This project provides for the preservation of the street tree canopy through tree maintenance that will reduce hazardous situations to pedestrians and motorists, help reduce outages in the county, preserve health and longevity of trees, decrease property damage incurred from tree debris during storms, reduce property damage claims, correct structural imbalances/defects that cause future hazardous conditions and that shorten the lifespan of the trees, improve aesthetics and adjacent property values, improve sight distance for increased safety, and provide clearance from street lights and signs for a safer environment.

Cost change is due the addition of FY31 and FY32 to this Level of Effort project.

In FY97, the County eliminated the Suburban District Tax and expanded its street tree maintenance program from the old Suburban District to include the entire County. The street tree population in the county is nearly 500,000 trees, with a typical life span of 60 years. Since that time, only pruning in reaction to emergency/safety concerns has been provided. The preservation of the street tree canopy through tree maintenance provides a reduction in hazardous situations and a healthier urban forest canopy. Tree maintenance will decrease storm damage and cleanup costs, right-of-way obstruction and safety hazards to pedestrians and motorists, strengthen structural integrity, decrease public security risk, and decrease liability claims. The Forest Preservation Task Force Report (October, 2000) recommended the development of a green infrastructure CIP project for street tree maintenance. The Forest Preservation Strategy Update (July, 2004) reinforced the need for a CIP project that addresses street trees (Recommendations in the inter-agency study of tree management practices by the Office of Legislative Oversight (Report #2004-8 - September, 2004) and the Tree Inventory Report and Management Plan by Appraisal, Consulting, Research, and Training Inc. (November, 1995). Studies have shown that healthy trees provide significant year-round energy savings. Trees, acting as windbreaks in the winter, can lower heating costs by 10 to 25 percent, and summer shade can lower cooling costs by 15 to 35 percent. In addition to individual household energy savings, trees reduce the demand for cooling across entire communities by mitigating the urban heat island effect. Healthy street tree canopy also captures the first 0.5 inch of rainfall, reducing the need for stormwater management facilities.

Expenditures will continue indefinitely.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, utility companies. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services