Originally posted to the web in News, on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 12:45 PM CST.
Trees being removed/saved in Sols Wash
By Patti Jares, Staff Writer
The long-awaited and much discussed Sols Wash Flood Control Project has been approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Removal of the trees in Sols Wash began Dec. 23 by local company Wickenburg Landscape and Irrigation, Inc.
Although there is debate about removing the trees along the wash, Wickenburg Landscape Co-Owner Aaron Wolfe feels confident that having a local company doing the project will be beneficial for Wickenburg.
In fact, Wolfe has asked the Flood Control District's Environmental Program Manager Diana Stuart permission to spare some of the trees marked to be cleared.
“What we're trying to do is save some of the trees lining the park - especially a big mesquite (at least one of the largest I've ever seen) - across from the baseball diamond at Coffinger Park.”
According to Wolfe, the Flood Control District has agreed in principle to consider that if the tree is close enough to the project boundary, they can spare it, with the stipulation that Wickenburg Landscape will come back and remove the tree if it dies.
The rest of the trees will be cut down to four feet, leaving the roots to stabilize the banks until the construction project begins this spring. At that time, roots will be removed, along with sediments and vegetation, and the wash will be widened to increase the water capacity during a flood - especially the 100-year flood that can carry water through the wash at an approximate rate of 15,000 cubic feet per second. The flood of water that rushed through Sols Wash in 2000 was 11,000 cubic feet per second.
The new improvements are designed to provide 100-year flood protection to approximately 110 residential properties, 12 commercial properties, and Coffinger Park.
Residents have voiced concern about birds nesting along the wash in trees being cut down, but according to district biologists, nesting for young will not begin until February.
“If we didn't do this job, somebody else would - probably a big company out of Phoenix,” acknowledged Wolfe. “They wouldn't care about the trees. It will take more money to preserve some trees, but it's not just about the money.
“We take our kids to the park,” he added. “If we can save one tree, it will be better than another company clear-cutting everything that was on the contract.”
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