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Report from arborists affirms school's oak trees are healthy
Preservation guidelines expected to help
By Jason Baker
The oaks at Saratoga Elementary are healthy and should survive, a report prepared by the district's contracted tree specialist showed.
In documents prepared on Sept. 15, consulting arborist Jim McClenahan of S. P. McClenahan Co. Inc. stated that he had inspected five specific trees at the district's request to evaluate their present condition and the impact of construction-site improvements.
McClenahan found that "minimal lateral root injury was observed and pruning to provide the necessary construction clearance has had no adverse effect to tree health at the time of inspection. Tree protection fencing had been installed and adequately protects lateral root environments."
Workers in June began initial renovations of Redwood and Saratoga schools, including structural abatement, asbestos removal, grading and trenching within the environment of the Oak Street campus trees. Superintendent Mary Gardner said she agreed with residents monitoring the health of the trees that oaks might indeed have been at risk, but that the district would do all it could to preserve the life of the trees. The district hired McClenahan at the recommendation of arborist Debbie Ellis, who is taking care of the district's eucalyptus trees.
In determining the oak trees' conditions, McClenahan considered several factors, including rate of growth over several seasons, structural decay or weakness, presence of disease or insects and life expectancy. The district's adoption of recommended tree preservation guidelines will improve the lateral root environment, stimulate root development and encourage growth, he said. With adoption of preservation measures, he said, prognosis for continued tree heath is favorable.
The report graded the health of two valley oaks and one coast live oak on the campus' eastern boundary as "fair to good," with the prognosis that all would survive with preservation measures. Two valley oaks on the Oak Street frontage road were also deemed in fair to good condition, despite minimal damage to the trees' lateral roots during demolition and drainage procedures.
However, McClenahan did recommend the removal of a catalpa tree of 22 1/2 inches in diameter in the proposed kindergarten play area. The report showed the tree to be in advanced decline, and the limited root environment would not allow a favorable response to preservation measures.
Administrators and project managers were reviewing the report late last week and planned to implement further preservation procedures immediately. An arborist will inspect the trees at four-week intervals to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the plan and to recommend additional care if necessary.
The tree controversy began in June 1998 after preliminary plans for Saratoga School's renovation called for the removal of two large eucalyptus trees near the playground and eight eucalyptus trees along the south side of the school near the parking lot.
More than nine months of controversy--including the resignation in protest by trustee Jill Hunter--ended on April 27 when the Saratoga Union School District board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a negative declaration and begin the construction bidding process.
Trustees reached a compromise with community groups on the issue of the removal of 10 eucalyptus trees. The district agreed to keep the two large eucalyptus trees near the playground until May 2000. Gardner said at that time that Ellis would recommend the removal of one of the two trees, keeping only the healthiest. Ellis also will evaluate the four eucalyptus trees near the classrooms and determine if any are unhealthy. Trees found to be diseased or unsafe will be removed, Gardner said.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
