City to Continue : Tree-Planting Drive

Thousand Oaks officials have decided to continue an ambitious tree-planting program despite complaints that it would drive up municipal water use in a time of drought.

Since October, about 700 trees--including drought-tolerant oaks, sycamores and pines--have been planted in median strips of roads citywide, said Bill Elmendorf, the city’s urban forester.

The project is part of a $37,000 grant from the state Department of Forestry to counteract the effects of global warming by planting more trees throughout the state. City work crews are scheduled to plant about 150 more trees in Westlake, Newbury Park and various school sites citywide.

Each tree requires 60 gallons of water a month brought in by truck for its first three years, Elmendorf said. After that, the trees are self-sustaining.

The city had put the planting program on hold while evaluating the effect of the city’s long-term landscaping policies on municipal water, Assistant City Manager Mary Jane Lazz said.

Dozens of residents have lodged complaints about the trees in the wake of a decision by the City Council to require mandatory cutbacks in residential and commercial water use, officials said.

Homeowner Kathy Edwards, 41, said she complained to the city when she heard about the trees.

“If we’re expected to have our yards go into a decline, then why are they going into their beautifying?” she asked.

Lazz said the city is applying for a $74,000 state grant that will allow the city to plant up to 6,000 more trees over the next few years.