Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The City of Warren Parks, Recreation and Landscape Commission discussed tree growth near the Third Ave. Bridge during Tuesday’s meeting. A couple years ago the city cut these trees to the ground and 20-25 feet of growth has been seen since.

Multiple tree issues were discussed by the City of Warren’s Parks, Recreation and Landscape Commission on Tuesday.

Growth on the island around the Third Ave. Bridge generated a call to the city.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Joe Reinke said the growth in that area was cut two summers ago to the ground.

Since then, there’s been 20 to 25 feet of new growth. “They’re just drinking water,” he said.

The city previously expressed a desire to dredge that area of the Conewango Creek but speculated that the state would be unlikely to approve that work.

“I assume we’re going to cut it again and keep on cutting it,” Reinke said. “That was a 10 man operation.”

Crews would cut down 10 trees, bundle them together, wade across to the bank and pull the trees to shore. The work took a week.

City Manager Mike Holtz pointed to the removal several years ago of a low head dam just north of Pennsylvania Ave. as the cause for the accelerated growth, slowing the water down in the area of Third Ave.

Reinke also told the committee that it appears the city was awarded a state tree grant for 20 trees to be planted this fall.

He said the health of the city’s urban forest is good. “We didn’t lose that many trees from the spring planting list,” he said. “I’ve been a good amount of rain we’ve been getting” since the drought in June.

“We haven’t had to water trees since June which is good.”