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(Reuters) - Some 5.6 million urban shade trees were killed by the record drought that baked Texas last year, the Texas Forest Service reported on Wednesday.
Last year was the driest year on record in the state and the second-hottest, according to the National Weather Service.
The shade tree die-off represents some 10 percent of the state's urban forest, and is in addition to as many as a half-billion rural, park and forest trees that the forest service reported in December were killed in the drought.
The impact of the drought will be visible for decades because of the loss of the trees in yards and parks and along streets of the state's cities, according to the service.
Texas drought leads to shade tree die-off
Seeded on Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:49 AM EST
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Removing the trees could cost homeowners, utilities and local governments some $560 million, according to the forest service...
The loss of shade trees will cost Texans an additional $280 million in higher utility bills, according to Smith. And property values will be depressed by the loss of monumental oak and mesquite trees that pepper many Texas lawns.
I'm assuming that $280 million utility figure is annual. Looks like one more thing to add to the 2011 Billion Dollar Disasters list.
in addition to as many as a half-billion rural, park and forest trees that the forest service reported in December were killed in the drought.
Unbelieveable.
- 2 votes
#1 - Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:30 PM ESTAnd those dollar figures don't even include the losses in timber value. With that many forest trees dead, I'm sure it's quite substantial. Forest landowners are salvaging what they can of the dead trees, but the mills that are still accepting trees are doing so at deeply discounted rates.
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