Vol. 23, No. 2 April 14, 2015

WSSI Staff and Affiliates Earn Tree Preservation Awards

Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) staff served as Tree Preservation Consultants for two projects that won Tree Preservation Awards from Fairfax County on January 23. The 2014 Land Conservation and Tree Preservation Awards honor those whose projects best demonstrate superior commitment to tree preservation and replacement or erosion and sediment control design and implementation in Fairfax County. The awards are sponsored by The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services in cooperation with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Fairfax Tree Commission.
With WSSI’s inclusion into The Davey Tree Expert Group family, well known arborists and tree preservation experts Cary Hulse and Chris Cowles have moved from Davey Resource Group and The Care of Trees’ Consulting Division to WSSI. Both staff were recently recognized for work prior to the consolidation of these local consulting services into WSSI.
Cary Hulse, ISA Certified Arborist with WSSI, was the tree preservation project manager for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF)’s parking renovation project. The UUCF project included WSSI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company, and The Care of Trees’ Tree Preservation and Land Restoration Division, another Davey subsidiary. Working with Chris Cowles, ISA Certified Arborist and WSSI Senior Consulting Urban Forester, Cary completed the existing vegetation map, conducted the tree inventory and condition assessment, developed the invasive species management plan, calculated canopy cover, and developed the tree preservation plan for the site. In addition, Cary performed a detailed field assessment of a mature, wide spreading twin trunk white oak, Quercus alba, which was highly valued by the property owner, and determined it was in very good condition despite its location in the middle of a gravel parking lot.
Cary worked closely with the design team to protect the tree’s extensive root system, recommending design modifications and also crafting a custom set of specifications and documents for the demolition and construction activities in proximity to the tree. His design specs included use of root aeration matting – a cutting-edge practice WSSI arborists have employed with great success – to protect the oak’s roots under the parking lot’s new pavement. The stately white oak provides substantial shade and evaporative cooling for the parking lot.
The twin-trunk white oak before (L) and after (R) the site work:
Another Tree Preservation award was presented to the National Library for the Study of George Washington project, situated adjacent to Mount Vernon and lead by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Now a part of WSSI, The Care of Trees’ Consulting Division served as the Tree Preservation Consultant, and Chris Cowles, Certified Arborist and WSSI Senior Consulting Urban Forester, was the tree preservation project manager. WSSI staff supported project compliance with Fairfax County requirements, and the project was recognized for significant tree preservation on the site.
WSSI has 22 Certified Arborists to support your project’s compliance with local vegetation management ordinances. Please contact Cary Hulse, Chris Cowles, or Jen Feese to discuss how we can provide for your tree preservation planning and implementation needs.