinPei, Studentrepresentatives(duringtheacademicyearAugust2008June2009) Roles of Representatives Thecommitteememberswillaccepttoserveforaperiodofonecalendaryearwitharenewaloption.Members shallappointofficialswhowillconductthedaytodaybusinessofthecommittee.Committeemembersare expectedtoactivelyparticipateandcontributeinpolicy/guidelineissuesaswellasresearch/information gatheringthatwouldaidinthecampustreecareplan.
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Georgia Tech Care Policies Tree Planting

Plant Selection PlantspeciesusedonGeorgiaTechcampuswillcomefromthelistoftheLandscapeStandardsinthe2006 LandscapeMaserPlan.Thelistcontainsbothnativeandexoticspeciesthathavebeenscreenedforadaptability tophysicalconditionsandserviceability,tomeetingplantingneedsbasedonsiteorientation,drainage,soil condition,use,etc.Whereappropriate,thebestplantshallbeselectedforagivensite,whichmayormaynotbe anative.Treestobeusedoncampusmustbepreselectedatthefarmornurseryforgoodqualityandtagged. Onlytreesof22minimumcaliperandmaximumof44caliperwillbeplanted. Site Preparation Theplantingholeshouldbedugnodeeperthantherootballwhenmeasuredfromthebottomoftherootballto thetrunkflare.Iftheholeisdeeperthantherootball,itoftenresultsinthesettlingoftheplantabovethetrunk flareandstructurerootswhichcanresultintherootballbeingplantedtoodeep.Butthewidthofthehole shouldbeatleast2to3timesthediameteroftherootballwithslopingsides. Preventive Setting the Plant and Back Filling the Hole Plantsmustbesetwithtrunkflare12abovetheexistinggrade.Oncetheplantisproperlyplaced,allvisible ropesandburlapsatthetoponethirdshouldbecutaway.Thetop816ofthewirebasketshouldbe removedoncetherootballisstableintheplantinghole;backfilltheplantingholewiththeexistingsoil.Ifthe existingsoilisofapoorquality,additionofsoilamendmentasrecommendedbythesoilanalysisshouldbe used.Thebackfillsoilshouldbetampedfirmenoughtoremovelargeairpockets,butnottoofirmastoremove allfineairspacesneededforawellaeratedsoilforrootdevelopment.Completethebackfillbymakingsure thatthetrunkflareiscompletelyexposed,spreadmulchat24depthbutnottouchingthetrunk,waterthe rootballandtheplantingareadeeply.

Newlyplantedtreesmustreceiveadequatewaterweeklyduringtheentirefirstgrowingseasonrightupuntil dormancyinthefall,byirrigationorplacementofoozebagorhandwatering. Transplanting Desirabletreesinadevelopmentareaorotherconstructionsitesshallbetransplantedbystaffifthetreecaliper isbetween24wherethereisanacceptablelocationandduringtheplantingseason(OctobertoMarch).Trees oflargercalipershallbecontractedoutusingcomparabletreespades.

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Fertilizing Newlyplantedtreesshouldnotreceivefertilizationduringthefirstgrowingseasonexceptinasituationwhere asoiltestrecommendsitsuse.Aslowreleasetypeoffertilizershouldbeusedaroundthetreebasin.Treesin poorconditionshouldreceivedeeprootfertilizationof53510plusmicronutrients,withrepeatapplicationif necessary.Also,whennecessary,weshalluse102010forevergreentreesand251010forgeneralapplication. Routinetreefertilizationisnotrecommended;however,campustreesreceiveadequatenutrientsfromturf, shrubsandgroundcoverroutineapplicationoffertilizers. Staking Stakingoftreesatplantingisnotrequirediftherootballisstable.Ifstakingmustbedone,itwillbedonein accordancewithANSImostrecentedition. Pruning Afterplanting,onlybrokenordamagedbranchesshouldbepruned.Treewrappingisgenerallynot recommended. Landscaping LandscapingonGeorgiaTechcampusmustadheretothefiveplantcommunitiesindicatedinthe2006 LandscapeMasterPlan.TheyareWoodland,Parkland,Meadowland,OrnamentalandLawn.Alllandscaping, newandoldshallusethelistofacceptableplantsintheCampusLandscapeMasterPlan.Thebestplant materialsshouldbechosenbasedonthesiteconditions,notbasedsolelyonthemeritofitsbeingnative.The objectivesaretoincreasecampustreecanopytoaminimumof55%andcampuscoveragebyWoodlandsto 22%.

Georgia Tech Care Policies Tree Maintenance and Removal

Preventive Maintenance Pruning Thetreeteamsystematicallyprunestreesannuallythroughapreventivemaintenancepruningprogram. Preventivemaintenancepruningisconductedonanasneededbasisatthistime.Allcampustreesare periodicallysurveyedandratedbasedontheirpruningneedstodetermineschedulingpriorities. Service Requests Thetreeteamtypicallyprunes300treesannuallybyservicerequest.Requestsaremadebycustomersaround campus,whichisthenfollowedupbyaninspectionofthetreesbythestaffarboristwhogeneratesthe evaluationandtreeratingtodeterminethetypeofpruningtobeperformedbystaff.SeeappendixA,routine inspectionsbystaffprovidemostofourpruningneeds. Fallen Limb Removal Whenlimbsfallfromtreesoncampus,membersofthecampuscommunitycancallinormakeaservicerequest (viawebbase)andbystaffinspectiontopromptlycleanupthedebris.Everyattemptwillbemadetocleanup droppedlimbswithinthesameday,dependingontheseverityofthestormandtheextentofthetreedamage (exceptintheGreekandreligiousproperties).WedonotmaintainprivatepropertiesonGeorgiaTechCampus.

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Hazard and Emergency Tree Removal From20042008,GeorgiaTechLandscapeServicesandnewconstructionhasremovedayearlyaverageof111 trees.Duringthesameperiod,428treeswerealsoplantedannually.Whenatreeremovalrequestismade,a certifiedarboristevaluatesthetreeinquestionandmakesthedeterminationforremovalornotbased,onthe result.Ifthetreeisconsideredahazardoustree,itisthenscheduledforremoval.Allhazardoustreeshavetwo thingsincommon,asignificantdefectandapotentialtargetforfallingonabuilding,carorpedestrian.Most treeremovalsaredonebystafforcontractor.Verylargetreesneedingacranearecontractedout. Stump Grinding Aftertreesareremovedthestumpsarethenscheduledforgrinding,providedthereisadequateaccesstothe site.Whenthestumpisgroundout,thegrindingsarerakedandleftslightlymoundedtoallowfordecayand settlingtooccur. Managing for Catastrophic Events Intheeventofsevereweatherconditionssuchastornadoesorhurricanes,fallingtreeswillberemovedby LandscapeServicesstafforanoutsidetreeremovalcompany.Roadsandstreetsshallbeclearedfirst,then accesstocriticalbuildings,administration,buildingswithcriticallabs,library,studentcenter,etc.inthatorder. Intheadvanceofsevereweatherconditions,allnecessaryequipmentshallbecheckedforreadinessandsafety bystaff. Protection and Preservation Policies and Procedures Treeprotectionzonesshallbeestablishedandmaintainedforalltreestobepreservedinaconstructionsite. Constructasimplebarrierforeachtreeorgroupingtoprotectthetrunkandrootsystems.Thisreducesdamage fromheavyequipmentandtrucks.Wood,plasticorchainlink4fencingwouldbesuitable.Installthebarrier fenceforeveryinchdiameterofthattreesdiameterbreastheight(DBH),providedthatinnocaseshallthe protectionzonebelessthanaradiusof2.5feet.Norootrakingshallbeallowedwithinanytreeprotectionzone atanytimeduringclearing,gradingorconstructionofaproject.Noequipmentorvehicleshallbeparkedor constructionmaterialstored,orsubstancespouredordisposedoforplacedwithinanytreeprotectionzoneat anytimeduringclearingorconstructionofaproject.Totheextentpossible,allsiteworkshallbeplannedand conductedinamannerthatwillminimizedamagetoprotectedtreesfromenvironmentalchangessuchas alteredsitedrainageoranyotherlanddisturbancewithinorimmediatelyadjacenttothecriticalrootzoneof thetree. New Building or Facilities Construction DevelopmentactivitiesshallbeplannedtotheextentpossibleinordertopreserveandprotecttreesonGeorgia TechCampus.AnytreeonGeorgiaTechcampusthatmustberemovedtoaccommodatedevelopment,damage duringstormevents,diseaseandwater/sewerrepairsmustbeshownonthesiteplanandamethodof compensationshallapplyasprescribedbythe2006CampusLandscapeMasterPlan,onpage65. a) A1diametertreeshallbecompensatedwithanequivalentmonetaryvalue. b) A1diametertreeshallcostnolessthan$175.00(2008cost) c) Thesumtotalofthediameterofreplacementtrees(inches)shallbemultipliedbythatyearsactualcost ofthetreemarketvalue.

d) Anaccountshallbecreatedtoreceiveandmanagethetreereplacementprogram.Thiswillallowfor theflexibilityofplantingtimeortheissueofnothavingreadysiteorifthesitehasinsufficientspacefor treeplantingandpaymentshallbemadetothetreeplantingandreplacementaccount.Thetree replacementorplantingaccountshallbeaseparateaccountsothatthefundscanbeusedfromyearto yearforthepurposeoftreeplantingandreplacementonly.

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Design Requirements Designofanewdevelopmentorreconstructionshallincludeagreenspaceplanintheproposal.Suchplans shallincludeatreeprotection,treeestablishmentandlandscapeplan.Suchplanshallconformtothelandscape standardsasprescribedintheCampusLandscapeMasterPlan. Goals and Targets Developanintegrated,ecologicallybasedlandscapeandopenspacesystemthatwillhelpGeorgiaTechachieve itsgoalofenvironmentalsustainabilityby1)increasingcampustreecanopytoaminimumof55%,2)increase campuscoveragebyWoodlandsto22%and3)completionofaCampusTreeInventory.In2004,thecampus treeinventoryasindicatedinthe2006CampusLandscapeMasterPlanwas5000treesandthetreecanopy coveragewas1518%.In2008,thereareabout6,700treesonGeorgiaTechcampusprovidingapproximately 33.8%oftreecanopy.AGISTreeInventoryisinprogresstoupdatetheCampusTreeInventory. Tree Damage Assessment AlldamagedtreesonGeorgiaTechcampusshallbeassessedbyaCertifiedArboristsusingtheexistingtree evaluationform.Resultsfromtheevaluationdetermineswhetherthetreeshouldberemoved,prunedor receivetreatmentsuchasfertilization,andinsect/diseasecontrol,seeappendixB.Removedtreesareupdated onthetreeinventorylist.Wheneveritisdeterminedthatviolationofthisprocedurehasoccurred,theFacilities representativeordesigneeshallimmediatelyissuewrittenandoralnoticetothepersonorcompanyor departmentinviolation,identifyingthenatureandlocationoftheviolationandspecifyingthatremedialaction isnecessarytobringtheviolationintocompliance.Thepersonorcompanyordepartmentinviolationshall immediately,conditionspermitting,commenceremedialactionandshallhaveseven(7)workingdaysafterthe receiptofthenotice,orsuchlongertimesasmaybespecifiedinthenotice,tocompletetheremedialactions requiredtobringtheactivityintocompliancewiththispolicy, Prohibited Practices UndernoconditionshallatreebeplantedonGeorgiaTechcampusfordedicationwithoutpreapprovalfrom theofficeoftheExecutiveVicePresidentforAdministration&FinancethroughtheofficeofCapitalPlanning& SpaceManagement.
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Definitions CaliperThediameterorthicknessofthemainstemofayoungtreeorsaplingasmeasuredatsix(6)inchesabove groundlevel.Thismeasurementisusedfornurserygrowntreeshavingadiameteroffourinchesorless. CanopytreesAtreethatwillgrowtoamatureheightofatleast40feetwithaspreadofatleast30feet. ClearingTheremovaloftreesorothervegetationoftwoinchesDBHorgreater. CriticalRootZoneTheminimumareasurroundingatreethatisconsideredessentialtosupporttheviabilityofthe treeandisequaltoaradiusofonefootperinchoftrunkdiameter(DBH). DevelopmentTheact,processorstateoferectingbuildingsorstructures,ormakingimprovementstoaparcelor tractofland. Diameter,breastheight(DBH)Thediameterorwidthofthemainstemofatreeasmeasured4.5feetabovethe naturalgradeatitsbase.Wheneverabranch,limb,defectorabnormalswellingofthetrunkoccursatthisheight,the DBHshallbemeasuredatthenearestpointaboveorbelow4.5feetatwhichanormaldiameteroccurs. GreenspaceAnyarearetainedaspermeableunpavedgroundanddedicatedonthesiteplantosupporting vegetation. GreenspaceplanAmapand/orsupportingdocumentationwhichdescribesforparticularsitewherevegetationis toberetainedorplantedincompliancewiththeseregulations.Thegreenspaceplanshallincludeatreeestablishment plan,oratreeprotectionplan,andalandscapeplan. ImpervioussurfaceAsolidbaseunderlyingacontainerthatisnonporous,unabletoabsorbhazardousmaterial, freeorcracksorgapsandissufficienttocontainleaks,spillsandaccumulatedprecipitationuntilcollectedmaterialis detectedandremoved. LandscapeplanAmapandsupportingdocumentationwhichdescribesforaparticularsitewherevegetation,isto beretainedorprovidedincompliancewiththerequirementsofthispolicy.Thelandscapeplanshallincludeany requiredbufferelements. NativetreeAnytreespecieswhichoccursnaturallyandisindigenouswithintheregion. TreeestablishmentplanAmapandsupportingdocumentationwhichdescribes,foraparticularsitewhereexisting treesaretobeplantedincompliancewiththerequirementsoftheseregulations,thetypesoftreesandtheir correspondingtreesforreforestations. TreeprotectionplanAmapandsupportingdocumentationwhichdescribesforaparticularsitewhereexisting treesaretoberetainedincompliancewiththerequirementsoftheregulations,thetypesoftreesandtheir correspondingtreeforreforestations. TreeprotectionzoneTheareasurroundingapreservedorplantedtreethatisessentialtothetreeshealthand survival,andisprotectedwithintheguidelinesoftheseregulations. Communication Strategy AftertheadoptionoftheCampusTreeCarePlanandPoliciesbytheAdvisoryCommitteeandGeorgiaTech Administrationapproval,anarticleonGeorgiaTechsparticipationintheTreeCampusUSAshallbeplacedin thestudentsnewspaperTheTechniqueandthestaffnewspaperTheWhistle.Also,theadoptionsshallbe senttotheGeorgiaTechcommunityviatheelectronicsemaildistributionsystemandplacedontheGeorgia TechFacilitiesWebsite.Additionally,apressreleaseshallbemadetothelocalmediathroughtheofficeof InstituteCommunication&PublicAffairs.

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Dedicate Annual Expenditures for Campus Tree Program

Staff and Equipment GeorgiaTechhasdedicatedtwofulltimeemployees(acertifiedarborist&equipmentoperator)and1/3of Forepersonstimetotaling$138,518.39forthetreeprogram.Onaverage,GeorgiaTechLandscapeServices spends$19,000.00topurchasenewtreesperyear.Thefollowingequipmentisusedinthemaintenanceandcare ofourcampustrees. Chippertruckwith25bucket Vermeer1250Chipper VermeerStumpGrinder NewHollandFordBackhoe Bobcat863Loader Chainsaw(4) Polesaw ClimbingGears Subtotal(EquipmentInvested) EquipmentMaintenance/yr Grandtotalonequipment AnnualContractLaborCost $52,756.20 $20,000.00 $11,542.90 $55,542.90 $19,960.84 $3,600.00 $749.00 $1,122.75 $165,481.69 $1,722.69 $167,215.38 $18,590.00

Tech Beautification Day TheGeorgiaTechBeautificationDayandEarthDayheldannuallyinApril,accountforover500students, faculty&staffvolunteers.At3hourspervolunteersx$18equals$27,000.00ofvolunteerlaborperyear.They participateinplantingtrees,shrubs,groundcover,flowers,layingsod,spreadingpinestrawandwoodchips, pullingweeds,pickinguptrash,etc.ontheGeorgiaTechcampus.SomeHandsOnAtlantamembersalso participatewiththestudents,facultyandstaff. Otherassociatedcostsofthecampustreemanagementare: DevelopmentofGeorgiaTechCampusLandscapeMasterPlanin2006 ThreestaffmembersareCertifiedArboristsoftheInternationalSocietyofArboriculturewithassorted feesof$2,500.00 Developmentof5000campustreeinventoryin2004at$35,000.00

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Summary SummaryofthedollarvaluededicatedtothetreeprogrambyGeorgiaTechare: Laborstaff/yr Laborcontract/yr Laborvolunteer/yr Treepurchase/yr Materials/yr Equipmentinvestment Equipmentmaintenance/yr Treeinventorycost Staffassociations&trainingcost TOTAL $138,518.39 $18,590.00 $27,000.00 $19,000.00 $7,500.00 $195,481.69 $1,722.69 $35,000.00 $2,500.00 $445,312.77

GeorgiaTechsfulltimestudentpopulationis19,410x$3annualexpenditurerequirementis$58,230.00. Therefore,GeorgiaTechiswellovertherequiredamountofexpendituresneededforTreeCampusUSA participation.

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