City monitors poisoned trees

An accidental herbicide application on trees along Uinta Drive and other areas of Green River continues to be monitored by the city’s parks and recreation department.

Earlier this spring, a new herbicidal spray was utilized by the department after discovering weeds were becoming resistant to previously-used sprays. However, as a result of close applications of the chemical to trees in the city, a number of trees were affected by the herbicide, harming or killing the trees.

Brad Raney, director of the parks and recreation department, said the department has injected many of the trees with nutrients to help limit the effects of the herbicide. There have been a few trees the department was forced to remove and replant, such as the evergreen trees near the Golden Hour Senior Center. Raney said the deciduous trees, those that drop their leaves in the autumn, do have a chance at pulling through and coming back.

“It will take a little while, but we think they will come back,” he said.

Raney said the department has sought advice from experts from the University of Wyoming and the U.S. Forest Service, crafting the department’s response to the feedback they’ve been provided.

Also, the trees that do not survive will be replanted with budgeted funds towards tree planting. Raney said the department has annually budgeted money to replace dead trees throughout the city. He also said the city seeks grant funding and possible partnerships with private businesses to care for and replace the trees.

“It’s been hard for everyone,” Raney said. “We’re doing our best to make it beautiful again.”