Palos Verdes Estates to Remove Damaged Eucalyptus Trees

Palos Verdes Estates has tagged for removal 180 public trees injured or killed by the Australian eucalyptus borer beetle that has hit the city, striking hardest in the Valmonte area, where eucalyptus stands are dense.

The trees are along Palos Verdes Drive North, and represent from 10% to 20% of the Valmonte public parklands.

City forester Walter Warriner said it will cost about $25,000 to remove the trees and infested deadwood from 100 other trees that have been hit by the beetles. The inch-long insect deposits its eggs under the bark of eucalyptus trees, and the growing larvae kill the trees. Trees under stress from drought--such as those in city parklands--are the most vulnerable.

Tree removal is part of a plan Warriner outlined to the City Council Tuesday to combat the beetle spread, which was brought to Orange County in wood shipped from Australia in 1984 and has since proliferated from San Diego to Ventura counties. Other components include an immediate survey of all city parklands to determine the extent of infestation and an analysis of the cost to remove and dispose of tainted wood.

City staff will prepare a parkland tree-maintenance policy and begin a public education program on the beetle that could include a moratorium on trimming eucalyptus trees between April 15 and Oct. 1 (the period of peak beetle activity and when trees are most stressed). The city will also provide residents with information on proper tree pruning and the correct method of storing or disposing of eucalyptus wood.

While the city is mounting its effort to control the beetle on public property, private property owners are being urged by Valmonte resident Paula Wicks to battle the beetle in their own yards.

Wicks said her group is looking into nonprofit organization status to raise funds to assist the city, which faces high costs in removing and disposing of dead parkland trees.