DC Water contractor IPR has been performing tree removal and protection work since March 7th.
Trees are coming down for the DC Water Soapstone sewer rehabilitation project now under way. And according to the agency’s March 27th project update, most of the trees marked for removal have been cut down since the park closed for the 1.5-year project on March 7th.
At ANC 3F’s request, the agency released a fact sheet laying out the number of trees being removed (245), whether they included any trees designated as “heritage” or “special” trees under DC law (zero heritage, five special), and plans for planting and caring for the replacement trees (see below).
Part of the Soapstone trees fact sheet DC Water submitted to ANC 3F. Click the image to download the PDF file.
You can download the fact sheet here, or read on for some details.
Tree Impact and Planting Plan
These planting plans were developed based on a list of native tree species and planting percentages for each species provided by the National Park Service (NPS). A 1:1 replacement will be planted for all 245 trees removed (excluding invasive trees) with an additional 25 planted at the direction of the NPS. Of the trees to be planted, 72% will be in the riparian area and the remaining 28% will be in the upland area.
Trees will be protected from deer, and monitored for 5 years post-construction. During the first two years, the DC Water contractor will be responsible for watering the trees periodically and monitoring the understory seed establishment and tree survival. The contractor is responsible for 100% survivability of the planted trees and will replace any dead tree by the end of the 1st and 2nd year. During the last 3 years, NPS will be responsible for planting 300 shrubs and 500 forbs, watering, providing invasive plant management, and determining if additional trees will need to be planted.
DC Water has said that tree cutting will be complete on March 31st. The construction update below includes the status of the tree-cutting work.
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Manager, Community Outreach: Emanuel D. Briggs
(202) 787-2003 or emanuel.briggs@dcwater.com
Greetings DC Water Community Stakeholders:
Please read below for a list of our construction activities at each site within the park for the next two weeks, which include status of tree-cutting efforts for each site:
Site 1 (Upper section of Audubon Terrace NW, going toward Albemarle Street)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 1 – To date, we have cut 45 of approximately 50 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 1 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
Site 2 (Upper section of Audubon Terrace NW, going toward 29th Street)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 2 – We have successfully reached our goal of cutting approximately 40 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 2 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
Site 3 (29th Street and Audubon Terrace NW)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 3 – We have successfully reached our goal of cutting approximately 20 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 3 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
Site 4 (End of Audubon Terrace NW, going toward Broad Branch Road)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 4 – We have successfully reached our goal of cutting approximately 30 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 4 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
Site 5 (Broad Branch Road NW, toward Audubon Terrace)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 5 – To date, we have cut 0 of approximately 10 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 5 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
Site 6 (Broad Branch Road NW)
- Status of tree-cutting efforts for Site 6 – To date, we have cut approximately 20 of 60 trees marked for cutting at this location
- Current/upcoming activities for Site 6 – From Monday, March 28 – Saturday, April 2, we are working to install heavy equipment pathways; we will continue with these activities from Monday, April 4 – Saturday, April 9
The places marked in red are the “primary areas of project construction.”
dc_chica says
Has DCWater published a schedule for the project yet? I think they said they would start on the side of Soapstone furthest away from Connecticut Ave and work their way up, but at February’s virtual meeting they didn’t have a timeline yet for when they would reach different sections of the park.
FHC says
Not yet. As recently as early March, DC Water was telling ANC 3F that it would have more information on the schedule at the commissioners’ April meeting, which will be on the 19th.