Coral Springs Improvement District to remove 150 trees to prevent canal blockages

Coral Springs, Florida – The Coral Springs Improvement District (CSID) is moving forward with a plan to remove approximately 150 trees along the right-of-way of its canal system, following a comprehensive inventory of over 9,000 trees. These trees, located along 22 miles of canals in Coral Springs, are being targeted for removal at critical choke points, primarily at culverts that facilitate water flow beneath roadways.

The district’s efforts come after a two-year-long process of reevaluating its original plan, which called for a much more extensive tree removal initiative. Initially, the district had aimed to clear-cut large sections of the canal banks to prevent fallen trees from obstructing water flow—a scenario that could increase the risk of flooding. This proposal sparked strong opposition from local residents, leading to a significant public outcry. In response, city residents voted in new board members to oversee the district, and the new leadership decided to take a more measured approach.

Instead of proceeding with large-scale removal, the new board formed a committee composed of local residents to advise on the best course of action. The committee suggested conducting an inventory of the trees along the canals, which stretch from the C-14 canal to Royal Palm Boulevard. This inventory was completed recently and revealed that the number of trees requiring removal could be significantly reduced.

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David McIntosh, the executive director of the district, explained the shift in the district’s approach: “Out of the over 9,000 trees that have been inventoried and that may have been slated for removal in the past, we have that down to 150 trees.” This reduction represents a more targeted effort to address the most pressing concerns while balancing the need to maintain the health of the canal system and minimize environmental disruption.

The district is now in the process of preparing a request for proposals (RFP) from qualified tree-removal companies. Once the bids are received, the district will review the proposals and select a contractor to carry out the removal. While a precise timeline for the work is still being developed, McIntosh expects that the district will proceed with the plan over the coming months.

The inventory identified 12 critical choke points along the canal system, primarily located near culverts that allow water to pass under roadways. These areas will be the primary focus of the tree removal efforts. “I’m not sure that they will be able to extend much beyond those 12 critical culverts,” McIntosh said, emphasizing that the removal will be concentrated in these high-priority locations.

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In addition to the 12 critical choke points, the district identified approximately 40 additional culverts along secondary canals. However, the board has not yet discussed removing trees around these secondary culverts, as they are not deemed as critical to the canal system’s function. Property owners in the affected areas will be notified, and McIntosh assured that the district would continue to publicize its plans as they become more formalized.

The CSID is committed to minimizing the impact of the tree removals and is working hard to reduce the number of trees that will be cut down. “We’re doing our best to reduce the number of trees cut down as much as possible,” McIntosh said. “And making sure the system is able to operate in a safe and responsible manner.” The goal is to ensure that the canal system continues to function effectively while addressing the concerns related to flooding and debris blockage, all while preserving the area’s natural beauty and ecosystem as much as possible.

As the process moves forward, residents and property owners will be kept informed of any developments, and the district will continue to engage with the community to ensure the removal plan aligns with both environmental and public safety priorities.