COBB — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) arborists and foresters are conducting foot patrols and are finding an unprecedented number of dead and dying trees in the Cobb Mountain area. As part of PG&E’s ongoing response to years of drought, hotter temperatures, an increase in Bark Beetle infestation and Sudden Oak death, inspectors have increased patrols and tree work to mitigate these hazards.
To address the wood debris stemming from the increased volume in hazardous trees in this specific area, PG&E is offering landowners the opportunity to have the dead trees that PG&E cut down for safety in 2022 removed from their property, provided it is safe to do so. Because the wood is the landowner’s property, removal of the wood is optional, and landowners must provide written permission to PG&E to have the wood removed.
“We have been listening to our customers. I’ve recently visited the Cobb area to see the tree mortality impact for myself and it’s unprecedented. We have not seen this anywhere else and we are having to fell more than the normal number of trees because of the increased hazard,” said Ron Richardson, Regional Vice President for PG&E’s North Coast Region. “No other county in California has been hit harder from the effects of wildland fires over recent years than Lake County and we know how damaged trees have impacted the area over the years, but this amount of tree mortality is another level.”
The Lake County Board of Supervisors has also created a Tree Mortality Task Force, in which PG&E has been participating.
“The more trees that PG&E cuts down for safety means our residents and businesses will be seeing more logs and wood on their property. We thank PG&E for deciding to offer residents an option to remove the wood. We want everyone to know that not only are we working with PG&E on different options but other partners as well to address parcels impacted by high tree mortality,” said Supervisor Jessica Pyska, Lake County District 5.
Patrols yield high levels of tree mortality
The inspections will mark the second time PG&E has patrolled trees along overhead power lines in Lake County the past year. PG&E uses different color markings and flags, depending whether the tree needs to be pruned or felled.
“We haven’t seen this much Bark Beetle infestation in a specific area of Northern and Central California in several years. During inspections, we typically see about a hundred dead or dying trees in the Cobb area every year, for example. In February alone, we have already identified far more than that,” said James Ash, Supervisor for Vegetation Management in Lake and Sonoma Counties. “This means our customers may have noticed more markings on trees than usual.”
All woody debris less than four inches in diameter will be chipped or lopped and scattered according to Forest Practice Rules. Customers will have an option when it comes to where they would like wood chips scattered.
“PG&E must mitigate the threat to the public by felling these dead trees before they have a chance to strike electric facilities and spark an ignition; however, the felled large wood is the property of the homeowner and it’s up to the homeowner to indicate if they would like us to dispose of their asset,” said Ash.
Additional patrols to begin in April
To further mitigate wildfire risk, Enhanced Vegetation Management (EVM) inspections will begin in April in Lake County. This program addresses vegetation that poses a higher potential for wildfire risk in in elevated (Tier 2) and extreme (Tier 3) High Fire-Threat Districts (HFTD’s), as identified by the California Public Utilities Commission.
PG&E will remove associated wood at no direct cost to the customer as part of both these programs if it is safely accessible and permitted by the property owner. Customers who have questions about the Wood Management Program for 2022 tree mortality in Cobb Mountain, please call 1-877-295-4949.
