20-year Forest Restoration Plan - City of Kirkland

7 8 9 7 8 9 7 8 9Green Kirkland Partnership1 2 34 5 67 8 91 2 34 5 67 8 91 2 34 5 67 8 91 2 34 5 67 8 91 2 34 5 67 8 91 2 34 5 67 8 9Category 9:Low Value, High Threat – 36 AcresForest ConditionAreas estimated to have less than 25% native upper tree canopycover and greater than 50% invasive cover fall into thiscategory.Restoration Strategy: Major invasive reduction and majorplantingCategory 9 sites are not likely to get much worse over the next5 years. These sites will require many years of major invasiveremoval and site preparation in the form of mulching and infillplanting. Although some work will be directed to category 9forests, this is not a priority category for the first 5 years. Thepartnership will likely support efforts that contain the spreadof invasive plants, try out new techniques, or bolster aggressivecommunity-led efforts.Estimated Restoration CostAccording to Green Seattle Partnership analysis, in 2005 averagerestoration costs for crew time and staff time ranged from$2,800 to $28,000 for a single acre, depending on site conditions.The estimated average cost per acre for restoration variesby Tree-iage category (Table 3). Each category has a differentrestoration strategy and level of effort associated with it. Eachsite has unique features that further define costs. We have estimatedrestoration costs based on the Green Seattle analysis forfield work and added additional staff costs including: volunteercoordinator, outreach specialist, field project manager, six-memberfield crew, materials and some maintenance costs. This staffand field component is expected to cost $5.2 million over thenext 20 years, which is far more affordable than the cost of simplyhiring paid crews to complete the necessary restoration. Thediscount arises from community volunteers who will contributeone hour for every staff hour invested. Working side by sidewith volunteers the partnership will leverage an additional $4.4million in volunteer value over the next 20 years (see page 43 formore details about volunteer contribution).Table 3. Estimated cost of city staff and crew time for restoration of Kirkland forestednatural areas .This investment will leverage $4.4m in volunteer contributionsTree-iagecategoryAveragerestoration costAcres Total cost /category1 $2,800 13.16 $36,8482 $9,500 22.32 $212,0403 $15,400 1.73 $26,6424 $9,500 139.86 $1,328,6705 $16,100 76.95 $1,238,8956 $22,000 6.84 $150,4807 $15,400 70.56 $1,086,6248 $22,000 4.2 $92,4009 $27,900 36.48 $1,017,792TOTAL $5,190,39138