Page Content
El Dorado County Tree MortalityDrought conditions and resulting bark beetle infestations have caused pervasive tree mortality across the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is estimated that there are over 129 million dead trees since 2010, and this number continues to grow on a daily basis. El Dorado County is not immune to this epidemic as there are thousands of dead and dying trees threatening public safety and infrastructure. The County has taken action to work towards mitigating the dead tree problem in the following ways:
On March 28, 2016 the Board of Supervisors proclaimed a Local State of Emergency due to pervasive tree mortality. On October 30, 2015 Governor Brown issued a
State of Emergency proclamation. This proclamation recognizes and addresses the need for the removal of dead and dying trees throughout the State and authorized California Disaster Assistance Act(CDAA) funding which provides 75% reimbursement for all eligible costs related to removal of hazard trees that threaten public infrastructure. On May 17, 2016, the Board of Supervisors approved the County’s Tree Mortality Hazard Tree Removal Plan. Please click on the following link to find more information on the plan.
Tree Mortality Hazard Tree Removal Plan On October, 11, 2016, the Board of Supervisors accepted grant/project funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Service for California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funding, which will provide 75% cost share of total eligible costs for projects related to the tree mortality emergency, plus a 10% administrative fee. County, City and Special Districts are eligible for reimbursement through CDAA. CDAA does not provide assistance to private individuals or businesses. The Governor's Executive Orders allow County, City and Special Districts the flexibility to remove dead and dying trees that threaten public infrastructure from private lands with land owner approval.
The Governor’s Executive Orders
have not provided funding for private landholders. El Dorado County is working with different partners to see where there might be funding available for private landholders.
PG&E Debris Management Program
Does your tree qualify for PG&E’s Debris Management Program?
See if it meets one or more of the criteria below: Wood is greater than 4” in diameter and 6 feet in lengthDebris is within 100 feet of permanent structures. This does not include movable or temporary sheds and outbuildings, or carportsDebris is within 20 feet of serviceable roadwaysDebris is reasonably accessible by equipment/machinery For more information on the program please
click on the following link or call 1-800-743-5000.
Information on Tree Mortality from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service
Funds are available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Tree Mortality Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). For more information on the program that focuses on removing dead trees on larger, severely damaged, private forestlands,
please click here.
If you are interested in obtaining details about the program, contact 530-295-0120.
Information on Tree Mortality from CALFIRE
Funds are available from CAL FIRE's California Forest Incentives Program (CFIP), which requires a 20 acre minimum parcel size (neighboring parcels can be combined to meet the minimum acreage requirement). Please contact CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado 530-644-2345
For programs from the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, please visit its website at
http://www.edcfiresafe.org/. Please contact the County at the following email address
treemortalitynotification@edcgov.us if you see the following:
1) Dead or dying trees that threaten
County roads2) Dead or dying trees on County property that threaten infrastructure
If the tree threatens a state interstate or highway please call Caltrans at: 530-741-4572. If the tree threatens the roads of the City of Placerville or the City of South Lake Tahoe please contact the responsible city.
Want to Donate Wood?Forest Innovations
If you have timber you would like to donate, Forest Innovations might be the organization that can take it for the use in different wood related educational opportunities. The following is the mission of Forest Innovations: Our goal is to transform 25 million trees into educational opportunities in the region, and quality products for people and programs, worldwide. Our partners are schools (public and private, traditional and charters), world-class artists, and wood-working artisans, and residential and tiny home builders. The following is the contact information for Forest Innovations:
Email:
donations@forestinnovations.orgPhone Number: 916-706-3366
Website:
https://www.forestinnovations.org/
California Forest Stewardship Helpline- 1-800-738-8733The California Forest Stewardship Helpline is staffed by Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) who can answer your questions regarding tree mortality. You can also contact them by email
ncsaf@mcn.org, or visit the website
http://calfire.ca.gov/foreststeward/.
El Dorado County Board of Supevisors Tree Mortality Actions Agenda Item #16-0305 - 5/17/16 - Every Board of Supervisors meeting, since 3/28/16, the Board has adopted a state of emergency for tree mortality.
Agenda Item #16-0509 - There are four versions of this agenda item:
Version 1 - 5/17/16 - The Board approved the following actions:
1) Approved the County's Tree Mortality Hazard Tree Removal Plan
2) Authorized County staff to assess the tree mortality issue along the County's road infrastructure
Version 2 - 5/24/16 - The Board approved the following action:
1) Authorize staff to complete and submit a California Disaster Assistance application regarding tree mortality
Version 3 - 8/2/16 Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign the California Disaster Assistance Act application regarding Tree Mortality, and authorize the submittal of the application for funding related to the State's declared Tree Mortality emergency.
Version 4 - 10/11/16
1) Accept grant/project funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funding, which will provide 75% cost share of total eligible costs for projects related to the tree mortality emergency, plus a 10% administrative fee; and
2) Approve the attached budget transfer increasing revenues and appropriations by $825,000 for the Fiscal Year 2016/17 CDAA Grant for the tree mortality emergency. Agenda Item #16-1014 – 9/27/16
Supervisor Ranalli recommending the Board authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to sign the application for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection State Responsibility Area Prevention Fund and Tree Mortality Grant, in the amount of approximately $200,000, and authorize the submittal of the application for funding related to the State and local declared Tree Mortality emergency.
The quick links below are resources available to you. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Updates will be made available via
Facebook and
Twitter. If you would like more information, please
contact us and we will be glad to assist.
Quick Links:
Need a Professional:
2015 Forest Health Alert
Air Quality Management Burn Information - Outdoor Burning
Bureau of Land Management, Mother Lode Field Office
State Tree Mortality Task Force
CA Forest Pest Control
CA Homeowners Bark Beetle Pamphlet
CA Professional Foresters Registration List
CA OES Fact Sheet
CAL FIRE Bark Beetle Information
CAL FIRE Tree Removal Information
CAL FIRE Video on the bark beetle/tree mortality epidemic in California
CAL FIRE FAQs
CAL FIRE Tree Mortality Map (address lookup)
Eldorado National Forest
PG&E and CALFIRE Safety Tips
PG&E (report trees near power lines)
UC Davis Bark Beetle Information
What is a Registered Professional Forester
List of Foresters from State of California
List of Licensed Timber Operators from State of California
Find a Licensed Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture