Any suggestions for objective criteria to set threshholds for prioritizing trees in an abatement/mitigation program? Lawyers can have a field day with inventory assignments like "priority 1, 2, 3, 4, etc." If they are all priorities how can any be delayed, you reckless manager you? Same goes for the word "hazard" itself.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on October 27, 1998 at 09:04:30:

Priority 'level' is a rating (same as 'value') some things have more, some have less. I use 'maintenance priority' to desginate a time frame or a sequence of importance, indicating which items are in greatest need of attention. It assumes that the budget or other factors may not allow all items to be dealt with immediately. Those of higher priority are managed first.

I think the greater question is who assigns the priority, what criteria are used, and what are the qualifications of the rater. If care is taken to define the criteria, most of the other problems will fade to the background.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on October 27, 1998 at 09:04:30:

As a municipal forester I have had to find a way to prioritize our trees. It is realitive easy for a consultant to rate one tree. However, a municipality, park, golf course, apartment complex, etc. has many trees (25,000 in my case). The term of "hazard trees" is only 10-15 years old in urban areas. I have yet to meet a city forester who has all the money he or she needs for a management program. We have had problems using other rating formulas like ISA and British Columbia. Many Soft Maple and Elms find their way into a High Hazard final rating. One community out here in Colorado found all of their trees were maxed out in points. We developed a prioritazation method of re-visiting the target and defect and have what we feel is a workable solution. Yes, we still have standing trees with defects, we have removed trees and better yet, we have cut down on our failures. The use oif this system has even increased budget dollars for those cities involved. Send me a shipping address and I will send you a packet. After reading it, we'll touch base and I'll answer questions. Good Luck

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on October 27, 1998 at 09:04:30:

I agree, Russ. The criteria are what I'm looking for examples of.