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409 Mako Drive Arborist Letter Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com Tree Risk Report 409 Mako Drive Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 Marc White / ISA Certified Arborist #FL-5641-A / February 3, 2023 ISA Tree Risk Assessment Certified Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com SCOPE: My assignment is to provide an inspection and provide a tree risk assessment for a 21” D.B.H. and 20” D.B.H. American Sycamore (Platanus occindentalis) METHODOLOGY: I performed a LEVEL 2 and LEVEL 3 Tree Risk Assessment based on the ANSI A-300 (Part 9, 2017) Tree Risk Assessment standards and used the methodology defined in the International Society of Arboriculture’s Best Management Practice for Tree Risk Assessment (2017). I considered people near the tree, the neighboring homes, and garage as likely to be impacted if the trees failed. I used a 2-year time frame for the assessment. Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com OBSERVATIONS: The Trees: There are two trees in the backyard that I was asked to inspect for any structural or health issues. I inspected a 21” DBH American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) , that is located on the left side of the backyard and a 20” DBH American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), that is located on the left side of the backyard Tree Health: I give both trees poor ratings due to the trees having health defects. Defects and conditions of concern: A visual examination of the trees revealed both trees are infested with Anthracnose. Usually, Anthracnose can be diagnosed visually by inspecting the leaves for browning. However, the American Sycamore is deciduous and has no leaves this time of the year, so I looked for twisting lesions on each branch and every branch has been affected. I determined that these trees have advanced stages of Anthracnose. Both trees have multiple limbs that are dead, broken or in the process of dying back. Each tree has at least 7-10 broken limbs hanging in the canopy. Limbs dropping from the trees have damaged the aluminum porch on the back of the house at 409 Mako Drive. Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com Analysis: The Primary Concern: There are many targets in the fall zone of these trees. The targets for both trees are, the home and backyard at 409 Mako Drive, the home and backyard at 417 Mako Drive, and the homes and backyards at 412 and 420 Whiting Lane. Vehicular traffic in the front yard of 409 and 417 Mako Drive is also in the fall zone. Human traffic is possible in the backyards of these homes on a daily basis. Overall Risk Rating: EXTREME Additional Concerns: A TRAQ evaluation is based on normal conditions. There is no option for extreme weather conditions (hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms with high winds and lightning). All of these things mentioned are not normal and are not considered in a TRAQ evaluation. If there is any place where these conditions are the norm, it is Florida. I wanted to add this to my assessment because in Florida, these conditions are always a factor. Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com Risk Rating Explained: What does an EXTREME overall risk rating mean? Using a two-year re-inspection timeline this tree gets an IMMINENT likelihood of failure. IMMINENT TRAQ MATRIX DEFINITION – failure has started or is most likely to occur in the near future, even if there is no significant wind or increased load. This is an infrequent occurrence for a risk assessor to encounter, and it may require immediate action to protect people from harm. The imminent category overrides the stated timeframe. The likelihood of impact would be HIGH. HIGH TRAQ DEFINITION – the failed tree or tree part is likely to impact the target. Using the TRAQ matrix we get Very Likely as the likelihood of failure and impact. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE – SEVERE SEVERE TRAQ DEFINITION – Serious personal injury or death, high-value property damage, or major disruption of important activities. This gives us an overall risk rating of extreme. Using the TRAQ matrix, this gives these trees a very likely, likelihood of failure and impact, and EXTREME consequence of failure. LIKELY AND SIGNIFICANT: SIGNIFICANT – substantial personal injury, moderate – to high – value property damage, or considerable disruption of activities. Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com Risk Mitigation Options: There is one mitigation option that can be considered “ONLY” by the owner of the tree. • Fungal treatments There are fungal treatments that can be applied for anthracnose, but treatment has to be done often and does not work as well in humid climates and the salty air from the beach makes this process less productive. Even in the most optimum conditions, Anthracnose never truly goes away but treatments will reduce its symptoms. In my professional opinion, these trees are too infested to treat using fungal treatments and will always be potential hazard to targets. Fungal treatments will not reduce the overall risk rating for these trees below moderate. In my professional opinion, to reduce the risk to property and persons, my only recommendation is to remove both trees. Assumptions and Limiting Conditions: The level 2 and 3 Inspections that were performed on this tree were all based on the conditions that can be seen at ground level. I used hammers, probes, and boring devices to detect decay and poor attachment. There very well may be other defects that are hidden in the roots, internally of the trunk and other areas of defective attachment. No other trees were inspected on this property in this report. Marc White / I.S.A. Certified Arborist FL-5641-A Marc White I.S.A. Certified Arborist I.S.A. TRAQ Qualified FL-5641-A Office: (904) 270-2090 Cell: (904) 607-4113 Marcwhite1300@gmail.com Disclaimers: Although all the recommendations in this report are based on sound and accepted horticultural practices, the author cannot be held responsible for the final outcome of the recommendations, or any liabilities associated with this project. Tree inspections, in this case, do not cover internal cavities, structural defects, or diseases with non-visible symptoms. Trees inherently pose a certain degree of hazard and risk from breakage, failure or other causes and conditions. Recommendations that are made by The Branch Manager Tree Service are intended to minimize or reduce hazardous conditions that made be associated with trees. However, there is and there can be no guaranty or certainty that efforts to correct unsafe conditions will prevent breakage or failure of the tree. Any recommendations made should reduce the risk of tree failure, but they cannot eliminate such risk, especially in the event of a storm or any act of God. There can be no guaranty or certainty that all hazardous conditions will be detected. Common sense, experience, and professional judgment are required of the trained Arborist. Any changes to an established tree’s environment can cause its decline, death and/or structural failure. Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all circumstances, or for a specified period of time. Arborists are tree specialists who use their education, knowledge, training, and experience to examine trees, recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees, and attempt to reduce the risk of living near trees. Clients may choose to accept or disregard the recommendations of the arborist, or to seek additional advice. Possession of this report or a copy thereof does not imply right of publication or use for any purpose by any other than the person to whom it is addressed, without the prior expressed written or verbal consent of the consultant. Sketches, diagrams, graphs, drawings, and photographs within this report are intended as visual aids and are not necessarily to scale and should not be construed as engineering or architectural reports or surveys. The reproduction of information generated by other consultants is for coordination and ease of reference. Inclusion of such information does not constitute a representation by the consultant as to the sufficiency or accuracy of the information. The information contained within this report is true to the best of the author’s knowledge and experience as of the date it was prepared; however, certain conditions may exist which only a comprehensive, scientific, investigation might reveal which should be performed by other consulting professionals. This report is specific to the identified client prepared for, as well as the unique identified site, the address enclosed. Although some of the principles here discussed might appear to be applicable to another site, tree, or situation, it is not possible to effectively carry any of these ideas across to another scenario or site.