City completing tree removal and replacement to protect Dearborn’s tree canopy

City completing tree removal and replacement to protect Dearborn's tree canopy

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The City of Dearborn Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently removing roughly 1,000 unhealthy trees from Dearborn parks and property easements. In their place, they are planting new, healthy trees to ensure that no tree coverage is lost. This is an environmentally friendly practice done in cities and towns across the country to encourage healthy tree growth.

Maintaining a healthy tree canopy is crucial. Cities with thriving tree canopies see cooler temperatures, better air quality, higher energy savings, lower crime rates, increased property values, improved stormwater and flood management, and growth in commercial activity.

How does the City decide if a tree needs to be removed?

A tree must meet the following criteria to be removed by the City of Dearborn:

• Be considered unhealthy or at risk of causing damage in a storm
• Be located in a City park or property easement.

A team from the Department of Public Works (DPW), led by the City's arborist, is responsible for assessing the health of the trees in Dearborn parks and property easements. Trees that show signs that they are dead, dying, or at high risk of causing significant damage are flagged for removal.

The DPW team and City arborist are specially trained to determine the health of a tree using these methods:

• Visual inspection.
• Sounding with an arborist hammer to detect areas of decay.
• Tree canopy assessment using drone technology.
• Use of a resistograph, which finds soft spots in the trunk and limbs indicating decay.

Why is the City removing and planting 1,000 trees?

Right now, approximately 1,000 trees in Dearborn parks and property easements have been flagged for removal because they are dead, dying, or at risk of causing damage in a storm.

Many of these trees were identified as a concern several years ago but, because of the City's decision to temporarily suspend tree trimming in 2019 and 2020, were not removed at the time of initial inspection. This resulted in a backlog, which is still being addressed today. City Council recently approved a contract brought forward by Mayor Hammoud and his administration to hire an outside vendor to assist the City in catching up on tree removal and planting. The City planted nearly 1,000 new trees in 2023 and is on track to plant more in 2024.

Where is the City removing and replanting trees?

The City of Dearborn may remove unhealthy and high-risk trees from Dearborn parks and property easements. The City is also allowed to plant new, healthy trees in place of trees that are removed.

What is a property easement?

A property easement is a space between a public sidewalk and a curb of a property that runs along a street. In Dearborn, the City takes care of long-term maintenance of the easement, while the resident or business owner is responsible for keeping the space neat, tidy, and healthy every day.

Will every tree that is removed by the City be replanted?

Yes. If the City removes a tree from a property, they will replant a tree in its place to ensure that no tree coverage is lost throughout the city.

What happens to the trees that the City removes?

After the City removes a tree and cleans up a site, they provide the tree to a contractor so that the wood may be repurposed. Usually, the contractor will grind the tree trunk and branches to create mulch.

How does the City decide which trees to plant in place of the trees they remove?

The City arborist and DPW decide which type of tree to plant in place of the trees that they remove from a park or property easement. The property size, space, local environment, and long-term maintenance needs for each species of tree are always considered before a tree is selected and planted by City staff.

How will the City care for the new tree in my easement after it has been planted?

Residents are responsible for maintaining new trees planted on their property. This includes basic care and regular watering.

Can I ask the City to remove a tree from my property?

In select situations, healthy trees may be removed. Before the tree can be removed, the City requires homeowners to obtain a permit and plant a new tree on their property or contribute to a tree-planting fund for the city.

However, if the City accepts an arborist's decision that a tree is dead or dying, only a permit is needed; the tree does not need to be replaced.

What do I need to have a tree removed from my property if it is not in my easement?

A tree removal permit and approval from the City of Dearborn is required before removing trees that are more than 4 feet tall and 16 inches in diameter.

Removing a tree meeting these criteria without a permit and approval from the City is a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by a $500 fine and up to 93 days in jail.

Trees that are less than 4 feet tall and 16 inches in diameter may be removed without a permit. However, it is still required to contact the City before doing so.

It is free to apply for a tree removal permit with the City. The permit application must be accompanied by a report from a certified arborist detailing the health, size, and species of the tree that needs to be removed.

Can I request a new tree be planted in my easement?

Residents can request that a tree be planted on their easement. For more information, contact Tree Services at 313-943-2107.

Does the City replace trees for free if they are lost due to construction?

The City will replace trees lost during public construction projects (such as repairs to roads and sewers). If there is significant tree damage or loss because of one of these projects, the City will plant new trees at every property along the project once construction is completed at no cost to residents. This includes properties that did not previously have trees.

To order a tree or gather more information, visit CityofDearborn.org or call 313-943-2150.

(Published April 29, 2024)

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