(OLYMPIA)– The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will remove 23 Lombardy poplar trees in Peace Arch State Park, located in Blaine, beginning Monday, August 2nd.

Lombardy poplars are a short-lived species, and generally succumb to health problems within the first 15 years.

Officials say the poplars at Peace Arch Park are more than 40 years old and present a safety hazard to park visitors and neighboring homeowners in Washington State and Canada.

The trees line the international border between Canada and the United States, parallel and adjacent to the northern border of Peace Arch State Park.

The removal process is expected to take two weeks.

This area of the park will be closed until all trees are removed.

The State Parks arbor crew performed a safety assessment of the trees recently and determined that weakening tree structure from storm damage will eventually result in tree failure.

A landscape plan for the area will be developed after
the trees are removed.