Tree Risk Assessment in Travis County, TX

Tree problems in Travis County, TX that call for arborist risk assessment

1. 1

   Unincorporated Travis County vs. Austin

   Much of western and eastern Travis County is outside any city, from the Lake Travis shoreline to Manor and Del Valle. There, the City of Austin's protected-tree and heritage-tree permits don't apply; Austin's rules cover trees 19 inches and larger inside the city. Villages and cities like West Lake Hills, Lakeway and Pflugerville have their own codes, and HOAs and deed restrictions often add more.

2. 2

   Floodplains and creek-side trees

   Eastern Travis County's creeks and the Colorado River floodplain are prone to flooding. Trees along streams hold banks in place, and the county supports floodplain reforestation. Before removing trees along a creek on your property, consider the bank, and check whether floodplain rules apply to work in mapped flood hazard areas.

3. 3

   Oak wilt in western Travis County

   Oak wilt kills up to 90 percent of untreated oaks in an infection center, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, and it spreads through the connected roots of live oaks and by beetles visiting fresh wounds. Disease centers in unincorporated western Travis County have threatened to cross into neighboring communities like West Lake Hills.