Two large Water Oaks near the main entrance to Emory’s campus are set for removal due to numerous issues, including safety considerations. Work will begin March 2 and continue through the weekend.
The trees are located on the Glenn Memorial Church lawn along North Decatur Road. They are older than the church sanctuary, which was built in 1931.
The grounds services staff within Emory Campus Services has monitored and cared for these trees for more than 25 years.
“The trees have received excellent care and we have done everything possible to keep them healthy and safe,” says Jimmy Powell, director of exterior services with Campus Services. “Eventually, though, poor structure and wood-decaying organisms have caused these trees to require removal.”
“The trees are approaching their end of life,” says James Johnson, a project manager with Campus Services. “We can’t really tell the extent of decay at this point but know it’s present.”
Late last year, an independent, certified arborist from Arborguard Tree Specialists inspected the trees. The arborist saw significant fungal growth at the base of the trees and in the root zones and also documented decay in the crowns of the trees and scaffold branches (the primary limbs that form a tree’s canopy).
A review and permitting process must be followed before a tree within Atlanta city limits can be removed.
“We always want to follow the best management process for the situation and take all factors into consideration,” Johnson says. “These trees are near a heavily used building and on a street with a lot of traffic and pedestrians. As responsible property owners, we need to remove the trees because of the potential risks involved.”
The removals will begin Thursday, March 2. The process could be completed during the weekend.
A plan for planting replacement trees is in the works as part of the university’s No Net Loss of Forest Canopy program. The policy — which has been in place since 1999 — guarantees that every time a tree on campus is removed, a sufficient number of trees will be planted to maintain the same forest canopy.
“The replacement trees will be nursery-grown oak species similar in shape and mature size to the two Water Oaks,” Powell says. “Additional trees are being planted elsewhere on the Glenn Church grounds and elsewhere on campus to satisfy the recompense calculations for these trees.”
Although it will take decades for the replacement trees to reach mature size, the plan includes a minimum height requirement to help the new and old blend better.
“We’ll bring in large oaks and will plant them close to where the existing trees are,” Johnson says. “We want to recreate the same aesthetic as closely as possible.”
Any concerns, questions or comments can be directed to Powell at jimmy.powell@emory.edu.