Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Some of Salt Lake City's sycamore trees are facing disease threats.
- The city proposes a $150,000 budget for chemical treatments and other maintenance.
- A public hearing on the budget amendment is set for Feb. 4 before a potential vote on Feb. 18.
SALT LAKE CITY — Countless people flock to Michigan Avenue every Christmas season to view the thousands of lights wrapped around the massive trees that tower over homes in Salt Lake City's Yalecrest neighborhood.
The street also hosts Halloween celebrations and July 4 events under the beloved tunnel of London planes, a part-sycamore hybrid. However, residents say those popular holiday traditions are at risk because the trees are struggling with disease and other issues.
"They are showing signs of stress. … They will die if we don't treat them," said Byron Little, a long-time resident of the neighborhood, as he described the issue to the Salt Lake City Council earlier this month.
Michigan Avenue's majestic canopy is part of the estimated 4,600 sycamore-type trees scattered across Salt Lake City, some of which are over a century old — yet, many are dealing with issues the city says could threaten their future.
Scores of London plane and sycamore varieties in the Avenues, Sugar House and Yalecrest neighborhoods, as well as near Liberty Park, are dealing with a fungal disease called anthracnose, as well as bug infestations and mildew, according to the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division. Some trees are dealing with a mix of those three issues.
Despite this, the agency believes many of the affected trees still have a century or more of life left in them if they're able to fight off the challenges impacting them.
It's why Salt Lake City is seeking to test different chemical treatments and application methods to see what may best help save the diseased sycamores before they're lost. The city is considering allocating $150,000 toward the project, representing a portion of a proposed city budget adjustment.
A public hearing on the proposed budget amendment is slated for Feb. 4 before a potential vote on Feb. 18. If approved, some of the treatments would be tested before the spring growing season.
"I want to make sure we take care of these trees right now," Salt Lake City Councilman Dan Dugan, whose district includes many of the affected areas, told KSL.com on Tuesday.
Salt Lake City foresters note that the cooler and wetter conditions in recent springs, while beneficial in other ways, also make it easier for anthracnose to "thrive." The disease can impact new leaves, hurting the tree's overall health.
Dugan proposed the request after meeting with Michigan Avenue residents and the city's forestry division.
Since none of the trees are the same age or variation, he said the city estimates there won't be a one-treatment-fits-all option. The division has researched and spoken with cities in other states dealing with similar problems to piece together viable solutions.
Pruning and watering are also expected to be part of the treatment equation.
It's very sad to see our trees in such terrible shape.
–Sara Malik
The proposed $21.9 million budget amendment includes many other items, including new staff, facility improvements, transportation projects and an updated wildfire protection plan. Surpluses and grants would cover the additional costs, Salt Lake City public analyst Ben Luedtke explained to the City Council on Tuesday.
Dugan said his request specifically aims to boost the city's tree maintenance budget instead of cutting out maintenance for other trees in the city. He believes it's worth fighting to save the trees because they offer benefits like absorbing carbon dioxide and combating urban heat island effect that would likely take decades to recover if the trees were chopped down and replaced.
"It has an environmental effect; it has an effect on reducing our stress by just having that nature there," he added. "Trees have an enormous benefit to the city ... so we really want to protect that urban canopy."
They also can play a part in a neighborhood's identity, which is certainly the case for Michigan Avenue. Its residents say they'll take anything that helps their cherished trees.
Sara Malik said there's a sense of urgency because the neighborhood's trees have been sick for some time. She told the council earlier this month the neighborhood wants "creative" solutions that can save them.
"Even if it's a new method, let's try it. Let's try to get the trees healthy with some kind of treatment," she said. "It's very sad to see our trees in such terrible shape. I hope — with the City Council's support — we can get them healthy again for the entire community to enjoy."
