As a tree removal and trimming company that serves the Mid-Hudson Valley, we are deeply attuned to the long-term arboreal trends of our region. One of the best meta sources for information on these trends is called i-Tree Landscape, which aggregates data from a number of federal and non-profit sources to provide a comprehensive overview of land use, tree cover, tree types, and trends across large areas.
We dug into the latest data to get the latest information. Here’s what we found:
1. What are the Dominant Forest Types of the Hudson Valley?
According to the latest statistics, these are the top ecological groupings of trees in the Hudson Valley:
| County | Top Forest Type Group | % of Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Ulster | Maple/Beech/Birch | 65.95% |
| Columbia | Oak/Hickory | 48% |
| Dutchess | Oak/Hickory | 52.71% |
| Greene | Maple/Beech/Birch | 77.14% |
These are the second most common groupings:
| County | Top Forest Type Group | % of Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Ulster | Oak/Hickory | 32.42% |
| Columbia | Maple/Beech/Birch | 45.82% |
| Dutchess | Maple/Beech/Birch | 42.49% |
| Greene | Oak/Hickory | 19.54% |
Two tree groups dominate the landscape of the Mid-Hudson Valley: the maple/beech/birch grouping as well as oak/hickory. These forests are beautiful, but these species are also vulnerable for storm damage and pests.
2. Ulster County has the Most Tree Volume; By Far
| County | Total Basal Area (ft³) |
|---|---|
| Ulster | 127,834,751 |
| Greene | 75,698,006 |
| Dutchess | 48,623,740 |
| Columbia | 44,346,839 |
Measured by the total tree basal area (which means tree mass per square foot), Ulster County stands heads and shoulders above its neighbors. This is partly owing to the fact that large areas of Ulster County are preserved from developed due to being the host community for the Ashokan Reservoir as well as Catskill Park.
3. What are the most common trees across the region?
According to their “total basal area,” the top trees in the region are Maple trees (1.6 square miles), Oak (1 square mile), Sugar Maple (0.98 square miles), and Northern Red Oak (0.68 square miles). These trees all appear prominently in our town-by-town breakdowns of common tree species, like in Rhinebeck, New Paltz, Catskill and Poughkeepsie.
4. How Much Developed Open Space Does the Hudson Valley Have?
“Developed, open space” as defined by i-Tree refers to grassy or lightly-built areas, such as large residential yards, parks and golf courses.
| County | Acres | % of Land |
|---|---|---|
| Ulster | 39,222.4 | 5.28% |
| Dutchess | 34,083.2 | 6.45% |
| Columbia | 15,285.7 | 3.68% |
| Greene | 19,724.7 | 4.68% |
Considerations to make for tree services in these areas are that trees are often landscape and beautifying anchors of parks, large yards and golf courses. It’s important to choose a tree removal company that can respect the aesthetics of your property and leave no trace behind.
5. How Much Developed, Low-Intensity Space is there in the Hudson Valley?
This usually means single-family zoned housing areas that have built surfaces and tree hazards like driveways, roofs and sidewalks.
| County | Acres | % of Land |
|---|---|---|
| Dutchess | 30,169.1 | 5.71% |
| Ulster | 16,300.3 | 2.19% |
| Columbia | 14,372.5 | 3.46% |
| Greene | 7,398.3 | 1.76% |
For areas that have single-family homes in a neighborhood, there are a number of considerations for tree services. Small errors can cause major property damage, lawsuits and insurance claims, which is why experience, insurance, and well-maintained equipment are a must.
Many single-family homes also have buried electric lines, irrigation systems, gas lines, septic tanks and other infrastructure near tree roots, which is why proper preparation and double-checking is critical. We also strive to not leave behind turf damage, tire ruts and not damage any garden beds or hardscaping in our trimming or tree removal jobs.
6. How Much Developed, Medium to High Intensity Space is there in the Hudson Valley?
These are highly-developed urban and commercial districts that require the greatest amount of care when it comes to tree removal.
| Category | Dutchess (Acres) | Ulster | Columbia | Greene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Intensity | 19,738.6 (3.74%) | 7,710.1 | 6,342.7 | 3,323.7 |
| High Intensity | 5,986.0 (1.13%) | 2,578.3 | 1,516.3 | 962.1 |
The more development and density, the more delicate tree removal becomes. In a single-family home neighborhood, a tree might be overlooking a house, a garage, a yard; in a more urban environment, a tree can be overhanging several buildings, several apartments, a parking lot, traffic lights, power lines, glass storefronts, HVAC units, sidewalks, and multiple streets. A small limb drop could cause thousands of dollars of damage.
That’s why crane-assisted tree removal is the safest method in tight urban environments.
7. What Percentage of the Hudson Valley is Developed?
If you aggregate the percentages of developed open space, as well as low intensity, medium intensity and highly-intensive developed space, you get an aggregate of how much of the Hudson Valley is developed:
- Columbia County: 9% developed
- Dutchess County: 17% developed
- Greene County: 7.4% developed
- Ulster County: 8.8% developed
Do you need help removing or trimming a tree in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene or Ulster County? Give us a call at 845-331-6782 to schedule a consultation today.