Tree removal: 90 CES begins removing hazardous trees Published Oct. 22, 2013 By Tom Gonzales 90th Civil Engineer Squadron F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The 90th Civil Engineer Squadron has begun removing trees that are considered hazardous. Please keep in mind cottonwood trees have a life expectancy of approximately 75 years, F.E. Warren's trees are older than 110 years. Over mature trees can appear healthy, but have very serious defects. Healthy trees can generally handle the harsh Wyoming winters and wind; it's when a tree has a defect, which are compounded by its age, that it's categorized as hazardous. Some symptoms that can tip one off that a tree could fail, and cause injuries to people or damage to property, are a combination of one or more of the following: · Large branches or major limbs are dead · Water is leaking from a wound or the bark is severely discolored · The trunk has developed a strong lean · Decay and rot is present in old wounds · Large branches or the trunk have obvious rotten wood or hollow cavities · Mushrooms are present on or at the base of the tree · Large branches have fallen or there are broken branches hanging in the tree · Large roots have been severed or damaged by construction, such as root excavation, sidewalk repair or trench digging for utilities · The soil level over the roots or at the base of the trunk has been significantly raised or lowered · The tree has been topped or severely pruned in the past · Two or more main branches arise from the same point on the tree There are many remedies which can be taken to minimize the possibility of a tree causing a hazard, and many have been accomplished, such as pruning, cabling, bracing or, as a last resort, removal. F.E. Warren has spent more than $2.8 million in the past twelve years pruning, fertilizing and planting new trees to extend the life of the historic urban forest and plan for the inevitable; removal of hazardous trees. There are 67 hazardous trees identified on F.E. Warren and though extensive efforts have been made to establish growth of new trees and prolong the lifespan of existing mature trees, the 90th Missile Wing received end-of-year funding to remove 47 of them. Removal will continue throughout the winter and be completed by May 2014. When contractors are removing a tree, keep away from the work area. Do not ask the contractors for tree scraps; all tree scrap material will be transported to the base compost facility. All military and civilian Department of Defense employees can take wood, mulch or compost from the compost facility, regardless of whether living on- or off-base. The Balfour Beatty Communities guidelines do not allow fire pit usage in base housing areas and base fire guideline do not allow fire pits in other areas of base except designated areas such as family camp. If a tree is hazardous, or there are questions regarding F.E. Warren's grounds maintenance contract, call the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron at 773-6104.