San Bernardino County Sets Tree Removal Fund

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposed ballot initiative that would have imposed a tax to cover removal of drought-stricken and beetle-infested trees posing a fire hazard in mountain communities.

After hearing testimony from more than a dozen property owners, the supervisors instead instructed county staff to create a revolving fund for cutting down dead and infested trees when property owners cannot afford to. And if property owners cannot reimburse the county, liens can be placed on their properties to ensure repayment.

Several supervisors who endorsed the revolving fund said the biggest advantage is that the money would be available immediately, whereas revenue from a new tax wouldn’t be collected until next year, after this fire season is over.

The county has earmarked $1 million in existing revenue for the revolving fund.

Still, fire officials and other county authorities said the money is not nearly enough to begin removing the estimated 277,000 dead or dying trees on more than 46,000 acres of private land in San Bernardino County.

At a cost of about $1,000 per tree, the county estimates the total cost of removal at more than $300 million.

“This is just a drop in the bucket,” said John Goss, assistant county administrator.

Four years of drought and a massive infestation by the Western bark beetle have left thousands of wooded acres in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties vulnerable to wildfires.

Western bark beetles infest drought-weakened trees. They bore into the bark and hatch larvae, cutting off a tree’s circulatory system, then move to the next tree.

Riverside County estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 dead or dying trees must be removed.