City of Merced In Central California Uses Grant Funding To Create Urban Forest Management Plan

City of Merced, CA

DRG worked with city staff from Merced, CA to complete a tree inventory for 53,000 trees and develop a comprehensive 8-year urban forestry management plan.

Project Narrative:

In 2017, the City of Merced was awarded CAL FIRE funding to advance their urban forest program. With funding in hand, the city contracted DRG to complete a municipal tree inventory and develop an urban forest management plan.

Maintaining Urban Forest Health Using Inventory Data

DRG deployed a team of ISA Certified Arborists to collect data on 53,000 trees using CAL FIRE standards and attributes. Inventory data was delivered within the TreeKeeper software management system along with training for City staff. Following completion of the inventory, DRG proceeded to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan for the City. The resource review portion of the planning process included an analysis of the collective tree inventory data, review of the city’s urban forest and environmental policies and processes, gathering feedback from the community and other stakeholders on urban forest values and benefits. DRG applied BMPs, and other industry standards to integrate all information pieces into a cohesive urban forest management plan.

The management plan also contains an 8-year work plan to address all maintenance needs identified in the tree inventory, plant approximately 10,000 trees, and transition to a five-to-seven year pruning cycle for all public trees.

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