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Tree Report. April 2023. HortScience | Bartlett Consulting
<br />Merritt Property. Foothill Boulevard Holding Company. Page 8
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<br />HortScience│Bartlett Consulting ● Divisions of The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company
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<br /> Species response
<br /> There is a wide variation in the response of individual species to construction
<br />impacts and changes in the environment. In our experience, for example,
<br />Monterey pine, Calif. black walnut, and blue gum are very sensitive to
<br />construction impacts; while coast live oak and coast redwood are more tolerant
<br />of site disturbance.
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<br /> Tree age and longevity
<br /> Old trees, while having significant emotional and aesthetic appeal, have limited
<br />physiological capacity to adjust to an altered environment. Young trees are
<br />better able to generate new tissue and respond to change.
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<br /> Species invasiveness
<br />Species which spread across a site and displace desired vegetation are not
<br />always appropriate for retention. This is particularly true when indigenous
<br />species are displaced. The California Invasive Plant Inventory Database
<br />(www.cal-ipc.org) lists species identified as having being invasive. Pleasanton is
<br />part of the Central West Floristic Province. Species identified as invasive that
<br />were present at Merritt property include purpleleaf plum, flowering plum, river red
<br />gum, glossy privet, and blackwood acacia.
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<br />Tree condition (health and structure) is the starting point for assessing suitability for
<br />preservation. In addition, suitability for preservation considers species response to
<br />impacts and invasiveness.
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<br />Each tree was rated for suitability for preservation based upon its age, health, structural
<br />condition and ability to safely coexist within a development environment (Table 2).
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<br />Table 2. Tree suitability for preservation. Merritt property. Pleasanton CA.
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<br /> High Trees in good condition that have potential longevity at the site.
<br />Forty-three (43) trees were rated as having high suitability for
<br />preservation: valley oak #910, 911, 952, 1441, 1475, 1480, 1507,
<br />1524, 1534, 1538, 1562, 1566, 1567, 1573, 1574, 1617, 1620, 1642,
<br />1678, 1705, 1710, 1711, 1726; coast live oak #908, 948, 1452, 1539,
<br />1571, 1669, 1695, 1724, 1727, 1740; sweetgums #1761, 1762,
<br />1763, 1766; Italian cypress #1625, 1629; Deodar cedar #922,
<br />English walnut #1725, and coast redwood #1671.
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<br /> Moderate Trees in fair health and/or possessing structural defects that may be
<br />abated with treatment. Trees in this category require more intense
<br />management and monitoring, and may have shorter life-spans than
<br />those in the “high” category. One hundred and one (101) trees were
<br />rated as having moderate suitability for preservation including: 48
<br />valley oak; 39 coast live oak; Deodar cedar #919, 920, 1467, 1718,
<br />1719; coast redwood #1748, 1749, 1750; Calif. black walnut #1697;
<br />Calif. buckeye #1540, evergreen pear #1612, London plane #1717,
<br />and western sycamore #1758.
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