January 13, 2016
Hello and Happy New Year Urban Forests Friends,
Here’s what’s happening in urban and community forestry:
- Free Workshops across the state! The CAL FIRE Series: Growing Investments in California’s Urban Forests
- Governor’s budget announcement for 2016-17
- Arbor Week Grants: Hold a tree planting event in your community
- Conserve water supplies: Graywater and stormwater uses
- Success Factors for Civilian Urban Tree Care: What affects whether urban trees survive or not?
- Job Opportunity: Tree Inventory Tech at Plan-It Geo
- Want to learn more about trees? Take an arboriculture class
Thanks for all you do for urban forestry!
Nancy Hughes, Executive Director
California Urban Forests Council
THE CAL FIRE SERIES:
GROWING INVESTMENTS IN CALIFORNIA’S URBAN FORESTS
During the 1st quarter of 2016 we, and our regional councils from across CA, are highlighting successful outcomes in programs and projects funded through the Cal Fire Urban and Community Forestry program. We are doing this so other communities and organizations can learn from their peers and then determine if applying for future funding may benefit them.
Featuring regional presentations on successful partnerships, inventories, management plans, tree planting projects, mapping, heritage tree preservation, and information about the potential next round of Cal Fire Urban Forestry Grants; and much more!
Most events are free but you must register to attend!
WCISA CEU’s will be offered
January 21, 2016 – Central Coast Event – Goleta, CA – Click here for flyer
January 26, 2016 – Central Valley Event – Modesto – info coming soon!
January 27, 2016 – Bay Area – Oakland Cal Fire presentation only – info coming soon!
January 28, 2016 – Central Valley Event, Visalia – info coming soon!
February, 1, 2016 – Los Angeles/Orange County Event – Compton CA – info coming soon!
February 3, 2016 – San Diego County Event – info coming soon!
February 4, 2016 – Imperial County Event, El Centro – info coming soon!
February 9, 2016 – Inland Empire Event – Riverside – info coming soon!
March 15th or 17th, 2016 (tbd) – Sacramento Event – info coming soon!
Governor’s budget announcement for 2016-17
Good News! Governor Brown released his proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2016-17 last week which includes $30 million in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds for urban forestry at Cal Fire and $20 million for urban greening administered by the Natural Resources Agency. These funds would become available after July, 2016 if approved by the Legislature. Much work to be done between now and then. Click here for the Governor’s Budget if you’d like to dig deeper – (urban forestry – pages 95 & 97).
Arbor Week Grants
California ReLeaf has plenty of ways for you to get involved in this year’s California Arbor Week! Apply for an Arbor Week Grant for up to $5,000 to hold a tree planting or tree care event in your community. Get kids involved in one of California ReLeaf’s contests – a Poster Contest for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders or the all-new Video Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders (plus brand new lesson plans!). Join an Arbor Week event near you, or host your own!
Conserve water supplies
The National Academy of Sciences released a new report entitled, Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies: An Assessment of Risks, Costs and Benefits.
Much of the United States faces chronic or episodic water shortages. As detailed in this report, increased attention to the use of stormwater and graywater has been driven by factors forcing change in the design and management of urban water supplies and infrastructure. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Water Science and Technology Board initiated a study on the beneficial use of stormwater and graywater.
In the report preface, the study authors say, “The concept of a re-imagined urban water infrastructure—variously termed low-impact design, blue-green city, or water sensitive city— embraces sustainable practices in which metropolitan regions could serve as water supply catchments, provide ecosystem services, and prioritize livability, sustainability, and resilience. However, realizing this vision raises questions on exactly how graywater and urban stormwater should be captured, stored, and used. Because of the absence of ample documentation of costs, performance, and risks, many utilities are hesitant to integrate the practices into their long-term water resource plans beyond the simplest applications. Potential public health risks from microbial or chemical contamination associated with graywater or stormwater use raise concerns about safety, regulation, and management. To better address these challenges, the Academies formed a committee to study the risks, costs, and benefits of stormwater and graywater use to augment and conserve existing water supplies.”
This study was supported with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water and Office of Research and Development; National Science Foundation; Water Research Foundation; Water Environment Research Foundation; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; WateReuse; City of Madison, Wisconsin; National Water Research Institute;
and the National Academies’ President’s fund.
More Information here
Success Factors for Civilian Urban Tree Care
Many biological factors affect the survival of an urban tree. This post on Deeproot.com compares two studies involving community forestry programs about young urban tree establishment and survivability – one in Sacramento and one in San Francisco – to help uncover some of the trends in human behavior that impact the success of planting programs. What affects whether trees planted through these programs survive or not? Some of the results might surprise you.
Tree Inventory Tech at Plan-It Geo
Plan-It Geo are looking for a seasonal, part-time or full-time candidate to assist with street and park tree inventories and related software tasks. An internship is also a possibility. We’re open to candidates with varying levels of pay range, experience, start date, # of hours, etc.
Contact:
Ian S. Hanou
Owner & Director of Business Development
[email protected] | www.planitgeo.com
720.988-2048 (desk)
5690 Webster Street, Arvada, CO 80002
Want to learn more about trees?
Tony Wolcott, a Board Certified Master Arborist is teaching three courses this spring in Arboriculture at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill.
These courses would be suitable for anyone who might be interested in a general course on Trees, or in taking a course on passing the ISA test to become a ‘Certified Arborist’.
Hort 1792-8252 Arboriculture Wed. evenings 6:30-9:20 ET-112
Hort 137L-8246 Pruning Lab Saturdays 9-12:30 1-4:30 OH –101
Hort 1792-8286 Arboriculture lab Sat. 9-12:30 1-4:30 OH-101
Classes start January 22 so January 23 for the Pruning Lab, January 27 for Arboriculture, March 26 for the Arboriculture Lab. Go to dvc.edu for more information.
ISA Certification Guidelines will be used as a general outline for all three courses. The classes will introduce various arboricultural issues. Email Tony Wolcott for more information.
Tony Wolcott
Board Certified Master Arborist
WE3284B
