Portland’s Tree-Planting Efforts Undermined by Sapling Deaths Amid Extreme Heat.
Portland officials have repeatedly emphasized the urgent need for more trees to provide shade and protect vulnerable communities, particularly in East Portland, from extreme heat. This call to action gained momentum after the devastating heatwave in the summer of 2021, where temperatures soared to 116 degrees, resulting in the deaths of 72 Portland residents, 22 of whom were from neighborhoods east of Interstate 205.
In response to this crisis, the city pledged to invest at least $40 million over five years to plant up to 25,000 additional trees in the city’s hottest areas, where some neighborhoods have as little as 5% tree coverage. However, a recurring issue threatens to derail these efforts: the city has struggled to keep newly planted trees alive.
In August of last year, it was reported that dozens of saplings in the Mill Park neighborhood died due to lack of watering by the city. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, as two more significant instances of tree deaths have occurred since then.
The first major die-off took place in July, when Cascadian Landscapers Inc., a contractor hired by the city to plant and maintain trees, failed to water the saplings for three consecutive weeks during the hottest period recorded this year. As a result, many of the trees in neighborhoods like Piedmont, Humboldt, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, and Hazelwood/Mill Park are now either dead or dying. Portland Parks & Recreation is still assessing the full extent of the damage.
Saplings require 15 to 20 gallons of water each week to survive, and missing even a single watering can lead to irreversible damage. The July heatwave, the hottest on record, was particularly ill-timed for a lapse in care. Cascadian Landscapers attributed the oversight to staffing shortages.
In response, the contractor has since increased the frequency of watering, and some trees have shown signs of recovery, according to Portland Parks & Recreation spokesman Mark Ross.
The second wave of sapling deaths occurred in Montavilla during the same heatwave. A late July inspection revealed that 125 out of 439 trees planted in the spring had either died or were severely stressed. The exact cause of their decline remains unclear, but the financial impact is significant. The city estimates that each tree costs $404 to plant.
These setbacks come at a time when Portland’s existing tree canopy is also under threat from extreme weather events. Between 2015 and 2020, the city’s overall tree coverage decreased from 30.7% to 29.8%, marking the first decline in decades, according to a 2022 report.
City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who oversaw the parks bureau during that period, described the report as a “wake-up call.” In response, she advocated for changes to the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), allowing city agencies to access funds earmarked for climate initiatives. This adjustment enabled the city to secure $40 million from the PCEF to plant thousands of trees in East Portland over five years. Additionally, another $100 million in PCEF funds will be used to maintain the city’s 240,000 existing street trees.
Despite these financial commitments, the city’s tree-planting efforts have lagged. In 2020, Portland planted 12,388 trees. By 2023, that number had dropped to just 7,722, a 38% decrease.
To combat the challenges faced by young trees, particularly during heatwaves, consistent watering is crucial. Cascadian Landscapers has pledged to replace any trees that died under its care at no cost. Meanwhile, the parks bureau is conducting investigations to understand the causes behind the tree deaths in Montavilla, aiming to prevent future losses.
Portland’s ambition to cool its sun-seared neighborhoods depends not only on planting new trees but also on ensuring their survival through proper maintenance and care.