The City of Warren Street Landscape Committee talked riverbank vegetation, forest health and membership during a Tuesday morning meeting.

Committee chair Josie Gerarde raised concerns about the vegetation along the riverfront.

She said there are a “good many places you can hardly see the river and the view from Pennsylvania Ave. is gorgeous.”

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said that crews treat that vegetation every couple years.

He said it has to be done because too much vegetation can weaken the riprap stone along the bank.

Gerarde asked that the next treatment go from the Veterans Memorial Bridge at least as far downstream as Laurel St. if not the railroad bridge.

It’s unlikely something will happen soon as Holtz stressed that DPW is “working real hard to get ready for paving.”

DCNR District Forester Cecile Stelter shared a summary forest health outlook with the committee and the group specifically discussed needlecast which impacts pines and spruces as well as spongy moth.

“People are noticing and they are directly noticing that they (pine and spruce trees) look really stressed out,” she explained, noting that there’s really nothing to be done.

“Our hope is things tend to cycle,” she said. “If we have certain weather conditions… it helps perpetuate some of the diseases.”

That appears to have worked for the better where the spongy moth, formerly known as the gypsy moth, is concerned.

“(We) saw very little spongy moth defoliation compared to last spring,” Stelter said. “We’re hoping that’s a turn in the right direction. Basically, the population crashed.”

The committee has needed members for some time and possibilities were explored.

City Manager Nancy Freenock reminded the committee that non-city residents can join but wouldn’t count as voting members.

“It’s all about ideas really,” she said. “People bring a fresh perspective.”

To round out Tuesday’s meeting, the group selected the recipients for this year’s Civic Beautification Awards.