California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : A Third of Trees at Presidio Dying

More than a third of the trees in the Presidio Army Base’s forests are sick and likely to die soon or topple in high winds, according to an Army Corps of Engineers report. The report said more than 22,000 of about 65,000 trees at the base near the Golden Gate Bridge are in the highest risk category, and as much as 45% of existing forest is expected to disappear within 15 years. Many of the trees, including Monterey pine and cypress, were planted more than 100 years ago and are expected to perish before federal money can be gotten for reforestation, the report said. The money will not be available for five to 10 years because of complexities in turning the Presidio from military to park use. The document estimated the cost of saving the forest at $538,700.