Anapamu Street Italian Stone Pine Pruning and Removals

Many of the Italian stone pines on East Anapamu Street are between 95 and 116 years old. The oldest were planted from Milpas Street to Olive Street in 1908 by Parks Commissioner Dr. A Boyd Doremus. Parks Superintendent Ralph Stevens planted additional trees to extend the stand to Garden Street in 1929.  

Santa Barbara is fortunate to have a diverse and mature urban forest, thanks to the forethought of past generations. However, this poses unique challenges to the City’s Urban Forestry program as mature trees reach the end of their life.

When many of the Italian stone pines were first planted, East Anapamu Street was a wide, unpaved road. Over the last century, roads, sidewalks, and utility lines have been developed around the trees, leaving a narrow parkway for the large trees to grow. Unfortunately, the tree species is not well-suited for the urban environment of a street tree, as its large lateral roots cause damage to nearby asphalt and concrete, lifting sidewalks and damaging roads. As repairs are made to the surrounding hardscape, the roots of the trees are pruned, weakening the tree. Aggressive canopy pruning to accommodate overhead utility lines places additional stress on the mature trees. 

Recent lab testing also identified Phytophthora root rot in the soil of all tested trees. This fungal pathogen kills a tree’s roots, first infecting small fibrous feeder roots before moving into larger roots of the tree. Infected feeder roots impact the tree’s ability to uptake water and nutrients, leading to overall decline.  Given the pathogen’s ability to easily spread from one location to another, it is likely present in all parkways within the project area. Testing also identified Diplodia tip blight within the canopies of tested trees. This fungal pathogen causes the decline and death of portions of the tree canopy over time. 

While the Italian stone pines on East Anapamu Street are regularly monitored due to their age and size, a comprehensive assessment was performed in April 2024 to determine the overall health and structural stability of each tree. The assessment identified multiple trees with dead and decaying roots, indicating that the root system is no longer functional and the potential for tree failure is high. These high-risk trees were removed to protect public safety.

Five trees were removed due to risk to public safety, and some trees recieved canopy pruning as needed to reduce the weight and stress on limbs. Many of the Italian stone pines on East Anapamu Street have intertwined canopies, and removing one tree can negatively impact the weight distribution of neighboring trees. Pruning helps redistribute the weight of the tree’s canopy to reduce the risk of limb and tree failure once neighboring trees have been removed. It also promotes tree health and longevity by improving air circulation and sunlight penetration within the canopy. 

Seven trees are known to be in an irreversible decline in health but were not identified as high-risk. These trees are not planned for removal at this time and will continue to be monitored.

Yes! While it will take many years for a young tree to offer the same benefits as a mature tree, counteracting tree loss is vital to maintaining the health of our urban forest.

Staff hope to begin replanting the street in early 2025 following public meetings in the summer and fall.

On October 3, the Street Tree Advisory Committee, an advisory group of community members with knowledge and expertise in the horticultural and arboricultural fields, recommended future plantings be native coast live oak instead of Italian stone pines.

This recommended change aims to introduce a tree species more suitable for the current street, including limiting damage to surrounding asphalt, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters while recreating the aesthetics of the dense canopy the century-old Italian stone pines once offered. The native trees are also well-adapted to the local environment and provide a food source and habitat for wildlife.

This recommendation will be considered by the Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday, October 23, at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 735 Anacapa Street. Public comments regarding this recommendation can be submitted in person, in writing, or by email at CCarlson@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

No existing trees would be impacted by this change if approved.