647 Selva Lakes Blvd Arborist Letter 6.10.25
5525 St Augustine Rd. (904) 731-9100
Jacksonville, FL 32207 BushorsTree@gmail.com
Jonathan Torres 6/9/2025
647 Selva Lakes Blvd
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Mr. Torres,
Please find below my Tree Risk Assessment report for your Live oak.
REPORT
SUMMARY
I assessed the risk of one Live oak on your property using a Level 2 assessment. This
assessment was done after a large codominant leader failure. The decay that will occur at this
wound can lead to tree failure under normal weather conditions within 3 years. Multiple assets
including people, houses and vehicles could be struck if this tree failed causing significant or
severe damage. This resulted in a risk rating of HIGH. In my professional opinion, the tree
should be removed due to this risk and mitigation options not being able to get below a
moderate rating.
ASSIGNMENT
My assignment was to provide a Tree Risk Assessment for one large Live oak tree because of a
large codominant leader failure causing damage to a vehicle in the driveway. The tree is located
on the property of 647 Selva Lakes Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 at the front of the property,
between the street and the house, on the left side of the driveway. I conducted my inspection on
June 9, 2025.
This report contains proprietary information and is for the exclusive use of Mr. Torres. This report
can be shared with the City of Atlantic Beach to comply with tree protection regulations.
METHODOLOGY
I performed a Level 2 Tree Risk Assessment based on the ANSI A-300 Tree Risk Assessment
standard and used methodology defined in the International Society of Arboriculture’s Best
Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment. I consider the people near the tree, the
vehicles in the driveways and yours and your neighbor ’s houses as likely to be impacted if the
tree failed. I used a 3-year time frame for this assessment.
OBSERVATIONS
Subject tree - The tree is a large (31” d.b.h.) Live oak (Quercus virginiana) that is
approximately 45 feet tall with an approximate 75-foot spread. The tree is located in the
front of the house, on the left side of the driveway.
Tree Health - This tree is a mature tree that is generally in good health based on a scale
of poor, fair, good, and excellent.
Defects and areas of concern - A visual examination of the tree reveals large
over-extended branches with significant end weight. Many of these branches are large
aspect-ratio limbs, meaning that are greater than one third the size of the main leader.
These types of large branches have a weaker attachment to the main leader, coupled
with the significant amount of end weight these branches have a higher likelihood of
failure. These limbs could be mitigated to a lower risk with end weight reduction.
The main area of concern for this tree is the large codominant failure which has left a
large jagged wound on the main trunk. This size and shape of this wound will prevent
the tree from being able to provide the necessary response growth to prevent further
decay. The tree also has an unbalanced canopy with limbs now exposed to wind loads
they were once protected from.
ANALYSIS
Primary Concern - The primary concern for this tree is the codominant failure leaving
the large wound in the trunk and the unbalanced canopy (load) on this defect. Given the
trees large size and off-centered canopy this tree is categorized as a HIGH RISK for the
adjacent homes, vehicles and people who would frequent the target zone.
Additional Concern - Additionally, the large aspect-ratio limbs with weakened
branch unions pose a MODERATE RISK of failure due to the excessive end
weight and being exposed to new wind loads.
RISK RATINGS EXPLAINED
What does HIGH RISK for the adjacent homes, vehicles and people mean?
Risk ratings are composed of three parts. My assessment determined that within the 3
year time frame:
1. The likelihood of failure is probable.
2. The likelihood of hitting a target is high.
3. The consequences or damage of failure would be significant.
RISK TOLERANCE
Risk tolerance is the amount of risk you are willing to accept. Different people have different
levels of risk they are willing to accept. You will have to decide your own risk tolerance and
decide on a course of action for this tree.
RISK MITIGATION OPTIONS
There are a few options that can be considered for mitigation:
1. Use reduction and removal cuts to significantly reduce the canopy. This would require
30-50% of the end weight of the limbs to be removed to reduce the overall length and
weight of the canopy. Some heading cuts may be required to achieve the recommended
reduction of canopy. With this pruning, the residual risk rating would become
MODERATE.
2. Complete tree removal will mitigate to a level of NO RISK.
3. Do nothing and continue to monitor the tree with regular inspections.
REINSPECTION
If this tree is not removed, it should be re-inspected every 6 months unless you have additional
health or safety concerns that warrant more frequent attention. The tree inspection service
should be performed by an ISA Tree Risk Qualified (TRAQ) arborist skilled in the science of tree
risk assessment. I can perform this service if needed.
ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITING CONDITIONS
My inspection was a ground based visual inspection and did not include any internal drilling to
detect decay. The inspection is limited to what can be observed from the ground. There may be
defects below ground or in the canopy that were not visible from this perspective. These hidden
defects may result in failure of branches, trunks, or roots. No other trees were inspected other
than the one addressed in this report.
Respectfully,
Brad Bushor
ISA Certified Arborist, FL-5743A
Tree Risk Qualified
Prescription Pruning Qualified
◆ Eugene Bushor SO-0588A ◆ Brian Bushor FL-5239A ◆ Brad Bushor FL-5743A T.R.A.Q. ◆