Mission Viejo Commended For Urban Forest

MISSION VIEJO, CA — The city of Mission Viejo enjoys the most number of trees per resident than any other Orange County city, the Orange County Grand Jury proclaimed in a report this summer.

Aliso Viejo, by comparison, was lacking in the urban forest department, as were the cities of Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel, among others. Residents in those towns severely outnumber the city's street trees, the grand jury report proclaimed. Aliso Viejo has the fewest number of "trees per resident than other Orange County cities, the panel decided. There were 30 Orange County cities contacted during the study.

"Urban forests protect human and ecosystem health and safety," the report reads, adding that healthy urban forests bring economic gain to a city as well as act as "stress relief" for the people who enjoy them.

"Trees add beauty to neighborhoods, and residents prefer to live on tree-lined streets," the Grand Jury reported. Still, having trees line our streets causes problems, especially if those trees become hazards.

Laguna Beach began removing diseased, and root-heavy trees from city streets per an initiative put into place earlier this year.

In January, work crews removed several areas where concrete and hardscape treatments surrounded the tree roots to make streets ADA compliant, City Manager John Pietig said of the project. The work served to alleviate any girdling of the tree trunks, and to enhance the air and water permeability of the tree wells and will remove potential tripping hazards.

Other cities which have fewer trees per resident include La Palma, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Santa Ana, Stanton, Westminster, and Yorba Linda, according to the study.

The cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, and Aliso Viejo will need to implement policies and practices to improve their urban forests, with a plan in place by September 30, the report said.

Aliso Viejo ranked dead last with only one solitary tree per 100 people, according to the report.

All cities will need to hire or work with an urban forest coordinator to enhance the county's Urban Forest program, they said.

Mission Viejo ranked at the most tree-friendly city, with 47 trees per 100 residents. They were commended for the community's involvement in their urban forestation.