FARMINGTON — The Conservation Committee was given a Project Canopy grant by the Maine Forest Service to survey the status of the trees in downtown Farmington using UDFS I-tree software. Trees present great benefits but also require care.

The 592 trees of downtown Farmington absorb 1.2 million gallons of rainfall, conserve 70 megawatt hours of electricity, 630,000 BTU’s of energy for cooling and heating, absorb 623 pounds of air pollution, and about 3.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide. Annual benefits are estimated at $492,402 to the residents and businesses downtown.

The informational database created by the survey shows that seventy-six percent of the trees downtown were found in good condition, eleven percent were fair, six percent were poor and six percent were dead. Eighteen trees required immediate maintenance or should be removed. This informational database will make it much easier for public works to maintain tree health downtown.

The Farmington Conservation Committee will be holding an Arbor Day event Tuesday, May 16, at the North Church at 3:30 p.m. Patty Cormier, a state forester, will be speaking on the survey about how the I-tree program works and about the health and diversity of the downtown trees. A member of public works will speak on rights and responsibilities when it comes to trees on or near a town right of way or public property. Light refreshments will be served. The public is encouraged to attend.

This event is free and open to anyone. There will be light refreshments.

FMI: patty.cormier@maine.gov, 207-592-2238. 

Spruce Mountain Envirothon Team member Jordy Daigle takes a DBH measurement as part of a 2015 tree survey while fellow team member Natalie Luce and arborist Mark Ingrisano observe.

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