Ken, The number of elm trees that we (Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board) are cutting down per year has increased recently. The increase is because of the warm winters result in more beetles surviving and Dutch elm infestation progressing more rapidly on infected trees.
We are replacing more trees than we are cutting down at this time. There is a lag in some cases, because we are spending time planting and watering at the moment. After we know the new trees are fine, we will start stump grinding for planting in subsequent years. Regardless, visually, when you take down a 75 foot tree and replace it with an 8 foot one, things still look a lot different! The Park Board plants approx. 1,500-2,500 new trees each year. The additional monies that the Mayor budgeted in last year's budget and City Council approved are for additional trees in 2004 to bring the total planted tree number up to 5,000 trees this year. Weather permitting; we will be doing a late summer/early fall planting yet this year. The additional tree dollars are/were super helpful and I really want to thank the Mayor and City Council for helping out with this! These are not reoccurring dollars, i.e. we are back to 1,500-2,500 trees per year. I will get this list the exact loss and replant numbers. Plus, please remember that the new trees need to get watered and we can use your help. The Park Board and the Fire Department are doing this, but your help is super important! If there is a new tree around you house please give it an extra bucket from time to time! Sincerely, John Erwin Minneapolis Park Board At-Large Commissioner and U of M Horticulture Prof. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
