The 2018 report on Somerville's trees reveals significant loss, with over 1,800 trees removed, resulting in a generational loss of more than 4,600 inches in trunk diameter. The document stresses the need for accurate data, community engagement in tree care, and strategic planting policies to mitigate the impact of tree removal. Urgent action is recommended, including forming an urban forestry committee and establishing a master plan for green spaces.

1. Somerville’s Trees: 2018
Presented to the Green and Open Space Committee
of the Board of Aldermen
October 3, 2018
Chris Dwan (chris@dwan.org)
https://slideshare.com/chrisdwan
Sunday, Sept 2: Central and Willoughby Streets, looking East along the rail bed

2. I cannot think without pain of the destruction of
those beautiful grounds and trees, in order to
make room for unsightly railroad freight-houses
Martha Perry Lowe
As quoted in “Somerville, Past and Present” (1897)

3. Conclusions
2018 was a disaster for Somerville’s trees
We do not know if 2019 will be any better
We need accurate citywide data and well designed
metrics to support decision making.
Recent progress is good, and we need much more.
My goal tonight is to focus on the data challenges.

4. Why Do Trees Matter?

5. Beacon Street: October 6, 2017

6. Reactions Were Mixed

7. You can’t plant old trees
• Mature trees suffer transplant trauma:
Growth is stunted, which quickly erases
size benefits and reduces survival rates.
• If we remove our mature trees, we must
wait decades for the replacements to
grow.

8. The Protection From Trees Budget
Year Budget Spent Unspent
FY13 $50,000 $15,581 ($34,419)
FY14 $50,000 $28,964 ($21,036)
FY15 $50,000 $46,208 ($3,792)
FY16 $175,000 $40,550 ($134,450)
FY17 $175,000 $75,892 ($99,108)
FY18* $175,000 $82,196 ($92,804)
* YTD figure from the proposed FY19 budget as of June 2018
• Somerville’s Budget line item 529005 (“Care of
trees”) has been underspent each of the last six
fiscal years
• This is a DPW line item, mostly used for removal
of fallen limbs and pruning of trees that pose a
threat to life or property.

9. “If you aim for simplicity, master complexity.”
The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting, 1679

11. The contract issued by MassDOT only lists the
30 largest trees on the street.
Trees below a certain size are bid as “general
excavation.”
Contracts and Highway Drawings

12. These light grey numbers on the
design drawings show tree sizes.
These “REM TREE” annotations are the
basis for the statement that “the
removal was planned all along.”
Construction Drawings Give the Best Data

13. Beacon Street: Summary
• The plans commissioned by the city in 2015 specify a clear cut of Beacon Street.
• Only one tree was called out for protection. It died during construction.
• LOSS: ~65 trees, total of 576” diameter
• PLANNED REPLACEMENT: ~200 trees @ ~2” diameter each (~400” total)
• NEUTRAL - TREE INCHES: 2022 – 2025
• NEUTRAL - SIZE OF TREES: 2034 – 2068

14. Somerville High School
• More than 70 trees were removed from
the high school campus on Highland.
• Public process, was followed including
community meetings.
• Plantings planned for 2020 and beyond.

15. High School: Back Woods
• The wooded hillside behind the high school was clear cut to make way
for a retaining wall and an artificial turf athletic field.
• City staff surveyed the pre-existing trees prior to the clear-cut
• 644 trees were removed, totaling 3,004 inches of trunk diameter

16. The Green Line Extension
The GLX project estimates that 1,000
trees have been removed in the
process of “grubbing” the tracks prior
to construction.
This removal was indiscriminate,
without consideration for size or
species.
No records on the removal were
considered “responsive” to a freedom
of information act request of
MassDOT and MBTA.
Based on overhead map comparisons
of the area cleared for GLX vs. the
high school, the estimate likely
underrepresents the total.

17. 2018: A catastrophe for trees
Trees Removed Average
Diameter
Total Diameter
Removed
Cedar Street 15 15” 220”
Beacon Street 65 9” 576”
Somerville Ave 17 10” 172”
SHS Campus 71 10” 686”
SHS Back Woods 644 5” 3004”
GLX ~1,000 Unknown Unknown
Total 1,812 >> 4,658”

18. This is a generational loss
• Trees grow an inch of diameter in
two to five years.
• 2” diameter saplings planted this
year will reach 10” between 2034
and 2068.
• Large, mature trees are
irreplaceable within our lifetimes.
• Somerville is already the most
densely settled, hottest, and
most paved city in our region.
We cannot afford the loss.

19. What should be done?
Engage the community:
• Seat the Urban Forestry Committee
• Develop a practice of community tree care
• Develop a “community tree” program
Get good data:
• Measure and report citywide statistics of tree
removal and planting from all sources.
Be strategic
• Set a net-neutral policy on tree-inches
• Develop SOPs around tree planting
• Develop a master plan for green and open
space and trees.
• Make funding contingent on meeting tree
preservation standards.

21. Thank You
City Staff
– Edward Bean
– Vanessa Boukili
– Joe Curtatone
– Robert King
– Luisa Oliveira
– Brad Rawson
– Jackie Rossetti
Elected Officials
– Joe Curtatone
– Ben Ewen-Campben
– Stephanie Hirsh
– Pat Jehlen
– Will Mbah
– Mark Niedergang
– Denise Provost
– Mary Joe Rossetti
– JT Scott
– William White
Community Members
– Tori Antonino
– Katie Bowler
– Suzanne Bremer
– Ken Carlson
– David Falk
– Dan Flynn
– Lumina Gershfield
– David Guss
– Elaine Koury
– Nisa Marks
– David Meshoulam
– Leigh Meuner
– Adam Portney
– Kate Wheeler
– Renée Scott
– Bill Shelton