Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 28, 2023

Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Chief of the Tree Maintenance Section Brett Linkletter was recognized today, April 28, with a Canopy Award for Partnership by the non-profit association Casey Trees.

Casey Trees is a DC-based non-profit association dedicated to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the greater DC metropolitan area. The Canopy Awards recognize the people and partners who have made significant contributions to that mission.

The Partnership Award recognizes a neighborhood, community group, funder or other group that has worked to improve the tree canopy in a specific location in the DC metro area.

This year’s Canopy Awards theme is “A Greater Washington”, in recognition of both the people and trees that make the Washington metro area great.

As Chief of the MCDOT Tree Maintenance Section, Linkletter is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the county’s more than 300,000 trees, most of which are located along the streets in the right-of-way.

“Brett’s efforts to preserve and restore the tree canopy in Montgomery County improves the quality of life for all our residents, through cleaner air, greener spaces and safer roadways,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “His work exemplifies the impact that partnerships between government agencies, local non-profit groups, and individuals can have on improving and expanding our greenspaces.”

Linkletter has a lifelong career in forestry and has worked for the county for over 15 years. He has led many efforts to further the county’s green infrastructure work and increase the capacity of the tree maintenance section, including partnering with Casey Trees to plant new trees in the county’s right-of-way.

“Partnerships are important because we seem to create these boundaries and the environment doesn’t do that,” said Linkletter. “It is important to work together and look at things in a regional sense. You get to work with Casey Trees and try to think of things in bigger and better ways.”

MCDOT plants approximately 1,800 trees each year. If you would like to request MCDOT to plant a tree in the County right-of-way, schedule an existing tree for removal or pruning, or have general questions about tree maintenance, visit the Tree Maintenance webpage or submit a service request online.

In celebration of Earth Month and National Arbor Day, which is today, the last Friday in April, residents are encouraged to plant a tree, protect the natural environment and help our County become a greener place to live and visit. Residents can call MC311 to get information on free right of way tree planting services offered by MCDOT or get in touch with one of the department's eight arborists.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

#  #  #

Release ID: 23-051
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282