The tree removal phase has begun for two grant projects aimed at making key corridors safer for Poway residents in the event of a wildfire evacuation. Wildfire is a significant hazard in the Poway area, and deadly wildfires in California have underscored the importance of maintaining safe routes in the event of an evacuation.
The Hazardous Tree Removal Mitigation grant projects are funded through two cost-sharing grants from FEMA, with the City of Poway matching 25 percent. The total investment in the projects will exceed $3 million. Work will be concentrated in four areas: Twin Peaks Road, Camino del Norte, Espola Road, and Green Valley open space (view project map). Although the emphasis of the projects is mitigating hazards, by removing unhealthy and invasive trees the city is creating a healthier environment for vegetation along Poway’s major corridors.
Motorists may encounter lane closures while work is in progress, so please plan accordingly. These lane closures are temporary and necessary to ensure your safety and the safety of the workers.
How did the city decide what trees to remove?
As part of the grant process, close to 6,800 trees were assessed by a certified arborist (and many re-assessed) along the Camino del Norte, Twin Peaks, and Espola Road corridors, as well as the Green Valley open space area. From the assessment, approximately 2,800 trees were recommended for removal because they were dead, dying, poorly structured, not fully formed (stump, seedling or volunteer) or poorly spaced.
For Poway to receive reimbursement through these grants, only trees in the grant project areas identified for removal by the certified arborist can be removed. We also cannot add trees that residents consider to be a nuisance to their property – and we cannot add trees that are outside of the grant project areas.
What do the white and blue dots on trees signify?
Trees marked with white dots are those originally identified for removal as part of the original comprehensive tree assessment. Trees marked with blue dots are additional trees identified for removal by a certified arborist. Crews are currently focused on removing trees with white dots (from the original assessment). The city anticipates being able to add in the removal of trees with blue dots to the grant program.
Why did the city pursue a hazardous mitigation grant for tree removals?
Most of the trees in the Hazardous Tree Removal Mitigation Grant Project area are part of landscape maintenance districts (LMD). An LMD is an identified area in which benefitting property owners pay for enhanced landscaping and other improvements and services beyond those generally provided by the City.
LMD 83-1 (along Twin Peaks Road) and LMD 86-1 (along Espola Road) were created in the 1980s, when the developments were new, to fund common-area landscaping. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s LMDs had adequate funds for maintaining the designated areas. But then Prop. 218 passed in November 1996.
Under Prop. 218, the city cannot raise assessments to meet the rising costs without a vote of all parcels that receive what the State terms a "special benefit" from the landscape improvements. An independent engineering review is needed to determine which parcels receive special benefit from the existing landscape improvements. By law, the city cannot simply raise the assessments of those currently assessed.
LMD assessment levels have not changed since 1998, but trees have grown and multiplied, severe droughts have impacted the health of the trees, irrigation systems have aged, and costs have increased for water, electricity (to run the irrigation systems), materials and labor.
Although the trees are part of LMDs, the roads themselves are wildfire evacuation routes. The devastating California wildfires in 2018 highlighted the critical need to mitigate the hazards along major evacuation routes. FEMA’s hazardous mitigation grant program funds enable the city to recover costs associated with completing these project and receive reimbursement from FEMA through the California Office of Emergency Services. These are cost sharing grants, with 75% of the funding provided by the federal government and a required 25% contribution from local sources.