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2 May 2014 | theleaflet
CASEY TREES NEWS IN BRIEF
CASEY TREES NEWS
END OF PLANTING SEASON TO BE CELEBRATED WITH POTLUCK PICNIC | On
Saturday, May 17, volunteers and friends alike are
invited to celebrate the end of another successful
planting season with a Volunteer Season Wrap Party at the Takoma Recreation Center. The gathering will
feature games, food trucks and live entertainment from
talented Casey Trees staff. Guests are encouraged to
bring a drink or dish to share, but grills will be fired up
by staff and the Pho Wheels and Woodlands Vegan
Bistro food trucks will be parked nearby for more
delicious options. To learn more and RSVP, just visit the
events page.
CASEY TREEES WEEKLY WATERING ALERTS RETURN | Every Monday, from May 5 to
September, Casey Trees will once again begin issuing
weekly watering alerts as part of its annual 25 to Stay Alive Campaign, which aims to educate residents on
the importance of watering trees, demonstrate proper
watering techniques and provide supplies to make
watering easier and generate less wasteful runoff.
Since trees that have been in the ground less than
three years require 25 gallons of water — equivalent
to roughly 1.5 inches of rainfall — per week to survive,
they will need a lot of help during periods of little rain
and high temperatures. The alerts — Dry, Normal and
Wet — will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook
pages as well as our website homepage.
On April 5, the U.S. National Arboretum hosted the 2014 MAC-ISA Tree Climbing Championship, an annual competition featuring tree climbing events, forestry
challenges and other tree activities. While Casey Trees staff attended the event
to lead children’s activities and answer tree questions, they were in for a pleasant
surprise when they discovered a volunteer taking her love of trees all the way into
the canopy.
Saharah Moon Chapotin, a Lead Citizen Forester and dedicated planter, was one
of only three women competing in the Championship. Chapotin competed in all five
of the forestry challenges, including the vigorous work climb and the belayed speed
climb. Although she didn’t take home any medals, Saharah impressed onlookers with
her skill. Taking the lessons learned to further her training, she looks forward to the
challenge of climbing again next year.
CITIZEN FORESTER CONQUERS TREE CLIMBING CHALLENGES
HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER CREW APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 17 | Applications
are still being accepted for the 2014 High School Summer Crew. Crew members will spend 35 hours
per week Monday to Friday caring for trees across
the District. General responsibilities include watering,
weeding and mulching. All applicants must be at least
16 years of age, enrolled in or just graduated from a
D.C.-area high school and willing to care for and learn
about trees. Online applications must be completed in
one sitting and are due by May 17. Summer Crew will
run from June 27 to August 8. Semi-finalists will be
interviewed in-person. Finalists must participate in a
two-day field tryout on June 23 and 24 to demonstrate
their abilities.
TREEWISE APPLICATION STILL OPEN FOR SUMMER 2014 SESSIONS | The online
application for the summer 2014 TreeWise sessions
is still open. Registration is easily done online for the
three session types available in 2014, which will run
from June 23 to August 8. TreeWise is Casey Trees’
nature- and place-based summer education program
for youth ages 6 to 10. For summer 2014, Casey
Trees is excited to announce three different available
session types. The standard on-site sessions and the
U.S. National Arboretum sessions that debuted last
summer will continue to be offered. New for 2014 are
Arboretum sessions with Washington Youth Garden
staff for an even more diverse set of activities.
theleaflet | May 2014 3
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM GROWS | Spring
has been a time of change for the Casey Trees’
Communications Department and has resulted in
the addition of two new staff members. Amy Kasper,
formerly a Development Intern, has officially taken
the place of Mark DeSantis as the new Development
Associate. She will oversee the Membership program,
sponsorships and a variety of Casey Trees’ giving
initiatives. Additionally, Richard Houston will be
stepping into a brand new role as a CRM Administrator
who will enhance Casey Trees’ organizational data and
develop training materials for staff. Richard comes to
Casey Trees with previous development and database
experience. He holds a BA in Political Science from the
University of California, Berkeley.
ADVOCACY ASSOCIATE AND INTERNSHIP POSITIONS AVAILABLE | A position has opened
within the Planning and Design Department for an
Advocacy Associate who will work with the Director
of Planning and Design and the Planning Associate
to help implement Casey Trees’ advocacy efforts and
the volunteer Tree Advocates program. The ideal
candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in public
policy or a related field and 1-2 years of experience
with advocacy program implementation. To apply
or learn more, contact Maisie Hughes, Director of
Planning and Design, at [email protected]. The Communications team will also be hiring
a Development Intern and a Communications Intern. To apply, contact Jared Powell, Director
of Communications and Development, at [email protected].
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY WITH FEATURE ON URBAN TREE CANOPY | In conjunction with April’s
celebration of Arbor Day, the National Geographic
Magazine published a feature profiling nine U.S. cities that are distinguished by their work towards
preserving and protecting their tree canopy. Notably,
Washington D.C. — and its 36 percent canopy
coverage — was recognized as one of the nine cities
that love their trees, highlighted by the fact that “the
District spends more money on its trees than any
other city: $10 million per year.” An accomplishment of
both government support and Casey Trees’ work, D.C.
boasts more green space per capita than any other
similarly sized U.S. city.
IN THIS ISSUE...
SPECIAL ISSUE: HOW DID D.C. FARE IN SIXTH ANNUAL TREE REPORT CARD?............................. 4-5
FROM THE DESK: PRIVATE ACTION FOR PUBLIC GOOD ........................................................................ 6
CITIZEN FORESTER KATE CLARKE’S BIG PLANTING GOALS ................................................................. 7
FIRST ANNUAL CANOPY AWARDS SHINE ............................................................................................. 8-9
PUBLIC SPACE KEY TO URBAN FOREST ................................................................................................. 10
NEW GREEN BOOK TO HELP GROW LARGER STREET TREES ............................................................. 11
YOUTH DAY OF SERVICE SEES DIVERSE VOLUNTEERS ........................................................................ 12
MORE THAN 100 TREES PLANTED AT D.C.-AREA SCHOOLS ............................................................... 13
INCREASING TREE COVERAGE ON A MILITARY BASE .................................................................... 14-15
MAY AND JUNE EVENTS AND CLASSES.............................................................................................16-17
ARBOR KIDS: TREE FLOWER DISCOVERY................................................................................................18
URBAN FORESTRY NEWS
4 May 2014 | theleaflet
B-For generations, we have intrinsically understood that trees improve our quality of life and should therefore be considered an essential, not optional, part of urban living. This is why Casey Trees publishes the Tree Report Card — to monitor trends and ensure that D.C. remains the “City of Trees” for the foreseeable future. Casey Trees’ Tree Report Card measures the quantity and condition of D.C.’s trees and the collective efforts of all groups and individuals working to achieve the District’s 40 percent tree canopy goal. It is based on data from various sources, including federal, state and private groups.
TREE COVERAGE
PERFORMANCE METRIC GRADES
2013
Every five years, satellite images are used to
estimate the change in D.C.’s tree canopy, with the
goal of determining the overall trends of planting,
growth, development, removal and mortality.
By examining trees from above and at specific
time intervals, not only can we
determine how the canopy is changing, but also
what causes those changes.
In 2011, the University of Vermont Spatial
Analysis Lab estimated the District’s canopy at 36
percent, which translates into an A- grade for Tree
Coverage.
TREE HEALTH
Tree Health is the measure of overall health of
the District’s trees. Using tree canopy analysis
software, individual tree data collected from 201
permanent field plots located across D.C. was
assessed. While tree cover is measured from the
top down, tree health is measured from the bottom
up using individual trees.
This data is collected and analyzed using i-Tree
software to give us a better understanding of
the variety, size, condition and total number of
trees. Data from our assessment shows that 82.4
percentof D.C.’s 2.5 million trees are in “Good” to
“Excellent” condition, which gives D.C. a B- grade
in Tree Health.
theleaflet | May 2014 5
-TREE PLANTING
Tree Planting measures the number of trees
planted annually against what must be planted
— 8,600 trees per year until 2035 — to achieve
the city’s tree canopy goal. Since 2008, one
exceptionally positive development is that tree
planting has been on the rise, mostly due to
increased street tree planting by the District’s
Urban Forestry Administration (UFA). The UFA
has logged a record number of trees planted this
year — 7,001 —surpassing records going back
decades.
For the fourth straight year, groups have planted
above the target of 8,600 trees — 10,232 total —
resulting in a grade of A+ grade for Tree Planting.
TREE PROTECTION
This metric gauges the success of theUFPA. The UFPA protects Special Trees (ordiscourages their removal) by charging a fee**should someone want to remove one.
Tree Protection uses 3 sub-metrics.• Is the UFPA’s removal fee high enough to
discourage the removal of healthy Special
Trees?• Is the Tree Fund being administered properly?
• Are replacement trees surviving to reach
maturity?
Averaging the scores for each sub-metric results
in a D- grade for Tree Protection.
WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED?We continue to recommend that the Urban Forestry Protection Act (UFPA) be strengthed by:• Mandating survival checks for all trees planted with Tree
Fund dollars.• Adjusting the fee structure, 11 years out of date, to adjust for
inflation.• Lowering the size limit of Special Trees from 55 inches in
circumference to 40 inches to protect more trees.• Redirecting most of the fees/fines in the Tree Fund to
planting trees on private lots.• Changing the Special Tree replacement options to a fee-
based system only.
And that:• The District direct more resources toward planting trees on
private lots where trees have access to more soil so they will develop to their fullest and where a property owner can care for and water them during their critical years of life.
• D.C. adopt impervious surface maximums and tree canopy minimums for all zoning districts to ensure every neighborhood in D.C. can support trees for the benefits they provide residents and businesses alike.
• The Mayor’s Office designate a lead agency to coordinate all urban forestry efforts on D.C. lands.
6 May 2014 | theleaflet
Private Action for Public Good: Private Lands a Stength in 2013’s Tree Report The theme for this year’s Tree Report Card is
“Private Action for Public Good,” and for good
reason. To close the gap between the District’s
40 percent canopy goal and the current canopy
level of 36 percent, private lands offer the
largest land base to plant the trees needed to
achieve this goal.
The upsides of private land don’t end there.
Private lands also provide plenty of space for a
tree’s roots to develop and grow — an extremely
beneficial trait that leads to healthier, longer
living trees.
Perhaps even more importantly, planting trees
on private lots creates a direct connection
to the people who plant, care and benefit from them.
This link helps educate current and future generations
about the value of planting trees, which in turn creates
a community of supporters who advocate for trees and
their continued presence in neighborhoods across the
District.
Now in its 6th year, we can truly see that the Tree
Report Card is accomplishing what it was intended
for — tracking a few key indicators that measure the
quantity and quality of D.C.’s beloved trees and raising
awareness among residents, organizations, elected
officials and the general public about the benefits of
tree resources in the Nation’s Capital.
For 2013, the overall message is similar to last year’s —
the celebration of robust tree planting numbers being
brought down by an ongoing and unmet need to track
the survival of replacement trees to gauge if protection
efforts are achieving their objectives.
For these and other advances and shortfalls
experienced over the 2013 reporting year, the final
grade for the sixth annual Tree Report Card is the same
as last year’s, a B-. To get the entire report, just visit our
publications page.
Thanks for your ongoing support!
Regards,
Mark Buscaino
Executive Director
MARK BUSCAINOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
From the Desk
theleaflet | May 2014 7
Spotlight
Citizen Forester Kate Clarke Sets Amazing Planting GoalsBy Casey Manning, Communications and Marketing Associate, Casey Trees | “I’ve always
been really passionate about the environment,” said
Kate Clarke, a 24 year old recent D.C. transplant from
Hendersonville, Tenn. and a Casey Trees Citizen Forester. And this passion, spurred most recently by an
internship with Inconvenient Youth, has flourished into
an ambitious goal.
“What I want to do with my whole life is start a nonprofit
to build, maintain, and protect forests globally. And the
best way for me to really get going was to start planting
trees. In ten years I want to have planted 2,000 trees.”
Ten years. 2,000 trees.
In this first year of this project, Kate’s goal is to plant 50
trees.
“50 may be hard this year but next year I’ll have all the
resources in place to plant 50 trees easily. Totally out of
arm’s reach, but that’s why it’s my goal.”
Her first memory of trees, growing up in the suburbs of
Nashville, is a heartwarming one.
“We had a wood that backed up to our house, and a
bunch of trees always hit my window. Instead of being
terrified of the shadows they created, I absolutely loved
them; I felt safe and protected. It’s this whole feeling I
had growing up that was created by trees. “
Her favorite tree planting thus far wasn’t quite the
experience you’d expect. “My very first planting this
season was at Garfield Park and it was in the rain. The
ground was definitely muddy. But everybody in the group
that I was working with felt so dedicated to being there
and happy to actually be digging a hole in this very wet
mud and it didn’t seem like hard work, despite the rain.
Everybody was just so happy to be
there.”
And don’t think Kate will just stop
when she hits 2000 trees. Her
goal in life? “It’s literally to save the
planet, however cheesy that may
sound. I 100 percent believe that
trees are going to save the world.”
Attending the Casey Trees 2014
Canopy Awards and hearing
former D.C. mayor Anthony A.
Williams speak of the District as
the” City of Trees” inspired Kate
even further. “It goes along with
my vision – really taking the “City
of Trees,” Washington’s name to
total heart.”
“It’s my priority in life to plant
trees,” Kate said with conviction.
Spend ten minutes talking to her, and it’ll
soon be your priority too.
The world’s forests are safe in Kate Clarke’s hands.
Learn about the many ways you can get involved with Casey Trees as a Citizen Forester.
8 May 2014 | theleaflet
By Elise Roberts, Events and Communications Intern, Casey Trees | After a week of rain, D.C. was
gifted with a beautifully sunny day on Arbor Day Eve –
Thursday, April 24 – just in time for the first inaugural
Canopy Awards. Celebrated at the new DOCK5 at
Union Market space, the Canopy Awards honored
individuals making a difference today while raising funds
for the tree canopy of tomorrow.
The honorees were four hard-working individuals who
have contributed immensely to our work in the past
twelve years.
Former Mayor Anthony A.
Williams was honored with the
Canopy Award for Leadership for
his role in expanding protections
for the D.C. tree canopy. Christy
Kwan received the Canopy
Award for Volunteer Service for
her involvement not only as a
Lead Citizen Forester, but also
as a Team Leader and Tree
Advocate.
The Canopy Award for Education
was awarded to Melanie
Choukas-Bradley, author of
the City of Trees and frequent
instructor at Casey Trees events.
Last but certainly not least, Betsy
Emes was given the
Canopy Award for Partnership in recognition of her work
in our ongoing relationship with Trees for Georgetown.
As guests arrived, they were treated to a signature
cocktail of gin, champagne and lemon-lavender soda
with a sprig of sage. Alternatively, local wines from
Ingelside Winery in Virginia as well as beer from PBR
and Great Lakes were provided. Buffalo & Bergen, a
Union Market staple, was on site offering fruit and nut
flavored sodas and egg creams.
As a special treat, Shake Shack debuted their new
“Super Fry Frickle Dog,” a hot dog topped with ale-
marinated shallots, American cheese sauce and crispy-
fried Thai Basil Jalapeño pickles from Gordy’s Pickles.
An assortment of sandwiches were available, as well
as delectable passed appetizers, including chicken and
waffle bites and mini crab cakes.
Both before and after the ceremony, a myriad of
activities were available to entertain. While some guests
practiced their swing on the putt putt course, others
perused the tempting packages in the silent auction.
Everyone enjoyed shuffleboard and lamented when they
heard Giant Jenga crashing to the ground.
The Bumper Jacksons got the party started with their
upbeat tunes and Andrew Lipke and the Azrael Quartet
ended the night on a high note. At the photo booth,
guests could strike a pose in Casey Trees gear.
As one guest commented, “it wouldn’t be a Casey Trees
event without a yellow vest!”
First inaugural Canopy Awards celebrated friends of the urban forest
Giving
To receive your complimentary tickets to next year’s Canopy Awards and our annual Fall Donor Event, become a Ally Member or above today!
theleaflet | May 2014 9
5
SponsorsAMERICAN ELM - $5,000
®
SUGAR MAPLE - $2,500
BALFOUR BEATTY CONSTRUCTION
BREMO TREES WHOLESALE NURSERY
CLIFF ELMORE ARCHITECTS, PLLC
ELMENDORF | RYAN LLC
PGP DEVELOPMENT LLCPNC BANK
ENGINEERED WATERING SOLUTIONS
RUPPERT NURSERIES, INC.SHAKE SHACK
STOIBER + ASSOCIATES
SYCAMORE - $1,000
REDBUD - $500
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
ELLER GROUPGREAT LAKES BREWING CO.
HARTLAND & CO.
LIMNOTECHMATT MCHUGH
THOMAS ANDREWS ARCHITECTSTILTON BERNSTEIN MANAGEMENT
U.S. BANK N.A.
Guests enjoyed a wide variety of games, drinks and music.
2014’s honorees proudly display their Canopy Awards.
Dock Five at Union Market served as a wonderful event space.
10 May 2014 | theleaflet
Partnership between private and public space key to urban forestNCE FUNCTION
By Dr. Jessica Sanders, Director of Technical Services and Research, Casey Trees | An annual grading of the District’s urban forest
requires commitment and understanding of why urban
trees matter.
Although it is widely accepted that trees are good
for a multitude of reasons, where we plant these
trees matters. Unfortunately, this action is becoming
increasingly difficult as development continues and
access to soil decreases. Although trees have an
amazing adaptability to a variety of sites and planting
conditions, one thing remains true: a tree needs soil in
order to survive.
The simple act of planting a tree in your yard has the
amazing ability to influence not only your neighbors to
do the same act, but also creates a plethora of benefits
for all to enjoy.
A majority of the potential for canopy growth lies on
private land; however, shifts in the District’s population
demographics mean more young single adults call
this city home. Predominantly renters, many of these
residents do
not have yards,
which make
public spaces in
greater demand.
These spaces
provide places
to actively engage in the community and cultivate
relationships. Imagine Malcolm X Park devoid of a
Sunday drum circle or Lincoln Park without a picnic. As
renters increase, the need for public spaces has never
been greater.
Tree-lined landscapes, like many of the public parks
found throughout The District, serve as an extension
of home; a way to create, relax, play and entertain in a
natural setting by creating enticing landscapes.
As a member of this growing demographic that the city
is made of, I find myself drawn to going out of my way
to walk through enjoyable landscapes. These tend to be
not only parks, but streets where the homeowners have
planted trees and beautiful flowers.
As development increases, outdoor gathering spaces
are threatened in a time where the need has never been
greater.
Join me to keep these public spaces vibrant, and create
parks even in our own homes. Thank a person for
planting a tree on your way to work, and help plant some
trees in different areas of the city.
Technology & Research
Meridian Hill ParkPhoto Credit: Flickr user — Elvert Barnes Photography
Follow Casey Trees’ blog, Tree Speak, for additional mapping and GIS-related features by Technical Services & Research staff.
theleaflet | May 2014 11
DDOT’s New Green Book Will Help Grow Larger Street Treese Function
Maisie Hughes, Director Planning and Design, Casey Trees | The D.C. Department of
Transportation released new Green Infrastructure
Standards on Earth Day. While design standards,
comprised of technical design and engineering
language, may not seem exciting to some, these new
standards are a game-changer for sustainability efforts
in D.C.
Going by the nickname of the “Green Book,” DDOT’s
Green Infrastructure Standards dictate how all
construction activities are performed within the public
space of D.C. The Green Book encourages design
practices that will grow larger trees by requiring more
soil volume for street trees and create cleaner rivers by
encouraging stormwater capture.
Tree canopy provides many of the environmental
benefits needed to create sustainable cities. Tree
canopy shades and cools streets, captures rainwater,
cleans the air and releases both water and oxygen into
the air. Large trees with healthy canopies are essential
to realizing the environmental potential of trees.
Arborists have determined that the more soil you give
a tree’s roots, the larger the tree’s trunk and crown will
grow. DDOTs Green Book promotes tree growth by
requiring 1,500 cubic feet of soil for large trees, 1,000
cubic feet of soil for medium trees and 600 cubic feet
of soil for small trees.
In addition, the Green Book contains standards and
specifications for designing tree spaces to capture
stormwater along the
roadway and create
excellent soils for trees.
The Green Book also
includes a list of trees and
plants suited for D.C.’s
streets and for projects
that capture stormwater.
Two of the many trees
of interest in the Green
Book include:
Kentucky Coffee Tree• Gymnocladus dioicus
‘Stately Manor’
• The Stately Manor Kentucky Coffee Tree is seedless
with a narrow habit. It has dark brown bark and
bipinnately compound leaves. • Height: 40-50’ Spread: 20-25 feet. Full sun.
Drought Tolerant. Native. Bioretention friendly.
Black Gum • Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’
• The Wildfire Blackgum provides excellent fall color
and wildlife habitat. Also known as the black tupelo,
it has a pyramidal shape when young and a rounded
crown as it matures. • Height: 30-50’ Spread: 20-30’. Full sun to part
shade. Highly drought tolerant. Bioretention friendly.
Planning & Design
Follow Casey Trees to read more about all the great programs to get involved that are helping increase the canopy of D.C.
FEAR OF THE KENTUCKY COFFEE TREERecently, the PoPville blog featured a post where a D.C. resident expressed
great fear at the Coffee tree’s poisonous traits. Fortunately, commentators with
tree knowledge dispelled the reason for great concern. The Kentucky Coffee
Tree is no more of a threat than many common plants.
12 May 2014 | theleaflet
By Katie Blackman, Volunteer Coordinator, Casey Trees | Every year, the nation takes a week in
April to celebrate the contributions volunteers make to
improving our communities.
This year, Casey Trees celebrated National Volunteer
Week with three tree care events spread around the
District. Working with 59 volunteers from Conservation
International, CEB, the Advisory Board Company, the
Student American Society of Landscape Architects at
Virginia Tech and individual volunteers we were able to
weed, mulch and water more than 70 young trees. The
week culminated in the Global Youth Day of Service —
a global initiative to celebrate kids and teens who make
a difference in their communities — on April 11th.
Volunteers from the National Geographic and Legacy
for Health partnered with students from Capital City
Public Charter School to care for trees planted over the
last several seasons at Takoma Recreation Center.
To fulfil a mission of restoring, protecting and enhancing
the tree canopy, planting trees is a no brainer, but
getting those trees to maturity so that they can become
a part of our healthy canopy requires some help. These
volunteers took time out of their week to do just that.
Split into weeding and watering teams, youth and adult
volunteers cared for about 30 trees with good cheer and
hard work.
Casey Trees would like to thank all of our volunteers
who plant, care, water, prune, advocate and educate.
Our work would not be as effective, or nearly as much
fun, without all of you.
To celebrate another successful planting season, we are
hosting a Volunteer Season Wrap Party on Saturday,
May 17 at Takoma Recreation Center, among the trees
our amazing volunteers have planted and cared for. This
even is open to all and features live entertainment from
Casey Trees staff, food trucks, games and fun! Please
RSVP for you and your friends and thank our volunteers
for their hard work in person.
Tree care events help commemorate National Volunteer Week
Education
Check Casey Trees’ events page for other classes and activities to enhance you tree knowledge in time for spring.
theleaflet | May 2014 13
By Priscilla Plumb, Youth Programs Manager, Casey Trees | This spring, 13 schools in D.C. and
Maryland participated in our School Tree Planting program. 344 students helped us plant 101 new trees
at both new and revisited schools. We were happy to
end our school planting season with a beautiful Earth
Day planting in D.C., the season started with cold wintery
weather and a few plantings with snow on the ground.
Casey Trees was excited to work with three schools
in Prince George’s County: Drew Freeman Middle School, Gwynn Park High School and Robert Goddard Montessori School - to continue our work
outside Washington, D.C.
At Gwynn Park High School we worked with students
who were part of the school’s new agriculture program.
These students are working on creating agriculture
study plots on the campus, including a small fruit
orchard we helped them establish.
In D.C. we planted with five schools as part of the City’s
Sustainable D.C. initiative, in addition to several other
charter schools all across the city. Several schools
focused on planting native trees to improve habitat for
native pollinators and some schools planted fruit trees to
add to their garden spaces.
In Southeast D.C., we planted new shade trees with the
4th and 5th grade Young Marines of Excel PCS — an
all-girls school — on a cold, blustery day. At E.L Haynes PCS, a kindergarten class enhanced their yearlong
exploration of trees by planting new shade trees in the
parking lot of the school. After more than a year and a
half of planning, a project started with Neval Thomas Elementary School reached completion with the
planting of new shade and fruit trees around the school,
just in time for the completion of the schools new
playground.
It has been a wonderful, busy spring getting students
outside to plant in their school yards!
Casey Trees adds more than 100 trees to 13 D.C.-area schools
Find out more about Casey Trees’ youth educational programs online.
Students of all ages planted 11 trees at Washington Latin
Public Charter School.
14 May 2014 | theleaflet
Tree Planting
By Jim Woodworth, Director of Tree Planting, Casey Trees| In recent years, Casey Trees has had
the privilege and opportunity to plant trees on several
notable military installations in and around the District,
including Fort McNair, the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer,
and the Soldiers and Sailors Retirement Home.
Our own 2012 land cover analysis determined that
current conditions on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
(JBAB) included 49.64 percent impervious cover, 50.36
percent plantable space, and only 8.54 percent tree
canopy cover. As one of the most significant pieces of
government real estate in the eastern part of the District,
these 905 acres situated prominently along the eastern
waterfront of the confluence of the Anacostia and
Potomac Rivers, are in dire need of more trees. Casey
Trees staff pondered how we might inject resources and
draw attention to improve its tree canopy.
In September of 2012, we began discussions with a
public affairs officer to initiate a rapid assessment and
planning process to determine if increasing tree canopy
was feasible. Our inquiry was met with unequivocal
interest from base command, acknowledging the many
benefits and needs. But the ensuing due-diligence effort
to seek the approval of a donation of trees planted
required a lengthy journey of paperwork up the chain of
command to the Secretary of the Navy. This was finally
achieved in November 2013, and plans are underway
now to plant 100 new trees this April and May in four
groves of native shade trees across the base.
Trees in these environments can provide many benefits,
from the environmental and biophysical to the social
and psychological. Ameliorating heat island affect,
reducing energy costs to heat and cool and mitigation of
stormwater are all obvious benefits to the Department
of Defense facing budget cuts and sequester but with
environmental and energy obligations to be met. Trees
can also provide a sense of dignity, honor, structure
and order to a place, complementing (or in spite of) its
building architecture and design.
The stress relief and sense of calm that trees can
provide, to service members and their families working
or residing on base, may seem more intangible at first.
Some military bases may have very unique land use
challenges that can utilize tree cover. Trees and forest
can conceal site lines, screen activities and buffer
neighboring areas from training exercises.
Military bases can also have very difficult constraints to
take into consideration and work around: restrictions
on excavation due to soil contamination or unexploded
ordinance; blast zones around munitions storage;
Mission Critical: Increasing tree coverage on a military base
Jim Woodworth leads JBAB base staff in the military base’s tree planting celebrating Earth Day.
Photo credit: Joseph P. Cirone, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs.
theleaflet | May 2014 15
designated flight paths and landing zones. JBAB has all
of those constraints and more.
Historical aerial photography shows drastic changes
in land use over time for both Naval Support Facility
Anacostia and Bolling Air Force Base, dating back to
1918. The origins of military use on this site were for
testing and flying fixed-wing aircraft in the early days of
military aviation.
Now united under one command by Base-Realignment
and Closure (“BRAC”) in 2010, JBAB supports
17,000 service members and their families, is home
to numerous military ceremonial units, honor guards
and bands, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the
White House Communications Agency. Present aviation
usage is now restricted to helicopters, including most
prominently, the presidential helicopter detail “Marine
One.” D.C. Water also has an underground tunnel
construction alignment right of way for the long-term
control plan for combined sewer overflows.
Nevertheless, despite high profile restricted areas,
helicopter landing zones, and other land use constraints,
there are plenty of opportunities to improve the tree
canopy across the base. We have identified four areas
that have passed muster with base command, land-
use and environmental planners and public works
personnel. Each will receive an initial planting of 25
trees appropriately chosen for the respective soil and
drainage conditions.
One upland parcel will provide tree cover for wildlife,
viewshed buffering from I-295, located in an out of the
way location for long-lived canopy species to grow and
thrive. Other locations focus on shading parking areas,
pedestrian walkways and recreation facilities, putting
trees where people on base will most directly benefit.
These trees will soak up storm water, buffer winds off
the riverfront and help counter the heat island effect
inevitable in place that is nearly 50 percent impervious
cover.
A positive recent development speaks to the long term
prospects for the JBAB tree canopy: an environmental
engineering firm has been retained to develop an
urban forestry Master Plan for the base. Though the
existing forest is fairly diverse in species and age,
there are some specific management concerns and
recommendations going forward:
• Young trees require regular maintenance, watering,
mulching and protection from lawn care equipment.
• Large trees require periodic inspection for pruning,
removal, and following storm damage.
• Continued replanting over time to maintain a healthy
diversity of native species and over time to create an
uneven-aged diverse and resilient forest.
We are pleased to assist Joint Base Anacostia - Bolling
with this installation of new trees, and we are optimistic
about its future tree canopy.
Follow Casey Trees to read more about the great partnerships that are helping increase the canopy of Washington, D.C.
16 May 2014 | theleaflet
Social: Branch Out Happy Hour 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Vinoteca 1940 11th Street NW
May will bring us the sunshine we have all been waiting for so we are going to the Vinoteca’s back patio for our next social hour. Join us for delicious food, an amazing wine selection and a game of bocce as we celebrate the beautiful weather and the end of the spring planting season.
Cost: Free**No registration required
Tree Tour: Riparian Forests Paddling Outing5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD.
Join Casey Trees and Anacostia Watershed Society for a paddle night on the Anacostia River while learning about the ecology of the surrounding wetlands and forests.
Cost: Free**Early access to this event was offered to current Casey Trees members. Receive benefits like advanced registration, invitations to special events, and discounted tickets by becoming a member today!
Social: Volunteer Season Wrap Party11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 5th Street and Van Buren Street NW
To celebrate all the hard work our volunteers did to restore, protect and enhance the region’s tree canopy, we are throwing a potluck picnic in the park. There will be food, games, prizes and music!
Cost: Free
Class: Tree Basics9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.The Conservatory at Four Mile Run Park4109 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA.
Get to know the basics about trees! This class will provide participants with a foundation of tree anatomy and physiology.
Cost: Free
Advocate: Tree Advocates Bi-monthly Meeting6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Casey Trees Headquarters
Join our growing group of Tree Advocates. This month’s meeting includes presentations on upcoming actions throughout the District and how to become a more effective writer and speaker.
Cost: Free
Family Program: Buds Story Time at the U.S. National Arboretum10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.U.S. National Arboretum24th St NE & R St NE
Join us for our new family program, Buds, a tree-focused story time aimed toward an audience of toddlers and preschoolers.
Cost: Free
Events
Education opportunities abound in the springSpring is a great time to enjoy a variety of continuing education courses and social events. May and June are full
of classes, tree tours and social events to participate in. Become a Casey Trees Member to receive exclusive
benefits, including advanced registration to events like these below!
SATURDAY, MAY 17TUESDAY, MAY 13 WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 SATURDAY, MAY 17 SATURDAY, MAY 31
theleaflet | May 2014 17
Advocacy: ‘Speak Like a Pro’ Workshop9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Casey Trees Headquraters
Being able to deliver an effective briefing or presentation is an essential skill for our Tree Advocates. The workshop will allow participants to prepare and deliver a brief presentation and receive feedback from peers.
Cost: Free
Social: Branch Out Happy Hour 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Satellite Room2047 9th Street NW
Summer is coming and we are celebrating the season at Satellite Room, a 1960s themed bar and diner that serves up burgers, beer and some deliciously boozy milkshakes. And since it will be too nice to be indoors, we will be hanging outside on their seriously cool patio.
Cost: Free
Volunteer
SATURDAY, MAY 31
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
Family Program: Buds Story Time at the U.S. National Arboretum10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.U.S. National Arboretum24th Street Northeast & R Street NE
Join us for our new family program, Buds, a tree-focused story time aimed toward an audience of toddlers and preschoolers.
Cost: Free
Tree Tour: Summer at Casey Tree Farm10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Casey Tree Farm2498 Briggs Road, Berryville, VA.
Join Casey Trees and Shawn Walker of Trees 101, LLC for a tree tour at Casey Tree Farm in Berryville, VA. We will venture off our nursery grounds, the primary source source of the trees we plant across the DMV, and into the surrounding forest nestled along the Shenandoah River.
Cost: Free
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
18 May 2014 | theleaflet
Arbor Kids
Tree Flower DiscoverySpring has sprung!
Trees are starting to leaf out and bloom. Go on a walk around your neighborhood, park or school. Do you see
these flowers on trees? Some tree flowers look really different. Explore your neighborhood to see all of the trees
that show all kinds of flowers before they grow their green leaves. Look out for trees that grow their leaves right
away.
Tulip Poplar
Red Maple
Yellowwood
Southern Magnolia
SweetgumAmerican Elm
Eastern Redbud
White Pine Downy Serviceberry