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Frequently Asked Questions |
General Information | Program Implementation | Tree Removal Process | Fire Safety
FIRE SAFETY AND FUELS REDUCTION PROGRAM INFORMATION
What is the Dead, Dying and Diseased Trees problem all about?
Why is the County of San Diego concerned about this problem?
What is the County of San Diego doing about the dead trees?
How can you tell if a tree is dead, dying or diseased?
Why do I have to remove my dead or dying trees?
Will the County remove the trees on private property?
How will tree-removal efforts impact my community?
Are these trees being removed at the taxpayers' expense?
Who defined the priority areas?
How many trees are to be treated?
How many acres of trees are affected?
How can I prevent Bark Beetle from spreading to other trees?
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
I recently purchased the property. Can I participate in the program?
I have a marked tree that has fallen or is in extreme danger of falling on my house very soon. Can the County remove it immediately?
What locations have free firewood?
I received a notification from the fire agency that I need to remove trees on my property. What do I do?
Will residents/home owners in the affected communities be notified before planned tree-removals occur?
How do I know what trees the County of San Diego will remove at no cost to me?
Who is in charge and how will the program be administered?
When the County is on my property removing the marked trees, can you remove my other trees if I pay for it?
Can I refuse to sign the “Right to Enter” form?
When will the County of San Diego be removing the trees on my property?
Where will the County of San Diego be removing trees?
I have already removed the trees on my property. Can I get reimbursed for my removing costs?
I do not want to wait for the County to remove the trees on my property. Will the County reimburse me for removing hazardous trees?
How do I get on the list to have my trees removed by the County of San Diego?
I have just received a notice of the tree-removal work in my neighborhood. The timing is not good for me. How do I get it changed?
Why won't the County of San Diego remove all my dead trees?
Does the County's removal of trees on private property relieve the property owner of any responsibilities or legal obligations before the tree is removed?
I have a big pile of trees I already cut down in order to protect my house and property from damage. Can the County come and pick them up for me?
Will erosion control measures be put on my property after the trees are cut?
How long will it take from start to finish for the County contractor to cut and remove the dead and dying trees on my property?
What protection is there for damage caused by contractors or for injuries to their employees on my property?
Can I have trees removed if I'm outside of the project area?
What about the publicly owned lands next to me - will dead, dying and diseased trees be removed there too?
Who will be entering my property and will I be notified when they will be on my property?
Do the dead, dying and diseased trees on my property belong to me once they are cut?
I have an Open Space Easement on my property and there are some dead trees in it. Can I remove them? Or can the County remove them for me?
I have some dead/dying avocado/citrus trees. Are those eligible for removal?
Who will determine which trees to remove?
Will the County be able to completely remove all hazardous trees in the affected areas?
I’m a contractor. How do I find out about bidding on this project?
What is the County doing with the money collected from lumber sales/ processing?
Will the County pick up trees left on my property by other cutting activities?
My neighbors have one or more trees on their property that I believe might endanger my house. Are they included in the project, and if not, what can you do?
My Right to Enter form is past due; can I still turn it in and participate?
If I don’t agree with all of the trees that are marked for removal, can I choose only the ones that I would like to be cut down?
How do I opt out of the program?
My neighbor received a right to enter form, but I did not. Why is this?
Is the County providing free chipping of wood?
I already sent in my Right to Enter form. Why did I receive another one in the mail?
If I don’t have a structure on my property, but am planning to rebuild, will my dead trees be removed?
What trees will the foresters mark?
Why is the County planning to fell trees that appear to be alive and not dead, especially the Oak tree? I though only dead pine trees would be cut, can you clarify what is to be cut and removed?
My property is located in a predominantly Oak Woodland area and I believe some of my Oak Trees were not marked correctly. Is the County considering evaluating Oak Trees again to allow a maximum number of Oak Trees to be excluded from the program as dead, dying or diseased trees?
If I don’t agree with specific parts of the Right to Enter form, can I cross out these sections and return my form with modifications?
What am I supposed to write in the “in witness whereof...” box on the Right to Enter form?
Can the contractors profit from marking more trees for removal and then getting the contracts to remove them?
Why is it taking so long to remove trees?
Can I remove trees that have already been marked?
Will the County replace the trees it removes?
What will the County of San Diego do with my trees?
How long will it take County of San Diego to remove all the trees?
If I make a request, will the County leave the felled wood on my property so that I can use it for firewood?
What will County tags on trees that are designated for cutting look like?
What will happen to the stumps that are left?
When will they be marking and cutting trees in my area?
I returned a Right to Enter agreement, but disagree with markings on some trees surveyed. Can I save some of these trees or meet with someone to discuss eliminating specific trees from the removal process?
May I cover over the markings on certain trees or place signs on trees to eliminate them from the felling and removal process?
If I decide to revoke my participation in the tree removal program, what happens to the trees that are marked? If dead trees are within heavily wooded areas, mixed in with live trees, how will contractors reach them to take them down?
Who is responsible for any damage that may occur to my roadways or property during tree removal?
A locked gate surrounds my property, and/or I have dogs in my yard. What is the best way to make my property accessible so that my trees can be marked? I don’t want to leave the gate unlocked or the dogs inside all the time.
What should a property owner do about trees that threaten a building?
Is a log pile on my property a fire hazard?
Will removing dead, Dying and diseased trees protect me from future fires?
Are there any other groups and organizations that have funds to remove dead trees and brush in the County?
What resources are available to remove brush from my property? What resources are available to cut dead, dying and diseased trees on my property if I am not within the county program?
FIRE SAFETY AND FUELS REDUCTION PROGRAM INFORMATION
What is the Dead, Dying and diseased Trees problem all about?
In the County of San Diego, hundreds of thousands of trees, weakened by years of drought, are dead or dying due to widespread infestation by an insect called the bark beetle. These trees present a significant wildfire threat for the County. In order to prevent catastrophic fires, the County of San Diego will remove dead and dying trees in the areas that are identified as most hazardous: Palomar Mountain, the Greater Julian area, and the Lost Valley area.
Why is the County of San Diego concerned about this problem?
Dead, dying and diseased trees and other vegetation along vast stretches of burned chaparral remain a ready source of fuel easily ignited during dry and windy weather. Alarmingly, fire season began early this last year as documented by numerous significant fires in Southern California in May of 2004.
What is the County of San Diego doing about the dead trees?
Despite the dramatically reduced budget, the County of San Diego succeeded in securing funds to address the problem. In May of 2004, the County was awarded three federal grants totaling $39.575 million. These grants allow the County to start removing hazardous trees in the high-risk areas, especially around dwellings and along evacuation corridors.
How can you tell if a tree is dead, dying or diseased?
Licensed foresters will inspect your trees and identify the ones that present a fire threat. They will look for evidence of bark beetle presence, conditions of the bark and foliage or needles, and other signs of infestation. If you would like to roughly estimate a number of trees to be removed on your land, use a simple rule of thumb: "if it's red, it's dead." Even partial damage means that a tree is infected and, during the drought, will not be able to recover. Such trees are to be removed.
Why do I have to remove my dead or dying trees?
Dead or dying trees constitute a life safety hazard. They are kindling, which means they can initiate or feed fires, fall down on buildings, or block roads. These trees are life threatening during fire seasons, when they fall down and block evacuation corridors. That is why the County secured funding to treat areas that have the greatest fire threat. In Palomar Mountain, the Greater Julian area, and the Lost Valley area, the County removes hazardous trees on public and private lands. Outside these areas, the fire threat still remains possible. We encourage homeowners to take care of their trees to prevent catastrophic wildfires.
Will the County remove the trees on private property?
Your private dead, dying and diseased trees can threaten public and private land surrounding your property. In order to prevent fires on private and public lands, these trees should be removed. The County will remove the trees free of charge, but we need to receive a signed “right to enter” form from you in order to start. We count on your understanding and cooperation.
How will tree-removal efforts impact my community?
The goal of the program is to make the communities safer by preventing fire casualties and property damage. Tree removal efforts will result in healthier, more resilient forests. The tree-removal efforts, however, can cause some temporary inconveniences, such as higher noise level, traffic, and short-term road closures. The County will organize the work to be conducted as safely and efficiently as possible.
Are these trees being removed at the taxpayers' expense?
The funds to remove trees come from the federal budget.
Who defined the priority areas?
Federal, state and local fire and forest experts, as members of the Forest Area Safety Task Force (FAST) Fuels Committee, identified the priority areas. They are Palomar Mountain, the Greater Julian area, and the Lost Valley area. The experts evaluated the potential fire threat in the County of San Diego, current forest conditions, fire evacuation corridors, and many other factors including population, risk of ignition, infrastructure, and unburned fuel areas.
How many trees are to be treated?
The County estimates the number of dead, dying and diseased trees to be approximately within the range of 250,000 - 300, 000.
How many acres of trees are affected?
The bark beetle, drought and wildfires affect approximately 200,000 acres. That includes almost 81,000 acres of totally dead trees, of which 62,000 acres are not in the National Forest.
How can I prevent Bark Beetle from spreading to other trees?
Bark beetles are a natural part of a forest environment and it is under drought conditions that trees natural defense responses are overwhelmed and most susceptible to dying from bark beetle infestation. There are no proven, reliable ways to prevent other trees from dying from bark beetle infestations. However, tree removal is being augmented by sprinkling Sporax on the stumps of cut conifer trees to prevent the spread of root disease.
I recently purchased the property. Can I participate in the program?
As a new owner, you may participate in the program. The first step is to determine if your property is within the priority areas. Please call the Hotline at 1-866-402-6044 for more information.
I have a marked tree that has fallen, or is in extreme danger of falling on my house very soon. Can the County remove it immediately?
The County does not have staff and resources available to remove dead, dying and diseased trees immediately. If there are trees that have been marked and you feel you are in danger, you should hire a tree removal company to remove the tree(s) as soon as possible, at your expense.
What locations have free firewood?
The locations of firewood are listed at the following link: https://sdcdpw.org/tree/firewood.html.
I received a notification from the fire agency that I need to remove trees on my property. What do I do?
If you are located in one of the three priority areas, the County will remove the trees. To facilitate the process, you should sign and return the “right to enter" form as soon as possible. The exact working schedule will be published on the County website. If you live outside one of these priority areas, it is your responsibility to maintain the fire safety of your property and to take care of hazardous trees.
Will residents/home owners in the affected communities be notified before planned tree-removals occur?
We will notify the residents/homeowners before the tree-removal work begins. "Right to enter" forms have been mailed to property owners in the targeted priority areas. When the County receives signed "right to enter" forms from property owners, they evaluate the property for dead, dying or diseased trees eligible to be removed under this program and mark such trees.
To be efficient and create as little discomfort as possible, we will wait for trees to be marked in the whole community, in order to deal with all of your trees at the same time. All the trees in the community will be put into one tree removal contract and the work will be conducted within three to six months, depending on the weather and other factors. Property owners will be given 72-hour notice of when work is to begin on their property in the form of a brightly colored door hanger left on their property.
How do I know what trees the County of San Diego will remove at no cost to me?
The County will complete the inventory of all trees and will mark the hazardous trees. We are cataloguing the trees based upon federal, state and local guidelines.
Who is in charge and how will the program be administered?
The County of San Diego will manage all program activities in cooperation with other agencies.
The County will notify the owners and residents in the three priority areas. We will send the "right to enter" forms to be signed and returned by property owners, so that the County employees and contractors have access to hazardous trees.
Returning forms in a timely manner is extremely important to allow work to be done. After the County receives the signed "right to enter" forms for the whole neighborhoods, it will assess and mark hazardous trees, and start the bidding process for tree-removal contracts. The vendors will start tree removal as soon as possible and will cut and remove the marked trees. The County will monitor this process.
On completion of the operations, a forester will examine their work.
When the County is on my property removing the marked trees, can you remove my other trees if I pay for it?
The County will contract with private vendors to remove marked trees. You can negotiate with the vendor to remove unmarked trees at your expense. The County will not pay for the removal of unmarked trees.
Can I refuse to sign the “Right to Enter” form?
You have a right to do so. In this case, however, your fire agency may inspect your property and, if there are hazardous trees on your land, you will have to remove them at your own expense.
When will the County of San Diego be removing the trees on my property?
The Forest Area Safety Task Force (FAST), a coalition of local, state and federal agencies working to prevent wildfires, has identified the priority areas: Palomar Mountain, the Greater Julian area, and the Lost Valley area. The County will start tree-removal activities in these areas as soon as we receive the necessary documentation from all property owners in these communities.
Where will the County of San Diego be removing trees?
Three areas have been identified as the highest priority for the tree-removal: Palomar Mountain, the Greater Julian area, and the Lost Valley area. Within these areas, our fire and forest specialists will deal with the most volatile areas first, which are dead, dying and diseased trees within 200 feet of a structure or roadway.
I have already removed the trees on my property. Can I get reimbursed for my removing costs?
We appreciate your efforts to keep your property and your community safe. However, we are not allowed to reimburse property owners under the terms and conditions of the federal grants we received.
I do not want to wait for the County to remove the trees on my property. Will the County reimburse me for removing hazardous trees?
Unfortunately, we are not allowed to reimburse property owners under the terms and conditions of the federal grants we received. If dead trees currently threaten lives or property, please act promptly to protect yourself.
How do I get on the list to have my trees removed by the County of San Diego?
If you are located in the priority area, the County will mail you the necessary documentation and instructions. The County will be using the owner names and mailing addresses maintained by the County Assessor's office. If you are unsure if that information is current, property owners may call the Assessor's office at (619) 236-3771.
I have just received a notice of the tree-removal work in my neighborhood. The timing is not good for me. How do I get it changed?
The County of San Diego coordinates tree-removal efforts in cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies. At this time, it is not possible to reschedule the planned operations.
Note that your presence during the operations is not required.
Why won't the County of San Diego remove all my dead trees?
The County of San Diego has received federal grants only to remove dead, dying and diseased trees that pose an immediate fire threat to forests and communities.
The County needs to deal with the urgent wildfire prevention to avoid possible casualties and property damage and will focus on removing trees within 200 feet of structures and roadways first.
Does the County's removal of trees on private property relieve the property owner of any responsibilities or legal obligations before the tree is removed?
Property owners continue to be responsible for their trees in accordance with federal, state and local laws and should act promptly to protect lives and property if dead trees present a hazard before the County contractors can remove the trees.
I have a big pile of trees I already cut down in order to protect my house and property from damage. Can the County come and pick them up for me?
No, the County will only remove the trees the County cuts. If you have some other wood or slash you would like to be removed from your property, you can negotiate with the vendor to remove it at your expense. The County will not pay for the removal of this wood.
Will erosion control measures be put on my property after the trees are cut?
Yes, erosion control measures will be put in place according to standard Forest Practice Rules established by the Board of Fire Protection.
How long will it take from start to finish for the County contractor to cut and remove the dead and dying trees on my property?
We expect it to take three to six months; once we receive all signed "right to enter" forms from your community and have awarded a contract.
What protection is there for damage caused by contractors or for injuries to their employees on my property?
As a prerequisite to participate in the program, contractors are required to provide proof that they carry liability and workmen's compensation insurance.
Can I have trees removed if I'm outside of the project area?
The federal funds the County received are restricted to the project grant areas only. If you live outside the three priority areas and are concerned about your fire safety, we encourage you to take care of your dead trees. The funding the County received is limited, and we have to deal with the most volatile areas first in order to prevent fire casualties and catastrophic forest and property damage.
What about the publicly owned lands next to me - will dead, dying and diseased trees be removed there too?
Yes, the County of San Diego conducts fire-prevention activities in private and public lands, with the exception of the Cleveland National Forest on land belonging to the Bureau of Law Management.
Who will be entering my property and will I be notified when they will be on my property?
After the County receives the signed "right to enter" form, the County's authorized personnel can enter your property in order to mark dead, dying or diseased trees that threaten your fire safety. Then, the County authorizes its contractors to enter your property and conduct the treatment. It is the responsibility of the contractor to notify owners on the work schedule on the property. This will most likely be done in the form of a brightly colored door hanger left on the property at least 72 hours before beginning work on that property. Upon the completion of this work, the County staff will enter your property to inspect and accept the conducted work.
Do the dead, dying and diseased trees on my property belong to me once they are cut?
Once the marked trees are cut, they become the property of the County. The vendors will remove them from your land. Owners can cut and utilize the trees before the County starts treating their land and marking their trees. Should you decide to proceed with tree-removal, we encourage you to get help from licensed loggers and arborists, especially if the trees are in the vicinity of buildings, power lines and roads.
I have an Open Space Easement on my property and there are some dead trees in it. Can I remove them? Or can the County remove them for me?
Do not remove any trees in an Open Space Easement or other protected area without written permission from the agency or group owning/controlling the land in question.
The County may only remove trees in an Open Space Easement if it is in the County’s jurisdiction, constitute a fire or life threat, and if land restrictions allow such treatment. All easement conditions must be met.
I have some dead/dying avocado/citrus trees. Are those eligible for removal?
These trees are not eligible for treatment under the federal program. The focus of the federal funding is the coniferous forestland within the grant area, excluding the Cleveland National Forest. Qualifying trees include pines, cedar and firs. Dead oaks and other trees qualify only if they are in the targeted areas and threaten structures or evacuation routes.
Who will determine which trees to remove?
A licensed forester or a certified arborist will mark trees for removal. Environmental and fire-safety concerns will be the main factors in determining which trees to remove.
Will the County be able to completely remove all hazardous trees in the affected areas?
No. The grant funds are insufficient to cut all trees. Preliminary estimates for total tree removal were over $125 million. The County of San Diego only received about $40 million. In order to produce the maximum impact with the available funding, the County is targeting the three critical areas and concentrating its efforts to minimize wildfire hazard.
I’m a contractor. how do I find out about bidding on this project?
Please register with the County’s Buynet System. You can access Buynet at http://buynet.sdcounty.ca.gov/. Please also watch the Fire Safety and Fuel Reduction Web site for updates. That web site is https://sdcdpw.org/tree/.
What is the County doing with the money collected from lumber sales/ processing?
The money from the sales/processing of the lumber will be factored into the cost of the of each contractor’s agreement to remove the trees. The County will not be collecting revenues, and will not profit from these activities.
Will the County pick up trees left on my property by other cutting activities?
The County program is separate from other tree cutting activities. Please contact that agency directly.
My neighbors have one or more trees on their property that I believe might endanger my house. Are they included in the project, and if not, what can you do?
If you call our hotline at 866.402.6044 with specific information about your parcel, we can tell you whether your neighbor’s property is included in the project, and if they have chosen to participate. If they have not chosen to participate and you think their trees might pose a threat to your house, we recommend you contact your local fire agency and ask for the fire chief to visit the neighbor’s property to see if they are in violation.
If you believe the threat is immediate and may endanger your house before County contractors are able to remove the tree, you may want to ask the neighbor to hire someone to remove it. If you believe you may be in danger by remaining in the house, you should act for your own safety.
My right to enter form is past due; can I still turn it in and participate?
Depending on when your form was due and if your area has already been marked and gone out to bid or not, you may be able to participate. We strongly urge property owners who have forms that are past the due date, but would like to participate, to sign and turn in their forms. It is important to have these on file in the event that a second pass through the area is permitted. Please call the Hotline at 866.402.6044 if you need a new form.
If I don’t agree with all of the trees that are marked for removal, can I choose only the ones that I would like to be cut down?
After the trees have been marked on a property, the owner may choose to “opt-out” of the program. This means that none of the marked trees on the property will be cut down. There is no option to choose which trees to keep and which to have removed. The County will not be able to schedule appointments to discuss saving or eliminating specific trees from the program. Please see the question below for the formal "opt-out" process.
How do I opt out of the program?
In order to opt-out of the Program, the property owner should send a letter rescinding the Right to Enter agreement. Property owners may opt out up until a contractor is actually on the property to cut the marked trees. It is requested that property owners let the County know as soon as possible after they decide to opt out of the program. A property owner should notify the County by calling the Hotline number at 866.402.6044, and letting our specialists know that they would like to opt-out of the program. Additionally, a property owner must send a written letter to the County. Please include the following information in the opt-out letter.
· Property owner name
· Property address
· Assessor’s Parcel Number
· Owner’s phone number
· Date and signature
Please send the letter to:
County of San Diego
Fire Safety and Fuels Reduction Program
Attn: Kenneth Miller, Fire Marshal
Department of Planning and Land Use
5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B
San Diego, CA 92123
My neighbor received a right to enter form, but I did not. Why is this?
There are multiple reasons why this could happen. The focus of this program is to remove dead, dying or diseased trees within 200 feet of a livable structure, and those that threaten major evacuation corridors. If you believe that your property should be included, please call hotline staff for further information at 866.402.6044.
Is the County providing free chipping of wood?
The County is not providing free chipping at this point in time. However, the Fire Safe Council of Greater San Diego is offering free chipping services to residents in some rural communities. The service provides the clearing of flammable brush, tree limbs, and other debris to prevent fire hazards. To find out more information or make an appointment, please call the Fire Safe Council of Greater San Diego at (619) 669-1188 or (619) 562-0096.
I already sent in my Right to Enter form. Why did I receive another one in the mail?
Some areas are part of multiple Tree Removal projects. For example, people with property on Highway 79 were sent a separate letter for the clearing of this evacuation corridor, and some properties that were burned or partially burned were sent a second letter that covers the removal of downed logs already on the property. In either case, the County asks that property owners who receive a second letter please sign and return it as well if they choose to participate in the program.
If I don’t have a structure on my property, but am planning to rebuild, will my dead trees be removed?
At this time, under the grant the County has received, the priority is removing trees that present a danger to existing structures. If there is no structure on the property, the County will most likely not be funded to cut the dead trees. If you have questions about a building that is under construction or have a permit to build, please call the Hotline at 866.402.6044 for further information.
What trees will the foresters mark?
The forester will first determine what trees are within 200 feet of a building/structure or the centerline of a major evacuation route. Next, the forester will determine which of these trees is dead, dying or diseased. One obvious way is if the needles on the tree are mostly brown. Another sign they look for is indications of disease or infestation (such as 15-20 large spots of sap where the tree is trying to expel the bark beetle). Each dead, dying and diseased tree is then marked with a special tree-marking paint.
Why is the County planning to fell trees that appear to be alive and not dead, especially the Oak tree? I thought only dead pine trees would be cut, can you clarify what is to be cut and removed?
The program is federally funded to fell (cut) and remove any dead, dying, or diseased tree regardless of species (Pine, Oak, Sycamore, etc.). The program is intended to remove hazardous trees that may block roads used for ingress/egress purposes during emergencies or fall on homes, vehicles or persons. The program is also intended to remove fuel (dead vegetation) from properties that could bring a fire into a structure.
Many times trees have some green left in portions of the tree, but the tree is dying, fatally diseased or has become a hazard. Professional foresters that have been contracted by the federal government or the County make the determination whether a tree meets one or more of these factors that leads to removal. The foresters understand the desire to save as many trees as possible, but they also are acting to save lives and property using one time currently available federal funding.
My property is located in a predominantly Oak Woodland area and I believe some of my Oak Trees were not marked correctly. Is the County considering evaluating Oak Trees again to allow a maximum number of Oak Trees to be excluded from the program as dead, dying or diseased trees?
The County had foresters reconsider tree marking in the Julian area. After providing additional specific training on Oak Tree mortality to field personnel, the County elected to evaluate marked trees in affected areas a second time. The following areas have had Oak Trees evaluated in this second phase of marking: Whispering Pines, Kentwood, Pinezanita, Julian Estates, Wynola, Volcan and Downtown Julian. The last area receiving evaluation again is the Pine Hills area. Once Pine Hills marked trees are evaluated, the remainder of the Pine Hills area will be marked.
What am I supposed to write in the “in witness whereof...” box on the Right to Enter form?
Please put the date and the month in the boxes provided. Your name is to be printed on the front of the form and signed next to the Owner 1 box on the back of the form.
Can the contractors profit from marking more trees for removal and then getting the contracts to remove them?
The County is hiring registered, professional foresters to mark dead, dying and diseased trees for removal and this marking will be completed to the satisfaction of the County. The contracted foresters are being monitored as they mark trees to ensure they are not marking more than are necessary. The contracting process to remove trees is separate from the contracting process to hire foresters.
Why is it taking so long to remove trees?
Tree removal has been delayed in many areas due to the inclement winter weather. As the weather improves and soil dries out, the tree removal process will move more rapidly. To obtain more information on the status of tree removal in your area, please see the Tree Removal Schedule at the following link, https://sdcdpw.org/tree/pdf/schedule.pdf, or call the Hotline at 1-877-402-6044.
Can I remove trees that have already been marked?
In most cases, it is not advisable for you to remove trees that are already marked. If you wish to opt out of the program, you must do so in writing. If you feel a particular tree is threatening your safety or the safety of others and cannot wait for it to be removed by the County, you should remove it immediately. Otherwise, the County prefers having you not remove the trees, as they are likely already included for removal in a contract.
Will the County replace the trees it removes?
No additional tree planting activities will be necessary. Currently, our forests are overpopulated; average tree density in the County of San Diego exceeds the norm (80 trees per acre).
The tree removal activities will be conducted under close supervision of forest and environmental agencies to bring forests to the natural tree density levels. The normal density of the forests provides enough water for trees even in the years of drought and, under these conditions healthy trees can easily resist invasive insects.
What will the County of San Diego do with my trees?
We will utilize all timber and slash as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The trees that are less then six inches in diameter will be chipped and mulched on site. Timber that has some market value will be processed. Other trees will be chipped and used for landscaping, electricity co-generation, and firewood.
How long will it take County of San Diego to remove all the trees?
The County of San Diego expects to produce a critical impact in one to four years, depending on available funds.
If I make a request, will the County leave the felled wood on my property so that I can use it for firewood?
No, we will not be leaving felled wood behind. Leaving this wood behind provides a nesting area for the bark beetle and would put any remaining healthy trees at risk.
Also, felled dead wood is kindling and presents a potential fire hazard. That is why the County will remove all hazardous wood. Some of it will be chopped for firewood and it will be offered free of charge at an off-site location. Homeowners can cut the trees and keep the wood until the County's crews start operating on their property.
What will County tags on trees that are designated for cutting look like? Each tree that is to be removed by the County will be striped with paint, at approximately chest height. There will also be a paint spot at the base of the tree.
What will happen to the stumps that are left?
After a tree is cut, the stumps will be treated with a borax product licensed with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for use of controlling the spread of annosus root disease. The County is requiring contractors to cut stumps to 18 inches or less, but is not requiring that the contractor remove stumps. Property owners may remove the stumps at their own expense.
When will they be marking and cutting trees in my area?
In order to find an updated estimate of when tree marking and removal will be occurring in your area, please check the Current Tree Removal Schedule at https://sdcdpw.org/tree/pdf/schedule.pdf.
I returned a Right to Enter agreement, but disagree with markings on some trees surveyed. Can I save some of these trees or meet with someone to discuss eliminating specific trees from the removal process?
Due to the large number of parcels and participants eligible for this federal program, individual property inspection appointments are not possible. Trees that are marked will be felled and removed from the parcel if a Right to Enter agreement is filed with the County. Once trees are marked, they are tallied for a bid that will obtain the best felling contract proposal possible on behalf of the property owners.
May I cover over the markings on certain trees or place signs on trees to eliminate them from the felling and removal process?
If the foresters or contractors find discrepancies in tree count or markings, the County may exercise the right to completely eliminate a parcel in question from participation in the grant program. If this occurs, the County will not cut any trees on that particular parcel.
If I decide to revoke my participation in the tree removal program, what happens to the trees that are marked?
Once the County receives a property owner’s opt-out letter rescinding the Right to Enter Agreement, with the property owner's name(s), address, assessor’s parcel number, phone number, date and signature, the County will exclude that parcel from the program. At the County’s option, trees may be unmarked via painting over markings or by some other manner on site to clearly identify that no trees are to be cut or removed on the withdrawn property.
If dead trees are within heavily wooded areas, mixed in with live trees, how will contractors reach them to take them down?
If dead trees are in difficult to reach areas such as near homes or among live trees, contractors will use large cranes to reach the tree without disturbing other trees or structures around it. Contractors are required to minimize any possible damager to nearby smaller trees.
Who is responsible for any damage that may occur to my roadways or property during tree removal?
The contractors are responsible for any damage that they incur while removing trees from the properties.
A locked gate surrounds my property, and/or I have dogs in my yard. What is the best way to make my property accessible so that my trees can be marked? I don’t want to leave the gate unlocked or the dogs inside all the time.
It is helpful to include information on unlocking the property and keeping dogs inside on the Right to Enter form, but it can be difficult to get the information to the correct field crews and contractors at the right time. It is best if property owners leave their property unlocked and dogs inside during the time that the County is marking trees in their area. Property owners can check the Current Tree Removal Schedule at https://sdcdpw.org/tree/pdf/schedule.pdf to see when activities will be taking place in their area.