City To Remove and Replace Dead, Dying Trees

To help create a safer environment and ensure a healthy tree canopy in parks, open spaces, and public rights of way, the City of Mercer Island has hired a tree contractor to remove trees that are dead, in the process of dying, or have diseases which compromise their health. The removal work begins on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and will continue throughout the month of September. In the fall and winter, the City will undertake a significant replanting program to replace trees that were removed.

“The preservation of Mercer Island’s urban tree canopy is a longstanding priority of the City and one that we take extremely seriously. Healthy trees are essential to the Island’s ecosystem, and they provide immeasurable benefits to residents of and visitors to the Island,” said Andrew Prince, the City’s Urban Forestry Program Manager. “Whenever possible, we strive to retain the Island’s trees by taking proactive steps to improve and maintain tree health, with removal used only as a last resort.”

In all, 52 trees are slated for removal, many of which are standing dead trees. The remainder are trees that have started to fail or display defects that pose a risk to the public, as determined by City arborists. All staff who make these determinations have completed the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) program from the International Society of Arboriculture, which includes a training module and both written- and performance-based assessments.

City crews have identified several areas around the Island where tree removals will occur (see link to maps below), including along Island Crest Way near SE 28^th Ave., the site of many red maple trees that have failed. Replanting will occur here and in other locations in the fall and winter. Last year, the City replanted nearly nine trees for every one tree that was removed.