Tree damage in Lot 11, Madison St. after April 13, 2006, tornado.

“The official count of trees lost to the tornado was
65 as of May 19”, says Andy Dahl, certified arborist in UI facilities management landscape services. The lost trees cannot practically be replaced with mature trees of the same size. They will be replaced with a species and size valued at approximately $450 per tree.

In general, trees like oaks and other hardwoods have a greater value attributed to them than softer woods like silver maples. Also, specimen trees have a higher value assigned than trees in groves. The size of the tree is measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level. Dahl used a recognized system for valuing trees based on size, condition, and species. Tree species ratings were determined by using the Iowa Arborist Association publication, Tree Species Ratings for Iowa. The trunk formula method used to establish the value of trees lost was taken from the International Society of Arboriculture Guide for Plant Appraisal 9 th Edition.

Most of the trees lost were streetscape trees and parking lot trees that provided shade for walkers and protection from the sun for cars. Approximately 31 were removed near Landscape Services Building, 14 in and around Parking Lot 65, nine near Lindquist Center, five at Brandt Place (Riverside Drive and Myrtle Avenue), five on the east side of Riverside Drive near parking Lot 25, and one removed from the south side of the Pentacrest just west of the service drive.

In comparison, after the straight line winds of the 1998 storm approximately 125 trees were lost. While the impact of that storm was most noticeable on the Pentacrest, with about 30 trees lost in that four square block area, the tree damage was evident across the entire campus. This time the damage was concentrated in a smaller area.

“When a new parking lot was constructed north of the Cambus facility last year, special care was taken to preserve and protect the existing trees” says Bob Brooks, facilities management associate director of landscape services. “Unfortunately, most of the trees in this area were destroyed by the tornado.”

The University currently has a replanting program in place for diseased or damaged trees. “For every one tree lost on campus the program aims to replace it with two trees. The trend is to increase the overall number of trees on campus. The replanting program now must take into account the future development plans for the area, utilities, and building sites as plans develop to replace the trees lost to the tornado” says Brooks.

Trees take years and even decades to grow and become part of the campus environment. The campus takes a significant hit when this many trees fall in a few short moments. Replacement is slow. Replacing trees is not like replacing a building where reconstruction can be accomplished in a year or so. “The campus will feel this loss for a very long time”, says Brooks, “however, this is an opportunity to do a better job of planting and replenishing resources for the next generation.”