Laurie Rollins and neighbours would like to see trees felled along a trail behind her property removed by the city.

The Hillcrest Heights trail runs behind Rollins含羞草研究社� 24th Street SE property. Stacked up along the steep embankment between the trail and the retaining wall at the rear of Rollins含羞草研究社� property are 15 trees felled by the city last fall.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e basically looking at a log jam from our backyard,含羞草研究社� said Rollins. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a mess, it含羞草研究社檚 terrible and they含羞草研究社檙e not concerned and they含羞草研究社檙e not going to move it because they said there含羞草研究社檚 a directive from the Ministry of Forests that when trees have fallen, they would just leave them含羞草研究社� they said it won含羞草研究社檛 look terrible down the road. It will get back to natural.

含羞草研究社淲ell, down the road might mean in the meantime that we could have a fire back there.含羞草研究社�

Another concern of Rollins is that the felled and delimbed trees could roll into hers and/or her neighbours含羞草研究社� properties, including that of Greg Barron.

含羞草研究社淕reg questions whether the trees were pinned properly and whether it含羞草研究社檚 safe,含羞草研究社� said Rollins. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 really steep behind their place, they含羞草研究社檝e got a five-year -old boy that lives with them and if any of those come rolling down into their yard 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 ridiculous is what it is.含羞草研究社�

Barron shares Rollins含羞草研究社� concerns regarding the danger posed by the logs.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 dangerous,含羞草研究社� said Barron. 含羞草研究社淚 live right behind them and am concerned they含羞草研究社檙e going to roll down.含羞草研究社�

Rollins said she and her neighbours asked the city to cut down the trees 含羞草研究社渂ecause they were dead standing and with the winds, we were concerned with them falling on a house.含羞草研究社� This was confirmed via email by city roads and parks manager Darin Gerow. He explained the city followed up on multiple complaints received about the health of the trees by having them assessed by a certified arborist. It was determined by the arborist and a certified tree feller that the trees were an 含羞草研究社渋mminent danger to the neighboring properties.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社淎fter felling of the trees, contractors removed all the fire hazard limbs within this area and left the large diameter logs pinned against existing stumps to prevent from any further movement,含羞草研究社� said Gerow, noting this decision was made based on a Ministry of Forests含羞草研究社� list of benefits downed logs provide as they decay. These include: provision of shelter for wildlife, creation of growing sites for plants and fungi, enrichment and stabilizing of soils, contributing to living ecosystems and reducing erosion by wind, rain and melting snow.

含羞草研究社淚n addition, operations staff have a new process of replanting trees where we are required to remove trees that have died,含羞草研究社� said Gerow. 含羞草研究社淭his internal procedure will have us replant at a determined ratio in and around the area that the trees were fallen and should be completed within a year of tree removals.含羞草研究社�

Regarding the stability of the pinned logs, Rollins said about a week ago she found people cutting some of the logs, presumably for firewood.

含羞草研究社淚 look outside and sure enough there含羞草研究社檚 four people up there and they含羞草研究社檝e got a chainsaw and two wheelbarrows and for two hours they took wood from there,含羞草研究社� said Rollins. 含羞草研究社淪o those trees that were in there含羞草研究社� if people keep cutting up that wood then it含羞草研究社檚 no longer going to be pinned behind these trees that they left stumps for.含羞草研究社�

Rollins said she reported what she saw to the city.

含羞草研究社淲e are aware of some unauthorized work taking place at this location,含羞草研究社� said Gerow, adding staff would investigate to ensure the unsanctioned work has not created any insecure or unsafe situations.

Rollins remains uncomfortable with the logs being left to deteriorate naturally, and questions why their removal would be any different from other FireSmart related efforts.

含羞草研究社淚 did see under 含羞草研究社揑 don含羞草研究社檛 know if it含羞草研究社檚 FireSmart or some other program 含羞草研究社� that there含羞草研究社檚 money available for this kind of stuff to help with making the area around your community safe, so why not use some of that money to get rid of this?含羞草研究社� asked Rollins.