A new aerial survey released today by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) shows that trees continue to die at a rapid rate in California. Even with record rains last winter and the drought declared over, these dead trees continue to be a public safety hazard near roads, communities and critical infrastructure. With public safety as its top priority, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has committed significant resources to removing trees impacted by drought or bark beetle throughout its service area. During 2017, PG&E expects to have removed approximately 148,000 dead or dying trees that could threaten its power lines. This is on top of the 1.4 million trees it prunes or removes under its routine vegetation management program each year.
The USFS announced it has identified an additional 27 million trees since its last survey in November, 2016, bringing the total since 2010 to 129 million. Members of the Governora s Tree Mortality Task Force, made up of more than 80 state and federal agencies, local governments, energy companies including PG&E and others have been working together to address epidemic tree mortality.
a We have made significant progress to help reduce wildfire risk by removing dead and dying trees, and wea re not slowing down. We will continue this critical safety work in 2018 and expand our fuel management efforts in high fire-risk areas,a said PG&E President and Chief Operating Officer Nick Stavropoulos.
In 2018, PG&Ea s expanded fuel management work within designated high-fire risk areas will include: reducing vegetation near electric distribution lines; providing access space for emergency responders; maintaining existing fuel breaks and connecting new fuel breaks to existing ones created by other private or public entities; and performing long-term fuel management. This work may also be conducted in areas previously cleared or impacted by wildfires and is above and beyond state and federal mandated vegetation clearance requirements.
a As an elected leader in a severely impacted area, Ia ve witnessed first-hand the hard work and incredible support from PG&E to remove dead and dying trees. Their continued commitment in 2018 speaks volumes about their unwavering focus on safety and their customers,a said Madera County Supervisor Tom Wheeler.
