Forestry staff warns of tree diseases, maintenance pressures; memorial tree program highlighted

Paul, the city’s forestry staff representative, reported on recent staffing changes and on maintenance challenges in several corridors, especially the GCWA levee trail where vegetation and levee conditions drive repeated, expensive upkeep. He described natural stressors after an exceptionally wet spring: "We had an exceptionally wet spring, and 1 of the things that I saw, which is really bad this year, is this called, witch's broom disease," and noted some soil tests sent to A&M confirmed Phytophthora as a contributing organism in certain park tree die‑offs.

Paul also reviewed routine projects — plantings at Ridgeview and Bicentennial Park, ongoing work at Freedom Tree and Independence Park shoreline stabilization — and encouraged the board to promote the memorial tree and bench program as a community engagement and small‑fundraising option.