Urban Forestry

About River Falls Urban Forestry

River Falls Urban Forestry is responsible for the care and maintenance of over 8000 park, boulevard, and greenspace trees throughout River Falls. The City has had a City Forester on staff since 1990. 

River Falls has been named a Tree City USA for over 22 years in a row and continually aims to grow a healthy and diverse urban forest.

Find Emerald Ash Borer updates here.

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Urban Forestry Mission Statement

The mission of the City’s Urban Forestry Program is to preserve and perpetuate one of the community’s most valuable natural resources and assets, its municipal forest of trees on public property. This includes trees on boulevards, parks, and other City properties.

Maximizing Natural Amenities

The City of River Falls has many natural amenities that provide a quality living and working environment for its residents and visitors. The local rivers, streams, lakes, wild areas, topography, and trees are some of these valued resources. These amenities must be properly managed to maximize their potential and prevent deterioration. Our urban trees play an essential and beautiful aspect of this environment.

Urban trees also provide social, economic and environmental benefits. A healthy, diverse urban forest increases property values, reduces crime, cleans the air, reduces storm water runoff into the Kinnickinnic and mitigates our impact on climate change.

Unlike a typical woods, Urban forests have unique parameters that require constant monitoring and maintenance. Urban pressures such as soil compaction, road salt, dry conditions, disease and insect damage can lead to stressed trees. Reducing potential hazards such as hanging limbs and removing dying or diseased trees are part of maintaining a healthy urban forest.

Urban Forestry Annual Projects & Events

  • Arbor Day tree planting event(s) in late April
  • Earth Fest sapling give away - April
  • Saplings given to 4th grade students in the River Falls Public Schools and St. Bridget in April
  • Treatment of Ash trees for EAB
  • Spring inspection of public trees identifying hazards or trees in decline 
  • Ongoing tree removals of dying or diseased trees 
  • Storm cleanup and tree inspections after severe weather events
  • Fall inspection of public trees identifying hazards or trees in decline before leaf drop
  • Spring and fall tree planting of 80 to 150 trees in our public boulevards, parks, and green spaces
  • Winter boulevard tree pruning 

Have questions on a City-owned tree? Please visit our Urban Forestry FAQ page

Interested in volunteering with tree plantings?

Organizations (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, school groups, church groups, etc.) are welcome to assist in certain tree plantings as a volunteer opportunity. Contact the City Forester Mike Noreen at 715-426-3467 or by email to see if opportunities are available.

Highview Meadows Community Orchard

Since 2016, the City has planted a variety of pear and apple trees on the north hillside of Highview Meadows Park. Now that the trees are well-established and bearing fruit, the community orchard is open to everyone. Please pick only what you can use and save the rest for others. Our orchard is not sprayed with chemicals and will remain untreated until further notice. Harvest periods generally are from September through October.

Online Tree Resources

Helpful Links