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When establishing new trees, deep, infrequent (weekly) watering ensures water slowly percolates into 12 inches of soil, allowing roots to establish into the landscape. Once a tree is established in approximately the first three years after planting, supplemental watering is only necessary during extreme heat or prolonged drought periods. Deep watering during the establishment period encourages root growth beyond the surface, which would occur if shallow or broadcast irrigation was used to establish the tree. Deep watering is a best practice to establish the root system of newly planted trees into the landscape, helping to reduce the likelihood of future storm - or wind-related failure. When extreme heat or drought is experienced, mature trees may benefit from supplemental watering once per month around the dripline. During predicted high heat events, dry periods, and drought, trees with shallow roots struggle to intake enough water from the top of the soil, which dries out first (Davey Research, 2016). Deep watering stimulates trees to produce broad and deep root systems, resulting in trees that are better able to survive drought, are more solidly anchored, and can withstand significant winds. This technique also uses less water, which provides greater security so that the tree can survive through extended drought conditions where water restrictions might be in place. Keeping trees in the wildfire hazard area sufficiently irrigated decreases the risk of ignitions and/or extreme fire behavior. Staffing The City’s existing urban forest management program consists of 38 staff members with tree-related job functions. Tree maintenance is not the only responsibility for these staff members who are also employed to park maintenance duties. City staff are being utilized across a range of urban forest tasks, including planting, establishment care, pruning, removals, and tree debris cleanup. The tree maintenance contractor accomplishes the majority of the public street tree pruning and tree removal. Accomplishing the tree maintenance standards above requires adequate staffing to perform the recommended tree maintenance activities. Some of the recommended maintenance activities are already being done as part of the city's routine tree maintenance. The tree maintenance contractor already trims street trees overhanging public streets to create 14 feet of clearance above the roadway, and City staff identifies and schedules the removal of dead trees in a timely manner. Some of the recommended maintenance activities can be incorporated into the existing tree maintenance programs but will require modifying the standards used by City staff and the tree maintenance contractor. The contract with the tree maintenance contractor can be revised when the contract is renewed or re-bid to include a requirement to maintain trees in the WUI areas to the standards recommended in this section of the UFMP. Finally, several recommended maintenance activities cannot be accomplished with the current staffing levels or tree maintenance contract, and the City will need to consider hiring additional staff or a new contractor to perform the recommended work. Annual defensible space and vegetation inspections in the WUI areas would require additional staffing to complete the inspections and follow up with property owners before the peak of the fire season (August-October). One to two full-time staff members would be required to complete the annual inspection program, which includes public outreach, property inspections (private and public), and the required follow-up (notification letters, scheduling work, etc.). It is recommended that these additional staff be assigned to the Fire Prevention section of LPFD so that the inspectors can perform a variety of wildfire preparedness duties and allow the fire department to enforce its vegetation management standards fully. Prepared for Wildfire The tree maintenance and removal standards described above are part of a larger and more comprehensive program to prepare properties for a wildfire that includes vegetation management, home hardening, address and water supply identification, and access. Implementing all of the parts of this comprehensive wildfire preparedness program is the key to minimizing the risk of destructive wildfire spreading across a property. It is essential to recognize that this comprehensive program is more than the sum of its parts. Overemphasizing one part of this 21