Branches in danger of coming down in the next high wind are being trimmed on the campus of the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander. Other diseased trees are being felled. (Photo by Ernie Over)
(Lander) — Motorists driving by the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander will notice a tree-thining operation underway on the Center’s large front lawn. It’s a safety thing.
WLRC Operations Director Kevin Kulow said 16 large trees on the campus are being removed and/or trimmed because they pose a risk of being toppled in high winds. The stumps of the removed trees, and trees cut down one year ago, will also be chopped up and chipped. Lander Valley Tree Service was the successful bidder for the project, which is being funded under the State of Wyoming’s Risk Management Program.
“Some of these trees have been here since shortly after the institution was established, ” Kulow said Thursday. “They are the approximate same age as the large trees on Third Street and at Lander City Park, between 80 and 100 years old.” Kulow said the trees include four large Ponderosa Pines that were killed by bark beetles, a number of large cottonwood trees with significant wind damage, and other diseased trees determined to be at risk of falling over.
“We had a state forester come and inspect the trees on the campus and the ones now being trimmed or felled are ones that he determined were at greatest risk for falling over or having damaged limbs come down,” Kulow said. “Obviously we want to protect our employees and residents and keep them safe.”
Kulow said the trees being felled will be replaced, but not necessarily in the same general location. “As you know if you drive by on Highway 789 during the winter, the trees shade the highway and there can be icy stretches in front of the center,” he said. “So some of the replacement trees will be placed further back on the lawn so as not to shade the highway.” He said the institution has a long-term tree replacement plan in place. “How fast we can replace all the trees will be determined by our budget.”
Damaged trees in close proximity to campus buildings are also being trimmed or removed. (Photo by Ernie Over)
