Winter storms in the Treasure Valley, particularly those that drop heavy, wet snow across the Boise Foothills and Eagle, are notorious for devastating the urban canopy. Trees with structural defects are highly susceptible to catastrophic branch failure under the weight of accumulating snow and ice. The most common structural hazard is the presence of co-dominant stems—two terminal branches growing upward at the same sharp angle, creating a “V” shaped union. Over time, bark becomes trapped between these stems (known as included bark), preventing the wood from actually fusing together. This creates a structurally weak joint that easily splits apart under snow loading. Preventative arboriculture involves developmental pruning while the tree is young to establish a single, strong central leader. For mature trees where pruning is no longer viable, installing dynamic cables or rigid braces high in the canopy can limit branch movement, safely dispersing the mechanical stress of heavy Idaho snows and preserving the tree’s architecture.