The City of Fort Collins Forestry Division has assessed and categorized the March 12-14, 2021 storm impact on the community’s urban forest. Up to 27 inches of snow fell in some parts of the city. Due to fluctuating temperatures and wet snow conditions, damage to many trees around town occurred, varying from minor to severe to extremely hazardous.

Based on the community assessment, the City will be offering two free limb drop-off locations for Fort Collins residents. The Forestry Division will continue focusing on broken limbs and mitigating hazards still attached to public trees and the Streets Department will be focusing on downed limb cleanup efforts in Old Town within the public right-of-way, as this area was most severely impacted by the snow.

It is important to remember that people and trees were impacted, in many ways, throughout the community and clean-up efforts are likely to take six to nine months to mitigate the hazards in both private and public trees.

Free Limb Drop Off

The Forestry Division, in partnership with other City departments and public partners, is making two sites available for free residential limb drop off. Hageman’s will be available starting Thursday, March 25. Hughes Stadium details are being finalized, with an anticipated opening date of Saturday, March 27. Visitors should be prepared to present proof of Fort Collins residency with an ID or utility bill at both drop off sites. Sites are expected to remain open for six weeks.

• Hageman Earth Cycle
  Address: 3501 E. Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80525
  Phone: (970) 221-7173
  Hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., closed on Sundays
  Hours are weather permitting
  Commercial limb drop-off will be available, but not supported financially by the City
• CSU’s Old Hughes Stadium Site:
  Address: 2400 Block of S Overland Rd, Access on Dixon Canyon Road
  Hours: Seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Open weather and site permitting
  Residential drop off only

Curbside Branch Clean-Up Efforts

The Streets Department is currently focusing curbside branch clean-up efforts in the Old Town core, Area 1, of the Urban Forest Storm Response Plan. Within this area, the zone most severely impacted is denoted by the following streets as borders: Riverside Ave (east), Prospect Rd (south), Taft Hill Rd (west) and Vine Dr (north). Clean-up efforts have begun in the western portion of this area and will continue in this zone until hazards and downed limbs are removed.

Private Tree Concerns

The City of Fort Collins has a list of licensed arborists that community members should contact for all private tree concerns. The Forestry Division licenses these companies, ensuring they have the qualifications, safety standard knowledge and hold current insurance minimums to work within Fort Collins.

When clearing tree branches and limbs, community members are reminded to not place branches on sidewalks, in the lanes of travel, or bike lanes. Blocking these public use areas creates public safety concerns.

Want to help or need help? Here are some resources:

• Storm Response Webpage and FAQs
• Take advantage of the two free limb drop-off sites provided by the City for the next six weeks
• Funnel public tree related requests through forestry@fcgov.com
• Contact a City of Fort Collins Licensed Arborist to help mitigate broken limbs in private trees
• Do not place limbs in the public right-of-way that may block sight visibility or that may block on-street parking, lanes of travel or bike lanes and sidewalks. This creates additional public safety concerns.
• Help those around you. Remain patient with these efforts, lend a hand to a neighbor in need and take things slow; the safety of the community and City employees is top priority.

Need to report a community hazard? Use Access Fort Collins to submit your request, along with pictures, to the appropriate City department.