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<br />. March 29, 1999 <br /> <br />City of Elk River Mayor, City Council & Planning Commission <br />13065 Orono Road <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Dear City Officials, <br /> <br />As all of you know first-hand, Sherburne County is one of the fastest growing <br />counties in the United States. With rapid growth and development, communities often do <br />not recognize the value of trees and a community forest soon enough. In response to this, <br />tree preservation policies or ordinances are created with various degrees of success. <br />Considering the cities growth, the City of Elk River needs to seriously consider some <br />method of preserving its' community forest. Witnessing some ofthe developments that <br />have occurred in the City of Elk River over the past few years and the poor practices <br />within these developments, it seems the city and its' residents have everything to gain and <br />nothing to lose. A recent proposal of putting in a berm for noise/dust reduction instead of <br />preserving large mature oaks to do the job is an example of my message. Starting new oak <br />wilt in a development rather than preserving the integrity of wooded lots is another. <br />Hopefully, everyone recognizes the many benefits trees provide to both a <br />community and its residents. To seriously consider a tree preservation policy, a community <br />must first assess what they have by conducting a tree inventory or at least have a good idea <br />of what exists and where. Community forestry grants are normally available for this. Goals <br />must be established such as minimizing tree loss during development, preventing oak wilt, <br />or requiring trees to be planted to replace those removed. Because each community is <br />different, each tree preservation policy can be unique. Education is a the most imporant <br />element in establishing a successful program. All decision makers must understand why a <br />policy is needed and the benefits that come from it. There are various types of tree <br />preservation policies. Some put more emphasis on tree replacement and some put more <br />emphasis on tree preservation. Both ensures the community of more neighborbood trees. <br />Tree preservation efforts also have a direct effect on oak wilt. Elk River has the <br />highest incidence of oak wilt in the county. Part of the reason is from the growth that has <br />occurred in Elk River and the trees that have been damaged during development. <br />Each community must decide on how much of its woodlands is appropriate to <br />preserve with the amount of development allowed. Tree preservation policies will not stop <br />growth and development but they will make developers recognize that you value your <br />community forest. Without something in place, there are no incentives to even make an <br />effort. Within the county, the City of Elk River would benefit most from such a policy. <br />Please contact me at 241-2939 if you have any questions. I can offer some <br />assistance in establishing a policy and resources to contact for additional information. <br /> <br />~el~,. ~ <br />\~~ <br />Tim Edgeton <br />County Forest Resource Specialist <br />Sherburne County <br />