Fort Meade removes hazardous trees to protect community, sustain mission readiness

Official Statements

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — Fort Meade has removed 51 high-priority hazardous trees across the installation, reducing risks to people and property and helping protect critical infrastructure during severe weather. “The trees identified were considered the greatest potential threat to life and property should they have an uncontrolled fall,” said Julie Adkins, Fort Meade natural resources program manager. The effort supports installation resilience and mission readiness by reducing hazards to roads, facilities and infrastructure.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “As the nation’s platform for intelligence, information and cyber operations, Fort Meade relies on dependable utilities, communications and transportation access to support its tenant organizations, workforce and community. “Safety is always our top priority - for service members, their families, visitors and employees,” said Todd Gribling, Roads & Grounds Manager and International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist supporting Melwood and the Base Operations Support (BASOPS) contract on Fort Meade. “Fort Meade’s mature trees face environmental stresses that can threaten their health and stability.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “An extensive tree survey conducted in 2024 identified approximately 200 trees that were dead, hazardous or potentially hazardous to life or property. The survey also identified invasive species for removal and cataloged mature specimen trees for preservation. According to Adkins, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team conducted the survey through extensive fieldwork. Fort Meade’s Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Environmental Division then tasked Melwood, the installation’s internal grounds crew, to identify the trees posing the greatest risk.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “Melwood was eager to take up the task and set out to provide us with a detailed inventory of trees that had the most risk,” Adkins said. Melwood arborists assessed the survey list and selected 51 trees for removal based on risk. To ensure the work met professional safety guidelines, Gribling relied on a specialized crew he has spent more than a decade building.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “During my 14 years as Fort Meade’s Roads & Grounds Manager, I have worked with DPW and Melwood to develop and train an in-house tree team,” Gribling said. “The team follows International Society of Arboriculture standards for pruning and removal and can respond quickly and safely to emergencies.” This highly trained crew works in tandem with arborists who continuously track changing conditions on post. “Kyra Longacre and I are International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists supporting Melwood and the BASOPS contract,” Gribling noted.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “We continually monitor trees, especially in high-traffic areas such as Burba Park, playgrounds and child development centers, for hazards that could injure people or damage property.” Adkins credited the joint team with producing a shortened priority list and conducting the removal work skillfully and safely. “Acting quickly to complete this project and remove these trees has made the installation safer,” Adkins said. “Storms can still bring down limbs or trees, but these removals significantly reduced the risk of injury and property damage.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “Spring and summer storms underscored the project’s urgency: at least two trees slated for removal fell before crews could reach them. One large tree near Pavilion 3 at Burba Lake split and fell during a storm. “Fortunately, no one was injured and no property was damaged, but such a large tree could easily have caused serious harm,” Adkins said. Many hazardous trees may appear structurally sound from the outside. Adkins said trees can develop knots, holes, splits and cracks that are susceptible to rain and rot.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “Over time, rot can spread to the base of a tree and cause significant internal structural damage. “From the outside, it may not look like anything is wrong with the tree at all, but trained professionals see the entry points of the rot and utilize other representations of the tree’s health to determine that the tree might be at risk of breaking apart,” Adkins said. Anticipating these hidden environmental threats is a core focus for the grounds maintenance team.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “By addressing existing hazards and anticipating how severe summer storms or winter snow and ice could worsen them, we help reassure the Fort Meade community that its safety comes first,” Gribling said. “This work depends on the shared mission and strong partnership between DPW and Melwood.” “It’s always possible that storms bring down trees, even ones that hadn’t been previously identified as likely to fall, but this effort worked hard to tackle known hazards and get to them before Mother Nature does,” Adkins said.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “Material cleared during removal operations is being repurposed rather than discarded. Wood from downed trees is chipped and used as needed on the installation. Chips not used on post are taken to an appropriate disposal facility, where they may be used for mulch, compost or other purposes. Fort Meade plans to remove the remaining hazardous trees identified in the survey during fiscal year 2027. Adkins noted that other high-priority mission requirements could defer the project. The installation is also working to restore tree canopy where practical.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “Utility projects, such as sewer and water-line work, may require replacement plantings. When infrastructure placement or proximity to buildings prevents replanting in the original location, crews can use other available planting locations, including spaces left by removed trees. An installation canopy survey planned for fiscal year 2027 will help identify areas most in need of new trees, including locations where trees can provide shade for recreation areas or help mitigate heat impacts. The survey will also provide updated information on changing canopy coverage across the installation.”

• Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs, November 12: “By pairing proactive hazard mitigation with long-term canopy planning, Fort Meade continues to improve safety, protect infrastructure and support mission readiness.”