COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Caltrans did not attend the Oct. 6 Colusa City Council meeting as scheduled to discuss its proposed removal of 43 elm trees, but an independent arborist told council members that most could remain with proper pruning and maintenance.
Mayor Denise Conrado said Caltrans notified the city the previous morning that it needed additional time to assess the trees and planned to bring in another regional arborist.
“They said that they need more time to analyze everything. So it’s not like Caltrans blew us off,” Conrado said.
Caltrans previously recommended removing 40 American elm trees along 10th Street and three along Market Street, citing structural deterioration, decay, falling limbs and damage to sidewalks and infrastructure.
The trees, some approximately 120 years old, have become the subject of community opposition since Caltrans announced its removal plans. Residents have questioned whether the agency adequately evaluated individual trees and whether pruning could address safety concerns without removing the trees.
Conrado said John Ferreira, chief of staff to Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, had spoken with Caltrans officials about the proposed removals.
Under the developing plan, Cal Fire will review Caltrans’ assessment and a separate report prepared by arborist Gordon Mann. Cal Fire representatives will also inspect the trees before developing recommendations.
Mann, president and co-owner of California Tree and Landscape Consulting in Auburn, attended the meeting to present findings from his assessment, which community members privately funded.
Mann, who has 47 years of experience in urban forestry, challenged Caltrans’ approach to removing the trees.
“When I looked at these trees, there were just two trees that had to come down,” Mann said.
He identified significant decay in a tree near 1050 10th Street and another near the county fairgrounds. He said the remaining trees could benefit from structural pruning that reduces the weight on branches without excessively removing foliage.
Mann estimated a three-person crew could prune the 43 trees in approximately five days at about one-third the cost of removal, stump grinding and replacement.
He recommended a pruning schedule of five to eight years, depending on the condition and growth of individual trees.
Council members questioned Mann about tree safety, maintenance costs and Caltrans’ assessment methods. Mann said a management plan should address potential hazards before officials consider removal.
“The idea is that you have to have a management plan, a reason why you’re doing it, and then the steps to follow,” Mann said.
Residents also expressed concern about delays and asked whether Mann could participate in the additional assessment.
City staff agreed to contact Caltrans about its inspection schedule.
Conrado credited residents who contacted state representatives for bringing additional attention to the issue.
“The only reason that we’re here right now is because of the citizens contacting their representatives because they weren’t listening to us,” Conrado said.
Representatives from Aguiar-Curry’s office and state Sen. Megan Dahle’s office attended the meeting.
Caltrans retains authority over the trees. Officials did not announce a date for additional inspections or a final decision on removal.