Tree inventory data to benefit efforts at High Plains Arboretum

Published on November 04, 2024

A new tree inventory recently completed by the Laramie County Conservation District at the High Plains Arboretum will provide a wealth of data for Cheyenne’s Urban Forestry division, helping maintain, preserve, and protect the Arboretum for years to come.

The inventory totaled more than 6,000 trees on Arboretum property and noted the trees’ species and health. Previous tree inventories maintained since 1975 only focused on the trees specifically involved in research at the Arboretum, and no inventory had ever been conducted of all trees on the property, particularly the shelterbelt trees around the Arboretum’s historic buildings. The majority of those trees were planted in the 1930s.

"This extensive tree inventory will help us better manage the site to ensure the High Plains Arboretum will be enjoyed by generations to come,” Urban Forestry Director Mark Ellison said.

The LCCD conducted the inventory, which was funded by the district’s mill levy and executed through a partnership with the Wyoming State Forestry Division.

The inventory is available for the public to view at https://pg-cloud.com/highplainsarboretum/.

Data from the inventory can be used to monitor the trees’ health, know which trees to treat in the event of pest presence like the spruce ips beetle, and improve the accuracy of budgeting for tree care.

The LCCD and Wyoming State Forestry Division have helped with many projects at the High Plains Arboretum over the years. The research conducted at the station has contributed to shelterbelt programs and tree species recommendations around the state for decades, and the agencies often support efforts to preserve the historic trees.

The High Plains Grasslands Research Station is currently managed by the USDA - Agricultural Research Service, and the High Plains Arboretum is managed by the City of Cheyenne.

Part of the property is proposed to be a state historic site, which would establish a partnership with the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources to aid in historic preservation and visitor services, while also restoring the historic greenhouse for the purpose of growing trees suited to Wyoming's climate for use around the state. The bill designating the historic site will come before the 2025 Wyoming Legislature in January. For more information on the state historic site project, visit www.cheyennecity.org/arboretum.