634.9 N7CF V. 3 NO. 3 FAL/ WIN 20 ontana State Librar 3 0864 1006 8373 2 THE COMMUNITY FORESTER A Newsletter from The DNRC (Immunity Forestry Program And The Montana Community Forestry Councii VOLUME 3, NUMBER 3 FALL/WINTER 2002 University of Montana Receives Green Star Honor Award The University of Montana at Missoula (UM) was hon- ored recently by the Professional Grounds Managers Society (PGMS) with a 2002 Green Star Honor Award in the category of School or University Grounds. Each year, the annual PGMS Residential Landscape Awards Program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The Green Star Award salutes the grounds superintendent responsi- ble for maintaining a well-manicured landscape year round. Keith Lukas, UM’s Grounds Manager traveled to Nash- ville, Tennessee in November to receive the award be- stowed upon the University of Montana. “It’s a great Keith Lukas, 2nd from left, accepts the Green Star Honor Award at the Professional Grounds Managers Society meeting in Nashville. honor, stated Lukas. The University of Montana re- ceived this same award in ! 995 and is the only university in the country to have received the award twice. Congratulations to Keith and his crew at UM for their achievement! Community Forestry Grants Available he DNRC Community Forestry Program is happy to announce that it is once again offering several grant programs in 2003. TREE CITY USA INCENTIVE GRANT...$500 grants are avail- able for communities that become newly designated Tree City USA communities in 2002 or whose designation has lapsed for two or more years. This grant may be used for a variety of planting projects and is designed to assist cit- ies and towns with their community forestry projects and reward communities for their participation in the Tree City USA program. To become a designated community you must meet four criteria.- set up a tree board', write a tree care ordinance; proclaim Arbor Day; and spend $2 per capita on your community forestry program. ) To qualify for this grant, a community only needs to achieve Tree City USA status as determined by the Na- tional Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA appli- cation must be submitted to the Community Forestry Program Office by no later than December 3 1 , 2002. Grant applications are sent to each Tree City USA com- munity upon successful designation. For more informa- tion visit: www.dnrc.state.mt.us/forestry/ServiceForestryPrograms/ CommunityForestryManagement/Grantlnfo.htm. The grant requires a 35% match with cash or in-kind con- tributions. Applications materials are due in the Com- munity Forestry Program office by March 28, 2003. For information on the Tree City USA program or assis- tance with attaining this designation for your community, please contact the community forester in your region (See GRANTS AVAILABLE on page 4). PAGE 2 THE COMMUNITY FOREST ER FA L L/W INTER 2002 Community Forestry Program Update WESTERN REGION UPDATE Mark Lennon, Poison n International Society of Arbori- culture (ISA) Certified Arborist Exam is scheduled for February 4, 2003 in Helena. The exam will be held in conjunction with the Associa- tion of Turf and Ornamental Profes- sionals (AMTOP) annual meeting. Congratulations to Greg Caputo, Harvey Carlsmith, Keith Lukas and Ron Nelson who successfully com- pleted ISA certification earlier this year. Mayor John Brown showed off the newly refurbished city park along the Kootenai River in Troy, MT this Oc- tober. Those attending the North- west Regional Resource Conserva- tion and Development (RC&D) meeting were given a tour of the renovated park which includes a tim- ber frame gazebo, ball fields, a trout pond, many large conifer trees and a tree nursery. These improvements will go a long way to improving Troy’s community parks and will be enjoyed by all for many years. As part of the University of Mon- tana’s-Missoula Grounds Mainte- nance Section’s continuing education program, I held a workshop on tree roots last October. The workshop was followed by a field trip to the State Conservation Seedling Nursery in Missoula. While on the subject, I am scheduling Tree Care Workshops for winter and spring. Workshops will focus on various tree care topics such as pruning and planting. If you are inter- ested in setting up a workshop for your community, please call me at 406-883-5599. Lastly, several communities in west- ern Montana are working on passing new tree care ordinances. A tree care ordinance is one of the require- ments of Tree City USA designation. Don’t forget, the Montana Commu- nity Forestry Program is sponsoring a $500 grant to newly designated Tree Cities USA communities. Grants go to those cities/towns that complete the application process no later than December 3 1 , 2002. EASTERN REGION UPDATE jeff Roe, Miles City V eptember saw two Forsyth ^teachers (Steffani Grogan and Craig Knoche) travel to Fort Collins, CO and attend the ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter annual meeting. Steffani and Craig were in Fort Collins to present the Forsyth Tree Project to conference attendees. From all reports, the presentation and project was well received by those in attendance. Under the guidance of Steffani, Craig and fellow educator Robert Martelle, the For- syth Tree Project was born last spring when Forsyth High School students presented an Arbor Day History and Tree City USA program to their classmates and the City Council. In addition to the presentation, the project was further enhanced by stu- dents at the middle and elementary schools who participated in an Ar- bor Day field day that included activ- ity booths, tree planting and an awards ceremony for the Forsyth Arbor Day poster contest. The High School will continue to be the lead for this exciting community project. In addition to celebrating Arbor Day, the students will be in- volved in re-inventorying a sample of the street trees to track changes from the previous inventory ( 1 987) utilizing Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software. Additionally, the students will be re- viewing the existing tree ordinance for Forsyth, serving on the local tree board and hosting a community wide Arbor Day celebration. In the fu- ture, students and community lead- ers hope to have a complete survey of all public trees. This new informa- tion will assist managers with the maintenance, planting, and caring of city trees. Not only does this project help managers but also gives the stu- dents “real world” application of sci- ence, math, history, government, public speaking, and agriculture not to mention a real sense of “community.” In addition to keeping up with the activities in Forsyth, I have visited eight different schools, conducted 32 individual programs and traveled to Roundup, Miles City, Sidney, and Bill- ings to discuss their programs and future goals. Lastly, if you are interested in a tree care workshop in your area, contact me at 406-232-2034. COORDINATOR UPDATE Kelley Gundale, Missoula The Montana Community For- estry Council Executive Board met in early September in Lewistown and worked on revising the Council’s existing bylaws. Thanks to Chair Jon Thompson (Great Falls), Vice-Chair David Wilson (Havre), Members Marvin Brush (Miles City). Gerald Landby (Carroll College), Larry Maginnis (Missoula), and Ryon Stover (Bozeman) as well as Jeff Roe (DNRC) (See UPDATE on page 4) PAGE 3 THE COMMUNITY FOREST ER E A L L / W I N T L- R 2 0 0 2 Calendar of Events JANUARY 8-10, 2003 Montana Nursery & Landscape Association (mnla) Annual Meeting & Trade Show Holiday Inn Montana Grand-Billings, MT For more information: I -888-220- 1 569 or www.plantingmontana.com JANUARY 8, 2003 Int’l Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist Exam Billings, MT For more information: Jeff Roe at 406-232-2034 or |roe@state.mt.us JANUARY 22-24, 2003 Idaho Nursery Association Horticulture expo Boise Centre on the Grove-Boise, ID For more information: I -800-INA-GROW (1-800-462-4769) or www.inagrow.org FEBRUARY 3-4, 2003 Association of Montana Turf & Ornamental Professionals (amtop) Annual Meeting West Coast Colonial Inn-Helena, MT For more information: I -866-442-6867 or www.amtop.org FEBRUARY 4, 2003 Int’l Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist Exam WestCoast Colonial Inn-Helena, MT For more information: contact Mark Lennon at 406-883-5599 or miennon@state.mt.us FEBRUARY 5, 2003 Montana Community Forestry Council Meeting WestCoast Colonial Inn, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT For more information: contact Kelley Gundale at 406-542-4284 or kgundale@state.mt.us FEBRUARY 18-20, 2003 No. Dakota Urban & Community Forestry Association’s 16th Annual Tree Care Workshop Seven Seas Inn-Mandan, ND For more information: contact Rebecca Haag at 70 1 -222-656 1 or rhaag@state.nd.us or visit: www.bismarck.org/uploads/doc_2003_NDUCFA_Program.pdf PAGE 4 THE COMMUNITY FOREST ER FALL/WINTER 2002 National Tree Trust Celebrates 10 MILLIONTH TREE PLANTING To celebrate the National Tree Trust's official 10 mil- lionth tree planting, the Washington D.C. -based or- ganization coordinated a nationwide event aptly named, "Branching Across America." The National Tree Trust and the Montana DNRC Urban and Community Forestry Program presented the state tree, a Ponderosa pine to Lt. Governor Karl Ohs in Helena on the same day as all other states - Nov. 2 1 , 2002. "The nationwide event helped raise awareness of the im- portance of trees to communities across the country, how trees benefit the environment and how they can enhance the beauty and property values of the areas where they're planted," National Tree Trust President Richard Keefe said. Although Montana did not plant a tree, the Urban and Community Forestry Program wanted to be a part of the nationwide ceremony. “Several states will hold a tree planting ceremony in spring when conditions for planting are more suitable,” stated Kelley Gundale, Community For- estry Coordinator. The five to seven foot Ponderosa pine will be planted at the State Capitol Building in April. November 21, 2002. Community Forestry Coordinator, Ke I- ley Gundale presents Lt. Governor Karl Ohs with a Ponderosa pine on behalf of the National Tree Trust. —— ^ — — — — i Grants Available (CONTINUED FROM PAGE I) ARBOR DAY GRANT PROGRAM... $ 150 grants are available for any community in Montana planning to celebrate Arbor Day (please limit one per community). This grant may be used to purchase trees, refreshments, Arbor Day t-shirts, handouts or other items to enhance the celebration. IMPORTANT! Communities with the Tree City USA des- ignation for at least one year qualify for an additional $ 1 50 for a total grant of $300. Grant applications are sent to the mayors and town clerks in early 2003. They are also available upon request or on the website at: www.dnrc.state.mt.us/fQrestry/ServiceForestryPrograms/ CommunityForestryManagement/Grantlnfo.htm. The grant requires a 35% match with cash or in-kind contri- butions. Applications materials are due by March 28, 2003. Community Forestry Update (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) and Chuck Mark (USFS) for participating. The Council will vote on the amendments in February 2003! At the ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter annual meeting in Fort Collins, CO this past September, I assumed the role of Montana liaison to the Executive Board. And finally, community forestry awards were presented at the MT League of Cities and Towns Annual Conference hosted in October. Communities were chosen for their ex- emplary participation in the Tree City USA program. Billings received distinction for being the first community in the state to be designated a Tree City USA community (1978). Great Falls was honored as the community designated for the longest period of time (2! years). And Kalispell received the honor of having received the most Tree City USA Growth Awards (10) of any community in Montana. Congratulations! PAGE 5 THE COMMUNITY FORES! ER FALL/WINTER 2002 Timely Tips for Planting a Live Christmas Tree HAMPAIGN, III. (November 4, 2002) - Choosing to decorate a live Christmas tree will benefit both the environment and your landscape if you take steps to ensure your tree has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year thereafter. Planting a live Christmas tree not only provides habitat for birds and other wildlife, it also replenishes the air with oxy- gen, increases soil stability, and generally makes your land- scape more beautiful. The International Society of Arbori- culture (ISA) suggests homeowners take the following steps to give live Christmas trees the best opportunity to thrive — before and after the holiday season: • Think before you dig. Most species used for Christ- mas trees (pine, spruce, and fir) grow to be more than 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Make sure you have enough space allotted for a fully-grown tree. • Dig before it freezes. Then fill the hole with straw and cover it with safety boards until planting time. The soil itself should be removed from the hole and stored , in an area (a garage, for example) where it will not freeze. • Choose a moist soil ball. Trees with frozen soil balls are more prone to die than those housed in moist and unfrozen soil. • Garage your tree. Let your tree gradually acclimate to temperature changes. Spending a day or two in the ga- rage before being brought indoors will reduce tree stress associated with rapid and drastic climate changes. • Limit indoor exposure. Five to seven days inside is enough for any live Christmas tree-the less time spent in your home, the better the tree’s chance of survival. • Garage your tree again. When family celebrations end, repeat this brief storage period before planting the tree in its pre-dug hole. • Plant and water. Remove any burlap from the soil ball, place the tree in its designated spot, and fill the remaining hole with soil removed from the hole earlier. Water the tree thoroughly to sustain it through the winter. Media contact: Jim Skiera, Associate Executive Director International Society of Arboriculture 217-355-9411 or jskiera@isa-arbor.com The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research around the world. Headquartered in Champaign, III., ISA is dedicated to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees. For more information contact a local ISA Certified Arborist or visit www.treesaregood.org. Season's (jjree.tlngsl from the fvt ontana Itb an and (Community j- orestry \ rogram! THE COMMUNITY FORESTER- FALL/WINTER 2002 COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM MONTANA DNRC 2705 SPURGIN ROAD MISSOULA, MT 5 9 804-3 199 www.dnrc.state.mt.us/forestry PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 74 MISSOULA, MT Q Address Service Requested F YOU ARE RECEIVING MULTIPLE MAILINGS OR WISH TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR MAILING LIST, PLEASE RETURN LABEL OR CALL 406-542-4284, THANKS. k' The Montana Community Forestry Program is made possible through a grant from the USDA Forest Service. InsideThis Issue: University of Montana wins National Landscape Award I 2003 Grants Available I Community Forestry Program Update 2 2003 Calendar of Events 3 National Tree Trust Plants celebrates 10 millionth tree Planting Contact Information 5 PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PUBLICATION! Visit us on the VV e b ! http:/ / www.dnrc.state.nit. us/Forestri/ ^erv'icet orestrtjf7 rog;ra ms Contact Information: •Kelley Gundale* Community Forestry Coordinator & Editor 2705 Spurgin Road Missoula, MT 59804-3199 Telephone: 406-542-4284 Email: kgundale@state.mt.us •Mark Lennon* Community Forestry Specialist - Western Region 1 2 Fifth Avenue East/P.O. Box 640 Poison, MT 59860 Telephone: 406-883-5599 Email: mlennon@state.mt.us •Jeff Roe* Community Forestry Specialist - Eastern Region 321 Main Street/P.O. Box 1794 Miles City, MT 59301 Telephone: 406-232-2034 Email: jroe@state.mt.us The Community Forester is a quarterly newsletter published by the Montana Community Forestry Program and The Montana Community Forestry Council. Please direct comments regarding the content of this publication to the Editor. Persons with disabilities who need an alternative, accessible format of this document should contact the DNRC at 2705 Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT 59804 -3 199; phone 406-542-4284 or fax 406-542- 4203.