Removal and Replacement of Trees at Embarcadero Marina Park North by San Diego Unified Port District

The proposed project would involve the removal and replacement of three (3) Melaleuca trees by the San Diego Unified Port District (District) in the city of San Diego, California. The three (3) trees are located south of the public restroom at Embarcadero Marina Park North (EMPN) along the waterfront. The three (3) existing trees are proposed to be removed to improve line of site connectivity between Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and Tuna Harbor to increase District safety and security in the area. Work would also involve replacing the Melaleuca trees with three (3) replacement trees to be planted at more suitable locations within EMPN. The District and/or the District’s landscape service providers would remove the three (3) trees in approximately Fall of 2025 using a truck, chipper, stump grinder, hand tools, and associated tree removal equipment. The tree removal operations would begin and conclude on the same day. Within 60 days following tree removals, the stumps would be grinded down, which takes approximately half a day of work. Tree replacement would be completed by the Winter of 2025 with ongoing maintenance as needed. Work hours for the proposed project would be Monday-Friday from approximately 7am-3:30pm. There are no anticipated impacts to parking stalls nor anticipated street closures for the proposed project. However, there are partial closures anticipated for the waterfront promenade during tree removal activities, so the work crew would direct pedestrians safely around the work site. There would be no full closures of the promenade at any point of the proposed project. The replacement tree species would be drought-tolerant and/or water wise, non-invasive tree species, and would reflect the palette of trees and shrubs which already exist elsewhere on Tidelands. The District would conduct all tree removals outside of the migratory bird breeding and nesting season, and no removal work would occur between February 15 and September 1. Due to its nature and limited scope, construction of the proposed project would generate a minor amount of vehicle trips and would require limited use of equipment. Therefore, impacts related to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation and traffic are not anticipated to occur. Furthermore, the District would be responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding construction demolition debris, hazards and hazardous materials, and stormwater.