Barrie ice storm recovery enters replanting phase after months of cleanup

Barrie’s recovery from the devastating March ice storm is well underway, with crews now shifting their focus from cleanup to long-term replanting and restoration efforts.

The powerful March 30 storm caused widespread damage to thousands of trees. According to a staff memorandum, after months of intensive work, cleanup operations were completed by Sept. 30.

“The March 29th and 30th ice storm had a devastating impact to trees and hydro infrastructure across the region,” noted Dave Friary, the city’s director of operations. “Operations department staff, along with support from other key departments, have completed the clean-up phase of the ice storm.”

The city’s cleanup was divided into two major phases, with the first focused on reopening more than 1,600 kilometres of streets, clearing immediate hazards, and ensuring residents could safely access driveways and sidewalks.

The second phase involved large-scale removal of storm debris and damaged or destroyed trees. The City says crews assessed more than 46,000 trees, removed over 3,200 from city streets and parks, and cleared another 2,000 along woodlot edges and trails that had been deemed unsafe.

According to the memorandum, crews also pruned more than 9,000 street trees with broken and hanging branches, and over 800 trees in open spaces. Hundreds more were cleared from private yards.

With that massive task completed, the city has moved into the third and final phase - recovery and replanting.

The city says stump removal began over the summer and is expected to be done by the end of this year, with replanting efforts scheduled to start in the spring.

The memo states the city applied for federal support through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies Tree Planting grant, which could help cover up to half of the replanting costs.

City crews will continue forest health assessments to determine the best course of action for heavily damaged forest areas. The assessments, which started in August are expected to wrap up by next September.

Additionally, the city says a tree canopy assessment will be completed by December to measure the full extent of tree damage caused by the ice storm.