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The unrelenting five-year California drought and a growing bark beetle infestation has led the Placer County Board of Supervisors to approve the removal of some 1,800 hazardous trees. If not removed the trees could become a hazard that could damage or destroy the county’s infrastructure.
Placer County has been identified as one of ten counties in the state to be significantly affected by tree mortality. The trees were first impacted by the drought — which weakened the trees — and then by the bark beetle infestation. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency cross the state due to dead and dying trees last October and the Placer County Supervisors have declared a local state of emergency for the same problem. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimates there are 66 million dead and dying trees throughout the state.
“This is an evolving problem both for Placer County and the state, as well. And the size and scale of the problem is enormous.” said John McEldowney, Placer County Office of Emergency Services program manager. “Our goal is to get to the root of the problem.”
Placer County officials estimate a cost of $1,700, per tree, for removal. At an estimated total of $3.1 million for removal of the 1,800 trees the county will seek reimbursement through the California Disaster Assistance Act that, if they approve Placer County’s request, would repay the county for 75 percent of the tree removal costs. Placer County would initially fund the tree removal costs.
When requesting federal assistance from the federal government last fall, Gov. Brown wrote in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that California “…is facing the worst epidemic of tree mortality in modern history. Tree mortality across California’s forests is putting lives and critical infrastructure at risk,” he wrote, “greatly increasing already dangerous wildfire conditions and exacerbating threats posed by falling trees.”
Placer County is affected by upwards of tens of thousands of trees with tree mortality. The county has indicted that they will first deal with dead and dying trees that pose a danger to county owned and maintained roads, facilities and key infrastructure. Trees in high hazard zones that threaten roads, evacuation corridors, critical community infrastructure and structures are also targeted for removal.
Whereas stressed or dead trees on private property are primarily the responsibility of the property owner, the county’s Resource Conservation District is now offering landowner assistance for private property owners who have affected trees on their land. A registered forester or arborist will be available to speak with landowners and do an on-site property inspection and make site-specific recommendations. Property owners with dead trees are encouraged to remove them. They are a fire hazard because they become fuel if wildfires occur.
Additionally, a California forest stewardship helpline has been established. Callers can speak with a registered professional forester and receive information on tree mortality at 1-800-738-TREE (8733).
