The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has agreed to a temporary moratorium banning the removal of several types of native trees, including oaks, while delaying a decision to pass a pair of tree protection ordinances until early next year.
The board at its Tuesday meeting sought to regulate the removal of trees larger than 6 inches in diameter at breast height with the goal of mitigating tree loss from land conversions and development, but was stymied by pushback from unsatisfied constituents.
County staff prepared two overlapping ordinances the board was considering passing Tuesday, one that outlined restrictions and mitigation measures for oak trees removed from oak woodlands, and another that would update a tree removal ordinance passed in 1989 that stipulates when other native trees and oaks outside of woodlands could be removed.
Several members of the public, including two high school students in an environmental club, urged the board to pass the measures.
But multiple certified foresters, property owners, and Cal Fire Division Chief Ben Nichols spoke during the public comment period against the ordinances as they stood.
‘Kind of surprised’ by ordinances
Several, including Nichols, said they were not aware that the board would be making a final decision Tuesday, after amendments were made to previous drafts.
“I was kind of surprised that we were here today,” Nichols told the board.
He said he had several concerns about the ordinances, including the temporary moratorium on tree removal that needed to be passed if the ordinances were approved, which he said could restrict property owners from proactively removing potential fuel for fires.
“I am concerned that we are overstocked here in the county. We have too many trees per acre, which results in a dangerous loading to the fuel.” Ben Nichols, Cal Fire division chief
“I am concerned that we are overstocked here in the county. We have too many trees per acre, which results in a dangerous loading to the fuel,” Nichols said.
He said the county needed to trust property owners to maintain their property in a way that maximizes fire prevention.
The moratorium was needed because the ordinances would not have taken effect until next January and February.
But supervisors ultimately passed the temporary moratorium in order to make further changes to the tree removal ordinances, with changes to the moratorium that will allow more proactive fuel removal by property owners.
What gets protected status
Protected trees are any type of tree native to Sonoma County, including several types of oaks, along with California Black Walnut, Bigleaf Maple, Cypress and Grand Fir, among others.
Exemptions are allowed if there is immediate danger presented by a tree, for the maintenance of evacuation roads, if trees are diseased, for fire safety, and other allowances.
Supervisor David Rabbitt said the matter did not meet the criteria for an urgency ordinance and voted against it. It passed, 4-1.
Supervisor Susan Gorin was the only board member who indicated, strongly, that she would have liked to pass the permanent ordinances Tuesday. Other board members said more time was warranted to craft what they said would be better regulations.
The temporary moratorium must be renewed by Jan. 26. In the meantime, county staff will continue meeting with stakeholders and present modified tree removal ordinances sometime early next year.