MADERA – Madera County residents will soon see an increase in the work to remove dead trees along county roads and near infrastructure. The Madera County Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with Blue Ridge Services, Inc. for tree mortality operations management services. This agreement provides for an escalation in the county-wide effort to reduce risk to public infrastructure ...

SACRAMENTO – Residents of the Central Sierra will soon see more crews on county roadways as new funding from Cal Fire helps with the removal of hazard trees. Six million dollars have been awarded in a one-time grant to aid high-priority counties impacted by California’s historic tree mortality. Cal Fire’s Local Assistance for Tree Mortality (LATM) Grant Program will provide ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Fire Safe Council is excited to announce that our contract crews have completed the work at the Greeley Hill Community Center. Crews removed 93 hazardous trees that threatened the Greeley Hill Community Center, Wildwood Chapel, and the Greeley Hill Volunteer Fire Station. “We are elated to know the trees are no longer a threat to key ...

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown’s $180 billion May revision to the 2017-2018 budget proposes cutting millions of dollars from funding to fight fires and support local tree mortality projects in California’s forestlands. The Governor’s updated budget, released on Thursday, May 11, cuts funding for the Office of Emergency Services from $52.7 million to $8.5 million, with only $2 million allocated ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD) anticipates that they will have some money to help qualified homeowners who need to fell dead trees within 100-feet of their dwelling. “The money comes from the Cal Fire Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Tree Mortality grant,” explains Anne Melrose, Executive Director of the CRCD. “We are hoping to offer funds to ...

NORTH FORK —  Residents who would like to take advantage of the Air Curtain Burner located at the Old Mill Site to dispose of woody slash materials are encouraged to do it sooner than later. Cal Fire will be suspending the acceptance of material on Saturday, Apr. 29. The Air Curtain Burners are available to help residents dispose of unwanted ...

OAKHURST — Cal Fire, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and UC Extension, in partnership with Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler’s office, will be hosting a Reforestation Workshop for forest land owners and foresters on Thursday, Apr. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Oakhurst Community Library. This workshop is appropriate for landowners of any sized property ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The massive hazard tree removal project that has been underway along Highway 41 and Highway 49 in the foothills since last fall has been given the funding to continue, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth announced today that $3 million more in funding has been allocated for the project, and operations are ...

NORTH FORK — Four students at North Fork School are doing their part to restore some of the many trees lost over the past few years. Because of the massive death of our pines due to the drought and bark beetles, the Fantabulous 4 Diva Dibblers have planted Ponderosa Pine seedlings in the yards of those who requested trees. They ...

Submitted by Kris Randal, Master Gardener Coordinator — CENTRAL SIERRA — The Mariposa County UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners’ Helpline Desk has been busy fielding inquiries about dead and dying oaks. Many concerned landowners have asked about, or have been told that their trees have been infected with Sudden Oak Death (SOD). Phytophthora ramorum, or SOD, is a pathogen that ...