Although DDH tree removals were a bit lower earlier this year, this past summer (3rd quarter) we experienced the highest-ever number of DDH tree removals, with 2,899 trees removed.

We now have enough quarterly data to confirm, with the exception of the first six months of COVID-19, that there is a seasonal pattern of dead, dying, or hazardous (DDH) tree removal.  The fewest number of DDH permits are issued between October and December, but those permits steadily increase through the following year before dropping off again in the fall. 

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One might think these DDH tree removals are correlated with the number of plan reviews that are being conducted each quarter, but the quarterly reports don't show any type of seasonal DDH permitting pattern associated with plan reviews, as shown in the chart below:

(Click on the image below to enlarge.)