Ludington conducting inventory of trees on public land.

Ludington conducting inventory of trees on public land.

LUDINGTON — The City of Ludington has contracted with Davey Resource Group, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive inventory of an estimated 4,500 trees along public streets and in city parks. According to a press release from City Manager John Shay, the project is part of on-going efforts by the city to manage trees, minimize the effects of future storm damage and “assure the community has a healthy, sustainable, urban forest.”

Shay said trained arborists from the company are currently working in Ludington to inspect and map all public trees. They will be assessing the condition and stability of each tree, looking for any damaged or dead material to be removed and evaluating any signs of decay or disease. They will be wearing bright yellow vests and Davey Resource Group hats.

The company was chosen through a $19,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program grant. Ludington must provide a match for a portion of the value of the inventory, which the city plans to provide via staff time, regular tree maintenance and volunteer efforts.

After the field work is complete, the city will have its inventory data uploaded onto an online platform. “The plan is to prioritize tree maintenance and use this information to put together a plan for the overall improvement and expansion of the city’s tree management plan,” Shay said.

For more information, citizens are encouraged to contact Sharon Bradley-Johnson, chairman of the city’s tree advisory board, at 989-854-2740.