samiamj

This is the response I got from the City of Houston: Dear Mr. Jow, We appreciate your concern, but this Chinese elm tree is an invasive exotic. This tree is to be removed as part of the Harris County Waterway Assessment and Restoration Project. If you look around the tree, you will see dozens of seedlings coming up. The seed is windblown and is now known to be a problem tree. We have already removed almost all of the other invasive exotics and we missed this tree. The City of Houston Parks & Recreation department are our partners and are aware that we are removing invasive exotic species. If you have further questions about this matter, please contact Eric Ruckstuhl at 713-298-3021. Sincerely, Eric Ruckstuhl Eyes on the Bayou Coordinator A second response: Mr. Jow: I would like to add that under this program we typically plant native trees to replace the invasives that are removed. Sincerely, J. Tynan Kelly, President Bayou Preservation Association.

Thanks, I just emailed Trees for Houston. I see both sides of the issue. Some non-native trees suck up a lot of water but I prefer the shade from that tree and any other tree when I bike. It will take years for a native tree to grow into that size.

I talked to our Shady Acres Civic Club (SACC) president: According to the BPA, it is not a native tree. This association is going to cut down every non-native tree down the bayou. I'm sorry but any tree that produces shade and oxygen, I want it. I am totally against that notion.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii272/samjow/dontcutdowntree.jpg Click on https://webintake.houstontx.gov/web_intake/Controller and select the service type of PR Tree Code Violation.