Plan your route through the area to include evaluation of all trees within areas of intensive public use. Trees 8 inches or greater in diameter at breast height should be carefully evaluated since 62 percent of reported failures occurred in these sizes of trees. Highest priority for regular inspections. Priority for inspections based on amount and type of use.
Regular inspections have low priority.
Inspection intensity should vary directly with the risk level. The height of hazardous trees projected to the ground determines the width of the hazard zone. This zone includes areas around designated camp or picnic units and along major roads and trails. Trees must be evaluated individually. Due to differences in site, micro-climate, developmental history, and inherent genetic characteristics, trees vary in hazard potential.