From: Linden, Erik (DDOT) <
Erik.Linden@dc.gov>
DDOT'S TREE PLANTING SEASON BEGINS
More than 4,900 Trees to Be Planted Citywide Based on Resident Requests
(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Department of Transportation
(DDOT) announced today that DDOT officially started its annual tree
planting season this month.
DDOT's Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will plant more than 4,900
street trees citywide in all eight wards. Planting begins in Ward 1
and will wrap up in Ward 8 in April - the reverse order of last year's
planting season. Planting locations are based on requests made by
residents to the Mayor's Citywide Call Center before July 15, 2007.
DDOT will also replace approximately 1,400 trees that died as a result
of the summer drought. Many of the replacement trees will be relocated
to better planting locations within the immediate area. DDOT's
arborists determined that this summer's drought was the worst that
trees in the city had suffered in 25 years. The majority of the trees
that perished in last year's planting season are covered under
contractor warranty.
DDOT is also planting 260 elm trees in a partnership with DC-based
Casey Trees and 60 trees in a partnership with the DC-based Earth
Conservation Corps and Trees for Georgetown.
DDOT's Urban Forestry Administration currently has 11 arborists on
staff - more than any time in the city's history. The arborists
oversee planting, inspection, pruning, tree care, resident outreach
and other tree-related functions in all eight wards.
Emeka Moneme, DDOT Director, said: "While the summer was difficult for
city street trees, recent rains are helping. Our tree program is
thriving and every day we're stepping up efforts to protect and
improve the beautiful tree canopy above the nation's capital. I'm also
thrilled about our healthy partnership with Casey Trees and other
environmentally-
based non-profits and citizen groups."
DDOT's Urban Forestry Administration will be placing informational
cards on residents' doors in blocks where trees are planted. Residents
will receive watering instructions as well as DDOT's brochure of
services and schedules. During warm weather, DDOT asks residents to
help water the trees that they have requested for planting during the
first two years of the life of the tree. It is best to water each
tree with about 10 gallons of water every five days from May through
September.
Species of trees to be planted include Willow Oak, Katsura, Dawn
Redwood, Kwanzaa Cherry, Sugar Maple, Cucumber Magnolia, and Accolade
Elm.
John Thomas, DDOT's Chief Forester, said: "We've been making great
strides recently in building a partnership with residents who request
that a street tree be planted on their block. Our goal is to encourage
residents to be stewards of these trees and help shepherd them through
their challenging early years."
The mission of the UFA is to establish a full population of street
trees within the District and to ensure that those street trees are
maintained in a healthy and safe condition. Street trees are trees
located between the curb and sidewalk on all District-owned lands.
Currently, UFA oversees approximately 140,000 city street trees in all
eight wards.
DDOT continues to cultivate relationships with local public/private
partner organizations such as Casey Trees, Earth Conservation Corps
and others currently involved in tree-related work within the
District's neighborhoods. By involving and encouraging community
participation in tree planting and care activities, DDOT works to
educate residents regarding the importance and functional beauty of
the city's "green infrastructure."