Woman Fighting to Save Eucalyptuses

Carynn McCann believes the eucalyptus trees that have lined Simi Valley’s Sinaloa Road for decades are landmarks, on a par with the giant rock at the foothills of the Santa Susana Pass on Kuehner Drive or the old windmill that spins above the rooftops on Madera Road.

But the trees’ days may be numbered.

Tonight, the City Council will consider removing 41 of the eucalyptus trees on Sinaloa for safety reasons. Other trees around the city could be on the chopping block too, including about 40 other eucalyptuses on Smith Road.

McCann, though, is fighting for their lives.

“This is a unique thing to Simi Valley,” she said. “We have a few landmarks here, and this is one of them.”

Trees that get the ax will be replaced, although more sparsely, with younger, smaller trees--probably a variety of sycamore and oak.

City officials have become increasingly concerned about the old trees, many of which, they believe, are sickly and in danger of falling on houses and streets.

In January, Pacific Horticulture, a consultant hired by the city, recommended the removal of 158 eucalyptus trees in 32 locations because of unstable limbs and root and trunk decay.

“These trees are nearing the end of their life, and that’s why the council approved a consultant to go out and look at them,” said John Watring, the city’s assistant director of public works.

The trees were planted decades ago to protect citrus and walnut groves from the wind, Watring said. But housing developments swallowed the groves years ago.

Trees in the public right of way can be a liability for the city if they fall or shed limbs, as happened last month in a windstorm that sent limbs cascading onto cars and toppling what was considered a safe and stable tree onto an Avenida Simi house.

But McCann believes the threat of lawsuits is no excuse to tear down a piece of history.

She fears that, by removing the Sinaloa trees, area homes will be more susceptible to traffic noise.