Arborist Assessment - Preliminary Tree Impact Reporting: Lund Road

RE: Arborist Assessment – Preliminary Tree Impact Reporting

Location – Lund Road – Marino Townhome – Town of View Royal

On Friday the 5th of February, 2021, SouthShore Forest Consultants provided Ash Mountain Construction Ltd with an Arborist Field Assessment and Tree Impact Reporting. The assessment and reporting pertain to the proposed development of six (6) unit strata along Lund Road in the Town of View Royal BC.

The tree and site assessment were performed by Michael Butcher, Consulting Arborist with SouthShore Forest Consultants. The site was walked and trees were assessed from grade. No form of secondary tree assessment or invasive testing was performed.

During the assessment we observed a naturalized undeveloped parcel positioned between existing residential housing. The site observed to be composed of native trees include Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), grand fir (Abies grandis), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and Garry oak (Quercus garryana). Our observations indicate that the forest ranges in age classes with young juvenile to second grow specimens.

During the assessment we observed the parcel to contain large area of exposed rock outcropping. Combined with the an aggressively sloping landscape the final grade would require extensive blasting and land movement. The proposal has indicated a large reduction in grade across the site. Assessed to have an 8m grade difference (from Lund Road to the rear of the site) we estimate that the site will be extensively impacted resulting in the removal of all trees positioned from the rear “cut” to the edge of Lund Road.

During the assessment we observed and tagged trees positioned above the proposed “cut” and areas identified to be less impacted. Within the undeveloped and/or non-impacted areas of the site trees may be preserved, this includes private trees aligned outside the site’s property lines.

Our assessment indicates that a number of forest pathogens are active on site. We observed standing dead trees, split, hanging and failed stems with remnant wood decay scattered throughout the site. Our assessment has indicated that approximately 40% of the trees within this site are struggling and suppressed due to the spread of forest pathogens.

During the assessment we did not observe any form of “Heritage” size tree or specimen of significance to the site. In our opinion the forest is declining due to a number of environmental and cultural conditions.

The proposed development will require the entire site to be demolished and regraded. In this case all trees within the impact zone will be removed.

Two pathogens; Phaeolus schweintzii a brown rot which causes butt rot in conifers such as Douglas-fir and Armillaria ostoyae a white root disease which is common to Douglas-fir trees in the Pacific Northwest. Our observations indicate that each of the pathogens are active within the project area.

Post Demolition Period – Visual Tree Risk Assessment – Class “2”

• Provide post demolition inspection of site to determine tree stability and longevity.
• Assess edge trees for further retention and/or removal.
• Provide a written report identifying tree maintenance recommendations for the site.
• Assess and rate impacts to retained trees.
• Provide a remediation tree plan identifying constructive impacts and/or risks associated to tree Protected Root Zone (PRZ).
• Assess slope stability in relation to tree retention and/or removal.
• Provide a Project Arborist certified as a Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Michael Butcher- President SouthShore Forest Consultants BSc Forestry ISA-ON-0583A TRAQ-#1401

250.893.9056

GST # 777095324 RC001 Work Safe BC # 968408 Insurance/ Seafirst Brentwood (CFC Underwriting -#PSG03515712) Incorporation # BC1069996 Intermunicipal Business License – 00016808 BC Forest Safety Council – SEBASE 968408