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August 2013
A Pe ek a t Su mmer
Casey Trees News in Brief
Casey Trees issuing high number of “Wet” alerts with rainy summer weather Though the summer started out dry, stormy weather during the past couple of weeks has brought more than 17 inches of rain since May 1 — well above the average of 11.5 inches for the three-month period between May and July. Over that period, Casey Trees issued weekly water recommendations based on weather forecasts. Overall, three dry (watering required), six normal (additional watering optional) and six wet (no additional watering needed) watering alerts have been issued. According to the Farmers Almanac, August is shaping up to be much like July. Temperatures are expected to be highest mid-month and precipitation is predicted to be 2.5 inches — roughly an inch below the monthly average. Ten “Wet” alerts have been issued since May 1.
Though rainfall amounts may be less than normal this month, thunderstorms are predicted. To better ensure your trees are able to withstand high winds or in the event you have a damaged tree, refer to Casey Trees’ blog, Tree Speak, for storm damage resources.
Casey Trees News Casey Trees Staff Rides for Tree research | Jonathan Carney, Casey Trees’ Urban Forestry Crew Member, cycled 585 miles in this year’s Tour des Trees, a fundraising event for the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund. The week-long tour started at Niagara Falls, N.Y., and ended at the site of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) conference in Toronto on Aug. 3. Tree Planting Department Staff Updates | Casey Trees’ Tree Planting Department has undergone some reorganization this summer. Sara Turner transitioned to Arborist and now solely manages the non-residential planting programs. Michael Ferguson is now the Urban Forestry Manager, leading the tree planting crew and coordinating the Summer Crew program.
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Two Staff Earn ISA Arborist certification | Dr. Jessica Sanders, Director of Technical Services and Research, and Carney, who just participated in the 2013 Tour des Trees, both recently received ISA certification. Both staff members’ certifications increase the number of certified arborists at Casey Trees to more than a third of staff. Research interns collect data for Tree Mortality Study | The Technical Services and Research Department’s Tree Mortality study is up and running again. Two Casey Trees interns, Isaac MacDonald and Joe Duszak, will be biking around D.C. to record the health and stress indicators as well as the survival of trees planted between 2002 and 2010 through all of Casey Trees programs.
August 2013 | theleaflet
Urban Forestry News Montgomery County Council Approves Tree-Friendly Bills | On July 23, the Montgomery County Council approved two bills aimed at protecting the county’s trees that are targeted to be trimmed, cut down or damaged. Bill 35-12 will require that property owners who want to develop their land plant three shade trees or more depending on the size of the lot, or that they contribute to a tree canopy conservation fund. Bill 41-12 requires those who remove unauthorized roadside trees to plant another tree or pay into a tree replacement fund. Porous pavement remedies issues with trees and safety | An innovative solution was found in porous pavement at the intersection of 8th and K St. NE. The District Department of Transportation reconciled the
changes needed to comply with American with Disabilities Act regulations with the continued health of a tree by using a porous pavement that will allow water to seep through to the roots of the tree and create a flat path for the elderly and disabled at the intersection. Trees Reduce Soot Pollution and Save Lives | U.S. Forest Service researchers partnered with a private think tank on a study, finding that trees in urban areas can reduce asthma attacks, emergency room visits and deaths by cleaning soot out of the air. The team used computer modeling to quantify the health benefits of trees in 10 cities. Baltimore’s soot-removing trees, for example, prevent one death, 140 asthma attacks and 240 cases of labored breathing every year.
In this issue... From the Desk: Education Program fosters tree stewardship in youth.................. 4-5 High School Summer Crew Member Brings Passion for science to the job............... 6 Tree-Lined Waterways Are essential to healthy cities.......................................................... 7 Casey Trees’ First-Ever Tree Tour by Canoe............................................................................. 8-9 Tree Advocate Program: How to Stand Up for Trees...................................................... 10-11 Tree Watering Misconceptions: Is it worth it?................................................................. 12-13 Casey Tree Farm is a Summer Spectacle............................................................................... 14-15 Casey Trees’ August and September Event schedule............................................................. 16 Arbor Kids: Fun Ways to Water Trees.......................................................................................... 17
theleaflet | August 2013
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From the Desk TreeWise: The future of D.C.’s trees and our communities Despite everything we do at Casey Trees, I have often said that all of us — staff, board, volunteers — play one key unifying role: to educate others about the benefits of trees. One of the most important audiences we reach through education are the leaders of tomorrow: our youth. This is what TreeWise, Casey Trees’ summer youth program, is all about — educating children today so they can stand up for trees tomorrow. TreeWise engages youngsters ages 6 to 10 in various activities, such as tree biology and Mark Buscaino tree care. Sessions include scavenger hunts, Executive Director leaf and bark rubbings, tree identification, measurement and watering exercises and more. Since TreeWise started in 2011, we have held more than 100 sessions with 1,800 children. This year, TreeWise is booked to capacity and by the end of August, we will have held 70 sessions with more than 1,200 students! To change our world for the better and make our communities more livable, we must remember who will be making decisions about D.C.’s trees in the future. At Casey Trees, we are doing everything we can to give tomorrow’s leaders the tools to make those decisions in a thoughtful and informed way. Thank you for your continuing support. Regards,
Mark Buscaino Executive Director 4
August 2013 | theleaflet
Students participate in a variety of activities, including tree identification, bark and leaf rubbings, watering simulations and more.
theleaflet | August 2013
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Spotlight Essay Gidey’s interest in nature grows through summer jobs program By Alison Shapiro, Communications Intern, Casey Trees | Wiping the sweat off his brow after a long day of tree care with the Water ByCycle team, Essay Gidey, 18, described the joy he experienced playing in parks as a child with his sister. “I used to spend my summers at the park, climbing trees and running through the woods,” said Gidey, whose mother would tell stories about his
grandfather’s work as a park ranger, adding to Gidey’s interest in nature. A childhood spent outdoors developed into a fascination with the natural world and the life processes within it. His favorite subject in school soon became biology. “I enjoy learning about the evolution of organisms, the basic building blocks of life at the molecular and cellular levels,” he said, “and how most organisms are dependent on one another.” His science coursework at Woodrow Wilson High School, which included AP classes, fostered his appreciation of the subject. He plans to attend George Washington University in the fall, where he will major in biology. Essay was drawn to apply for the High School Summer Crew program because he wished to get closer to nature and discover different parts of D.C. He has already made lasting memories as a Summer Crew member, from having fun and becoming friends with fellow crew members to learning how to cycle safely in D.C. and care for urban trees. With the program wrapping up Aug. 9, Gidey is confident these new skills will carry him far as he moves forward with his academic and professional pursuits. Follow Essay and the rest of the Summer Crew on Casey Trees’ blog, Tree Speak.
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August 2013 | theleaflet
Technology & Research Science Behind It: Riparian zones in urban areas By Dr. Jessica Sanders, Director of Technical Services and Research, Casey Trees | For residents in the D.C. metro area, one way to bring nature to the city is with the connection of the rivers and water. Traditionally rivers were valued as transportation routes and waste disposal sites rather than important ecosystems or quality-of-life improvers. Riparian zones are common across the entire U.S., and they occur both in D.C., home to Casey Trees, and in Berryville, Va. where Casey Tree Farm land abuts the Shenandoah River. The District is made up of 6.9 square miles of water, covering 11 percent of the geographic area. The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Rock Creek make up the majority of water surface area in D.C. Riparian zones, or areas between the land and water, are significant because of their role in soil conservation and habitat biodiversity. Riparian zones act as bio-filters, protecting aquatic ecosystems from excessive sedimentation, polluted runoff and erosion. These areas are also ideal places for flora and fauna to thrive with limited human intervention. Last month’s tree tour with the Anacostia Watershed Society highlighted the riparian forest along the Anacostia River. Riparian forests are frequently inundated with water from the river, helping control the sediment, reducing the damaging effects of flooding and stabilizing the stream bank.
theleaflet | August 2013
Though limited water supply is not an issue in the D.C. area, water quality is becoming a concern. Riparian zones are instrumental in improving water quality for both surface runoff and input through groundwater flow and they can help lower levels of nitrate, a common chemical in both pesticides and fertilizers. If left unchecked, nitrate contamination could not only have negative implications on the health of plants and animals, but that of humans as well.
A view of a tree-lined section of the Anacostia River from the U.S. National Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Mr. T in DC.
These forested areas are crucial to maintaining and improving water quality for all of us. They are worth not only protecting, but also restoring. See photos and a recap of Casey Trees’ first-ever riparian tree tour on pages 8 and 9.
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Education Casey Trees debuts aquatic tree tour By Stephanie Juchs, Community Education Coordinator, Casey Trees | Nearly 30 participants joined Casey Trees and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) on July 25 for a riparian forests paddling tour to discover the Anacostia River, where they learned about the vital ecosystem services the waterway and its surrounding wetlands and forests provide.
banks. This provided an opportunity to talk about how the sea walls, constructed to control flooding, disconnected the hydrology between the river and the surrounding wetlands, which have sustained major loss. Because wetlands serve as the kidneys of a waterway, filtering and purifying the water, the severed connection exacerbated the pollution and water quality problems the river was already facing.
The tour, our first via canoe, also covered the past and current threats to the Anacostia and what groups such as AWS are doing to try to restore the biodiversity and functionality of the area’s wetland ecosystems. After a brief introduction to paddling and some basic tree terminology, we embarked on our river excursion.
Later we docked our boats near the inlet connecting the river and Kenilworth Lake and were able to disembark to continue the tour in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Though our time on land at the gardens was limited, we managed to discuss a few tree species of interest.
Jorge Bogantes Montero, Natural Resource Specialist for AWS, began the tour by discussing the history of the river and the tidal wetlands that surround it. Since low tide was approaching, participants could clearly see the sea walls, constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, lining both sides of the river
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Our first stop was at the invasive Tree of Heaven, which highlighted the threat invasives pose to riparian forests whose edges are susceptible to non-native infiltration. We contrasted the Tree of Heaven with some of the area’s native species, such as river birch and catalpa, which are well adapted to riparian buffers. The last stop before turning around was at a green ash tree, which allowed us to talk about the current threat of invasive pests — the first detection of emerald ash borer in the District was at the gardens — and discuss the importance of keeping riparian buffers intact and healthy. After hearing about past practices that contributed to a degrading river and the challenges to water
August 2013 | theleaflet
and it was clear from our sightings of egrets, herons and a beaver that this site is very important for wildlife.
quality the Anacostia still faces, it was encouraging to observe some of the great work AWS has done at Kenilworth Lake. Jorge highlighted some wild rice AWS planted to try to restore this native wetland species. AWS’ planting and monitoring activities help support local species and habitats,
theleaflet | August 2013
The paddle back to our launch spot was fairly quiet. People enjoyed the solitude, spotted more wildlife and marveled at Washington’s once “forgotten river,” reminding us of how the District must have once looked and all the opportunities there are to appreciate and protect this important habitat. Additional information about online, classroom and outdoor educational opportunities can be accessed on the website or found on pages 16 and 17.
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Advocacy Casey Trees advocacy program takes shape By Emily Oaksford, Planning Associate & Elliott August, Former Graduate Advocacy Intern, Casey Trees | At Casey Trees, our new advocacy initiative was created to bring our mission of restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital to action. The most enduring objective is achieving the city’s 40 percent tree canopy goal, which was adopted by the District government in 2009. Accounting for mortality, we calculate that 8,600 trees must be planted each year through 2035 to meet this goal. This figure requires that our existing canopy remains protected from threats such as development. By becoming a Tree Advocate, you can help us green our city, reach 40 percent tree canopy and protect our urban forest.
Each advocacy action is a unique opportunity to engage policymakers and other community leaders. Actions also provide a chance for Tree Advocates to meet and engage with other concerned citizens from across the city. Advocacy actions include: • Attending Casey Trees’ Lobby Days, which are offered three times a year and include delivering materials to the D.C. Council and encouraging the mayor to invest in trees. • Participating in public meetings, such as Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, community or District agency meetings to discuss trees in relation to developments, the city’s budget and other issues.
Who May Advocate with Casey Trees?
• Attending public workshops held by District agencies, community groups and D.C. councilmembers.
Anyone can advocate on behalf of trees. Our program is aimed at developing a network of trained Tree Advocates who fight to protect trees around D.C.
• Providing public comments addressing upcoming projects or plans in the District.
Tree Advocates are introduced to the multiple ways they can engage various levels of government through Casey Trees’ new advocacy handbook. After participating in classes and meetings, the advocates volunteer to take on a certain number of advocacy actions.
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Our most committed advocacy volunteers earn the distinction of being recognized as a Tree Advocate. As leaders who help facilitate advocacy actions, Tree Advocates help us as train other volunteers.
August 2013 | theleaflet
How to Become a Tree Advocate? To become a Tree Advocate, individuals must: • Attend the Stand Up for Trees Class (Sept. 21). • Complete a survey on past advocacy experiences and successes. • Attend two advocates meetings per year. • Participate in four advocacy actions (meetings, lobby days, public letters, etc.) John Salatti is the first Citizen Forester (CF) to earn the distinction of Tree Advocate. Salatti is a nine-year resident of Ward 5 and a former ANC commissioner for the Bloomingdale neighborhood. Astrid Joehnk, a dedicated CF and Casey Trees neighbor, is well on her way to achieving Tree Advocate status, recently submitting a public comment to the National Park Service on an upcoming park project in Ward 5.
theleaflet | August 2013
Becoming a Tree Advocate is not required to participate in Casey Trees advocacy initiatives, and we welcome everyone to join as their interests and time allow.
Planning Associate Emily Oaksford presents to a group of volunteers at an advocacy meeting.
To learn how to advocate on behalf of trees, take our Stand Up for Trees class on Sept. 21, learn more online or check out our advocacy actions and events here.
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Tree Care The mystery of watering: cost, time and responsibility By Alison Shapiro, Communications Intern, Casey Trees | This month’s forecast (page 2) indicates how important tree watering is in the summer months. Temperatures and precipitation can vary wildly from week to week, leaving trees vulnerable to quick shifts and extremes in the weather. To stay healthy and mitigate the loss of water through transpiration, trees need 25 gallons of water a week.
What’s the Cost of Water? Questions and concerns about the financial and time commitment of watering trees keep some residents from properly watering their trees. The potential cost of water and the environmental sustainability of using so much water for trees are valid concerns. We’d like to clear up some misconceptions to ensure a high survival rate for D.C.’s trees this summer. The cost to water a tree — per Casey Trees’ weekly recommendations — is actually fairly low, contrary to what some may think. DC Water bills water at $4.83 per 1000 gallons. 25 gallons of water per tree would cost $0.12, so if one tree is watered weekly in the spring, summer and fall, the annual watering cost would be $3.00. Compared to a lot of other daily activities, watering trees uses relatively little water. A 10 minute shower can use up to 100 gallons of water, 4 times the amount of water required weekly to keep a tree healthy!
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How to Water your Trees Using appropriate watering techniques and tools can help cut down on water and cost waste. Try using a hose or attached hoses to reach trees at a distance. Old buckets or water cooler jugs can also be used to transport water. Carrying water in a wheelbarrow or wagon is another great way to transport water alone.
August 2013 | theleaflet
Great Ways to Water Trees To turn tree watering into a fun community activity, try some of these ideas: Create a watering brigade Organize neighbors to sign up for a daily or weekly watering brigade, in which members get together at a certain day and time to water trees. Block assignments Create an online spreadsheet and assign neighbors to different blocks to ensure that each block’s trees get adequate watering. Watering BBQ Organize a neighborhood BBQ and sneak in tree watering as one of the games/social activities. Make it fun for the kids by including a prize for the child or group with the highest amount of tree touches.
To ensure the right amount of water is delivered at the correct pace, try a slow release watering bag, like Ooze Tubes available from Casey Trees. Use a funnel to ensure that all of the water gets into the bag. Some other slow release watering techniques include turning a hose on a low trickle for half an hour or placing a filled bucket with holes in the bottom at the base of a tree.
Create a supply sharing group for tree watering Hold a neighborhood swap each week to ensure every community member has the tools needed to water their trees. Either meet in person or create an online presence similar to Freecycle in order to coordinate material sharing. Organize a volunteer teen tree watering program Recruit neighborhood teens to water neighborhood trees on a weekly basis.
Casey Trees offers a collection of print and video tutorials on how to plant and care for trees.
theleaflet | August 2013
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Casey Tree Farm Casey Trees announces Design Competition winner Photos and descriptions courtesy of Casey Tree Farm General Manager, Brian Mayell. Check out all the photos on Casey Trees’ Flickr account. Casey Tree Farm continues to be highlighted in The Leaflet and on Casey Trees’ blog, Tree Speak.
Cover crops Buckwheat, cowpea and German millet, all annuals, were planted to build up soil organic matter, fix nitrogen and smother weeds. Additionally, it provides cover for beneficial insects that prey on or parasitize insect pests as well as pollen and nectar food sources for pollinators. Staff will mow the cover crop in September and plant winter rye or winter wheat, which will germinate in the fall and make most of its growth in the spring.
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August 2013 | theleaflet
Shell mushroom on a black locust.
A multi-stemmed tree green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), a common bottomland tree under threat in most of its native range because of the invasive beetle, emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB has not been observed or identified on Casey Tree Farm.
theleaflet | August 2013
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Events August and September events The end of summer means it’s time to get back to the books. Learn more about our city’s trees in Casey Trees’ trio of seasonal classes: Trees 101, Trees 201 and Stand Up For Trees. Most events require advanced registration; space is limited and waitlists are available.
Wednesday, August 7
Tuesday, August 13
Tuesday, September 10
Class: Non-native Invasive Plant Removal
Social: Branch Out Happy Hour
Social: Branch Out Happy Hour
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th Street NE
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Satellite Room 2047 9th Street NW
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location TBD
This course looks at non-native, invasive plants and how they threaten native landscapes. Participants will learn how to identify and control common invasives found in the D.C. area.
Located directly behind the famous 9:30 Club, this 1960s themed bar and diner serves up burgers, beer and some deliciously boozy milkshakes. Open to all!
Cost: Free, EVENT IS FULL **Registering for the classroom session automatically registers participants for the field session on Aug. 10.
Saturday, August 10 Class: Non-native Invasive Plant Removal Field Session
Cost: Free
Tuesday, August 20 Family Program: Tree Detectives at Lincoln Park 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Park East Capitol and 11th Streets SE
Casey Trees’ monthly happy hours are a great opportunity to meet fellow volunteers and Casey Trees supporters. Open to all! Cost: Free
Saturday, September 14 Class: Trees 201 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th Street NE
In this follow-up our Trees 101 class participants will learn more advanced tree identification skills and the process for identifying the right tree for the right place.
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Rock Creek Park
Tree Detectives is a series of family-focused tree tours styled as scavenger hunts, best for families with children in grades 1 to 6.
Field session for “Non-native Invasive Plant Removal” class.
Cost: Free, 4 SPOTS LEFT
Saturday, September 21
Saturday, September 7
Class: Stand Up for Trees
Cost: Free, EVENT IS FULL **The course consists of two parts on two different days: the Aug. 7 classroom session will be followed by a field session in Rock Creek Park on Aug. 10.
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Class: Trees 101 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th Street NE
Cost: Free
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th Street NE
Join us for this introductory course covering tree anatomy, tree identification and an overview of the benefits of Washington’s urban forest.
Learn how to become an advocate for the trees in your community and turn your knowledge into action by joining Casey Trees’ newly formed league of Tree Advocates! Stand Up for Trees is also a Citizen Forester and Tree Advocate qualifying course.
Cost: Free
Cost: Free August 2013 | theleaflet
Arbor Kids Arbor alphabet hunt This summer, we have been exploring the world of trees with hundreds of kids across the city through our TreeWise summer youth program and this is one of their favorite activities. Give it a try yourself!
ABC Scavenger hunt Do the activities associated with the letters in blue. What else do you see for the rest of the alphabet? A – Trees serve as a habitat for all sorts of creatures. Draw an Animal that you see living in a tree B C D E F – (ask permission before touching anything to make sure it is safe!) Feel and describe the bark of a tree. G H I – Trees attract lots of Insects. Do you see any? Draw one! J K L – Do a Leaf rubbing. Find a leaf on the ground and put it underneath your sheet of paper. Rub your pencil or crayon on your paper right over the leaf. M N – Do you see any Needles from an evergreen tree? O P Q – Shhhh! Quiet! What noises do you hear? R S T – Draw a picture of the Tallest tree you see! U V W – Do you see any trees with telephone Wires running through them? X Y Z theleaflet | August 2013
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