One limb of this towering tree was cut in order to put a power pole within two feet of it.
The devastating fire that destroyed 6,837 structures and 5,419 residences in Pacific Palisades, also took its toll on the trees lining the streets. But surprisingly, many that might look like they are dead are not.
Palisades arborist Carl Mellinger writes “Many of our fire-resistant species – Chinese elm, sycamore, magnolia, fern pine, ficus, and others – have survived. We are concerned about unnecessary removals and the long-term impact on our urban canopy.”
“The surviving trees are truly irreplaceable,” Mellinger said.
Initially some Palisadians had blamed the Corp of Engineers for cutting down the trees.
No, initially it was the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that said the trees were hazardous, or needed to be removed for power line replacement.
Jessica Rogers was at her property in the El Medio area: her house had burned, but her trees were okay.
“As I was leaving, the DWP showed up and started tossing poles and parts in the easement that is along Bowdoin at the bottom of my property. When I asked them what they were doing, they said they were putting up poles to restore power.”
Rogers said her neighbors across the street had power, but that more than 80 percent of the homes on her street were burned. She asked if the poles were permanent or temporary. The DWP crew believed they were permanent.
A tree branch was cut and a large pole placed within two feet of the trunk. Rogers was worried her other trees might also be harmed.
She sent her concerns to the head of the Palisades Forestry committee David Card, who sent a note to Councilmember Traci Park’s office.
Card told Park that DWP was cutting healthy trees. “A DWP Board member, Nurit Katz asked in a meeting a couple days ago for our evidence of improper tree removals in the Palisades so she could inquire,” Card said. “I sent the photos of the nine or so healthy Bauhinia trees cut down apparently by DWP at Pali Rec Center’s sidewalk next to Veteran’s Garden.”
He also wrote Park about Roger’s burned home’s back slope adjacent to Bowdoin Street. “There is a forest of trees along that slope above Bowdoin, from Northfield/Erskine to Sunset Blvd,” Card said. “Today Jessica found that one of her mature trees was half cut down to make room for a power pole too close to the remaining trunk. I’ve attached Jessica’s photos. There were no poles there before. It was a healthy tree with no tree removal markings. The tree’s future health will be at risk of perpetual pruning by DWP because of the closeness of the pole and wires to the trunk.”
Rogers told CTN today that “DWP finally agreed to correct what they had done (minus the tree cutting part) and put the poles where they were before. They also made them 10 feet higher and used ‘tree wire’ along my portion of the wire because of all the trees. The wires just have insulation on them and the others don’t.
“It was a ton of pressure and work to get them to agree to take out the pole from where it did not belong, which is two feet away from a healthy tree,” she said.
“We must insist on building back smart. The status quo of incompetency was never acceptable and now it cannot be an option,” Rogers said. “Everyone needs to give their best. Including residents. We must stand up for our needs, speak out against policies that do not work and participate in solutions that build a strong, fire resilient community. Everything moving forward must be created with competency and urgency.”
Hazardous Tree Waiver for ACE
Regarding the Army Corps of Engineers and tree removal, anyone wanting to save a tree on his/her property when the Army Corp of Engineers comes through to perform debris removal, needs to fill out a waiver and hand it to the ACE contractor when they come on the site, before excavation starts. https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1178475_WaiverofHazardousTreeRemoval.pdf
This waiver allows owners to retain certain trees that may have identified by an ISA-certified arborist to be hazardous. The waiver can be submitted via email or to the contractor during the 360-degree walkthrough, which is the last step before debris removal operations begin.
I found the perfect reply for anyone asking how I’m doing. I say, “I’m bewildered.” I think “bewildered” is the perfect noun. I don’t care for “better before” as I feel it can make another feel bad and that’s not my intent. Now, if someone says, “You have your life”, I will tell them, “That’s a really stupid thing to say. Don’t say that to anyone ever again”, which is what I said to one of my lifelong friends a few days ago.
Where can one find an ISA certified arborist? Thank you!
We have a 70 foot tall redwood that is charred on one side by the fire. It hasn’t been marked in any way by the city. Who can we contact to evaluate whether or not the tree is viable or if it needs to be removed? Do you have a list of resources/contact information for this? The army corps said they would not remove it as part of their debris removal. And do we need a permit to have it removed?
Joey,
Check with Palisades arborist Carl Mellinger or with David Card, who is the head of the Palisades Forestry Committee and his number can be found on the Pacific Palisades Community Council website.
Sue
Sue, I have a question that maybe you can answer (in all of your free time-NOT!):
In Bass’s “exciting news” release there was mention of DWP planning on putting in underground power (estimated at $1-4 million a mile). We will end up paying for that, I am certain. My hill, Castellemare, has underground power. I am not adverse to paying to support this effort for the rest of the PP and, I hope, Brentwood.
My question is in this piece above, a resident said that when she asked DWP workers about their putting up of a pole, that this pole was believed to be permanent. So which is it? Does one hand know what the other is doing? Sorry if I am being dim!
Karin,
The Riviera, the Huntington, the Highlands, Castellammare have underground wires. The wires should be undergrounded in the rest of the Palisades. You are not being dim–I think DWP is waiting. At one point they said we can’t plan it until there’s an additional substation.
And, I think there needs to be an inquiry about the wires snapping and poles breaking during the January 7 fire and how that contributed the town burning.
You notice that the area that were completely decimated were the Via de las Olas bluffs and the Alphabet Streets — neither area had underground wires.
CTN has asked in a public records request at what time power was shut off in the Palisades.
Sue