Bellevue College to Remove Trees on Campus 

To reduce the spread of tree pathogens, Bellevue College will begin removing dead and diseased trees on campus starting June 28.  

Of the college’s 2,524 trees located on its 102-acre campus, 134 are slated for removal (16 deemed hazardous and 66 of which are dead). Just under 200 will require pruning or other maintenance. The bulk of tree maintenance will be done between the A, B, C, and D buildings. However, much of the pruning work has already occurred during the grounds crew’s winter maintenance.  

To determine tree health and hazards, the college’s Campus Operations team conducted a tree survey that included a campuswide inventory and assessment by a professional certified risk assessment arborist, a major undertaking.  

“Bellevue College does not take tree removal lightly,” Branden Ellsworth, the college’s grounds supervisor and certified arborist, said. “As such, planning the removal of any tree undergoes scrutiny, always with the goal of reducing harm to our urban forest while meeting our stewardship responsibilities for a safe campus.” 

The survey determined 76 different species of trees on campus, including Douglas fir, pacific madrone, and western red cedar.  

Five trees, two Douglas firs, two Pacific madrones, and one big leaf maple, located in parking lots C2, 6, 1A, between the garage and a residence, and lot 9, will be the most public removals.  

Ellsworth said he and his team determine several factors before removing trees, asking questions such as:  

• Is the tree an immediate risk to people or property? 
• Does this tree pose potential threats to our urban forest? 
• How do we include Indigenous tribes in the decision-making process? 
• How does this tree’s removal impact the college’s mission to sequester carbon?  
• Is the tree causing detrimental impact to Bellevue College’s built infrastructure? 

“We recognize that Bellevue College is located on a very special piece of land, and that we are not only required to be good land stewards, but it’s written into our identity as a college that values climate justice and sustainability,” Ellsworth said. “With our tree removal plan focused on forest health and reducing hazards, we are confident that our land will continue to be a valuable asset for our community for generations to come.” 

Ellsworth and the Campus Operations team are seeking feedback from the community and are meeting with neighbors who may be affected by this work. If you have questions or concerns about this project, contact campusoperations@bellevuecollege.edu by June 21. 

For more information about Bellevue College’s conservation efforts, visit bellevuecollege.edu/sustainability.