When a huge tree toppled down near UC Riverside’s Student Services Building earlier this month it was unexpected. But it’s the type of problem the campus is better prepared to deal with in recent years due to its tree maintenance and inventory programs.

The tree came down during a strong windstorm on Sept. 2, where gusts blew more than 50 mph. Facilities Services determined that the tree fell due to root failure with the high winds contributing to its uprooting. They found that the tree had a shallow root system compared to its height and width.

A 95-foot-tall Italian stone pine with a four-and-a-half-foot diameter trunk, it was estimated to be about 70 years old, one of the oldest and largest on campus. 

Facilities Services cleared the area and taped off access to the lawn shortly after the tree came down, its standard practice for any potential hazard. A vendor was hired to cut and remove the tree, finishing the work in two days. The weight of tree and branches, cut into pieces and taken to a disposal facility, was 58 tons.

Adam Schnirel, associate vice chancellor for Facilities Services, described it as an isolated incident due to the unusual variety of the tree, its weak root system, and the weather conditions.

Facilities Services typically cancels events planned to take place under trees if there is a wind warning. The department advises the campus community to use their own judgement and be cautious during such wind advisories and heavy storms. Potential hazards, such as fallen branches or cracking noises, can be reported to Facilities Services at its customer service line at (951) 827-4214 or facilities@ucr.edu

The campus tree care program includes regular tree trimming, removal of some trees, new plantings, and identifying tree health risks. Much of the tree trimming is done during winter and summer breaks, when there are fewer people on campus, and in high traffic areas including parking lots, student housing, walking areas, and landscaped areas.

The department now has more tools to monitor the health of campus trees. Two years ago, it created a tree mapping and inventory that compiles the number of trees, their location, their species, and condition in a digital database. Over 8,000 trees and 200 species were cataloged.

Before the database, the department didn’t even have a full count of trees, said Tos Ishida, assistant director of landscape services. Now the department can sort trees by their size, species, and risk assessment, he said. It also helps the landscape crew better track which campus areas were maintained most recently and which ones need more attention, he said.