ITEM 23 ATTACHMENT 6 - Project Plans

Tree Report. April 2023. HortScience | Bartlett Consulting Merritt Property. Foothill Boulevard Holding Company. Page 2 HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company Description of Trees Three hundred seventy-nine (379) trees were evaluated, representing 26 species (Table 1, following page). Trees were both planted and naturally occurring. Species native to the Pleasanton area include coast live oak, valley oak, Calif. buckeye, willow, and cottonwood. Together these native species comprised 260 of the 379 trees assessed (69%). Trees of these species appeared to be indigenous to the site. They were concentrated on the periphery of the orchard area and along Foothill Road. One hundred thirty-two (132) new trees were added to the assessment in 2018 and 2019 including 55 coast live oaks and 42 valley oaks. Forty-five (45) were located along the south property line, 33 in the entry area, and 37 along Foothill Road. The number of new trees generally reflected the length of time since the most recent assessment in 2007. Over time, trees grew to be 6-inches or larger in diameter. Also included were seven trees along the south property but located on adjacent properties. The trunks of these seven trees were close enough to the property line to be included. In addition tree canopies extended into the project area. Both new and previously assessed trees were concentrated in several areas. Orchard area An old English walnut orchard dominates most of the site (Photo 1). Only walnuts near the property lines were assessed. Fifty-two (52) English walnuts were present of which 19 were dead. A number of trees had died and been removed. Photo 1. Looking east at the orchard area. Grove of native oaks in on the right. The orchard trees offer little to no potential for preservation. First, trees are mature in development and have been declining in condition for many years. Dieback of twigs and branches was common as was decay in the lower trunk and branches. Second, the English walnut scions were grafted onto Calif. black walnut rootstock. Calif. black walnut has the least tolerance to impacts from construction of any tree species I know. Also present in the orchard area were 26 coast live oaks concentrated along the south property line. Valley oaks #964, 1441, and 1451 were mature specimens in good condition. Scattered among the English walnuts in the orchard were 14 Calif. black walnut. In general, these were in poor condition. Crown dieback was common. In some cases, a large trunk supported a few small diameter sprouts.