Elm removal continues in Kalispell

The city of Kalispell has issued a call to private contractors and certified arborists for bids for the next round of tree removal from boulevards in Kalispell.

By April, the city expects to remove 24 dead American elms from Third Avenue West and Fourth Avenue East. The trees have been killed by Dutch elm disease and now pose a hazard to surrounding homes and neighborhoods.

“There are 160 elms in Kalispell and almost 95 percent of them are dead,” Kalispell Parks Superintendent Fred Bicha said.

Only a few years ago, the city had 389 elms growing along its boulevards. That number has been steadily dwindling as diseased trees have been removed.

The city has enough money to remove approximately 40 trees each winter.

Over the past summer, the parks department surveyed all of the city’s elms to rank which pose the most problems, classifying the trees from “freshly killed” to “most hazardous.” Those scheduled to be removed this winter are most likely to fall or cause damage.

Tree removal is anticipated to start Feb. 1 and run until March 31 and will be funded in part by a grant through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The dead trees will not go to waste. Any removed wood larger than eight inches in diameter will be donated to the Flathead High School wood shop.

“This is one neat thing that is coming out of something that isn’t so great,” Bicha said. “It’s cutting costs significantly for their classes, and they make some amazing things out of it.”

A pre-bid meeting will be Jan. 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Parks and Recreation building to answer questions for contractors. All bids must be submitted to the Parks and Recreation office no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 5.

For more information, contact Bisha at 758-7716.

Bisha’s department is already looking ahead to the next tree problem: the emerald ash borer.

According to Bicha, the department hopes to take preventive steps against the destructive insect to keep from having to cut down ash trees. Kalispell has 460 ash trees and the department will spend much of next summer preparing for a potential infestation.

“We’ll start by surveying all of the ash trees on city property, looking at which trees we have the ability to protect, and which trees already need to be removed,” Bicha said. “We want to be more prepared and have a plan.”

The best way to prevent against mass cutting is species diversification, Bicha said. When an area has a variety of tree species, the spread of diseases and harmful insects is easier to control.

Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.