Question about Tree Removal along Occidental Road

[doubledown]

Hello!

I came home today to find a beautiful older oak tree that hung over Occidental Road, cut down and left in pieces in front of our place. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with this and knows who I should communicate with to let them know it's not okay.

The tree did hang over the road, but was well above traffic and created a really nice canopy across the road. I'm wondering how PG&E or the county can remove a tree without contacting the property owner if it is not an immediate issue. I've asked their crews to remove trees in the past when they were topping them and basically creating years of future problems and they told me they couldn't. Now, one day, a tree is gone. To add insult, it is left along the side of the road.

Any help in directing my concerns to the appropriate people is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

[BancheroTreeService]

Are you sure that it was PG&E? Usually the utility companies just top the trees. Then they can come back every year and make their $50 to re-top them. One of my big beefs is that they will top a tree, kill it, and leave a 25' tall stump waiting to fall, rather than taking it down the rest of the way. (Once the trunk is below the wires, it's the counties problem)

From the picture of the location the tree might have been taken down by the county.

Was the tree sick? Lots of coast live oak have been succumbing to Sudden Oak Death.

Matt

I came home today to find a beautiful older oak tree that hung over Occidental Road, cut down and left in pieces in front of our place. ...

[doubledown]

Thanks Matt,
It may have been the county, it doesn't seem like PG&E's M.O. We have a couple of those topped stumps near the tree that was taken out. The tree was healthy and not in the way of the power lines (it grew under and away from them). Do you know which department at the county might be responsible for something like this. I want to make sure it doesn't happen again without some input if possible. I won't be around long enough for another tree to grow like that one and I'm not that old.

Andy

Are you sure that it was PG&E? ...

[BancheroTreeService]

The fact that the tree was cut up also makes me suspect it was the county.

I had to find the road crew contact information once...but I don't have it now. I think I started by calling the county clerk and he/she put me in contact with the right person.

Matt

[doubledown]

Matt,

You were right. The county cut it down. I'd been out of town and didn't realize it had rained a few inches over the last few days--when I got home it was sunny--but apparently the tree came down of it's own volition. Sad, but not as sad as thinking it had been removed for some unknown reason.

Andy

The fact that the tree was cut up also makes me suspect it was the county.

I had to find the road crew contact information once...but I don't have it now. I think I started by calling the county clerk and he/she put me in contact with the right person.

Matt

[BancheroTreeService]

Right on. My dealings with the county have been really pleasant too.

One of my arborist buddies noticed a really large sketchy limb on a huge oak tree over the road, next to a school. He made a phone call, talked to the supervisor and within a couple days they had come out and done the work.

Matt

Matt,

You were right. The county cut it down. I'd been out of town and didn't realize it had rained a few inches over the last few days--when I got home it was sunny--but apparently the tree came down of it's own volition. Sad, but not as sad as thinking it had been removed for some unknown reason.

Andy