Three dead trees cut, Woodland & Shuteye, June 4, 2016. (Click to enlarge)

Aug 3. The July Newsletter for the Wawona Community (PDF) reports that PG&E may begin a program to dispose of trees that they cut down for safety reasons.

May 25. Barb Hankins has mailed (USPS) this update (PDF) to homeowners.

May 8. Don Dukleth has shared this letter (PDF) to Supervisor Poochigian as an example.

May 6. Barb Hankins has provided the following update:

• This Mountain Press article (PDF) has one of the possible programs available to private landowners. More that one person can apply for one grant, providing their properties touch, so that the minimum 20 acres is fulfilled. It gets complicated, but might be worth the work. I am waiting for a reply back from NRCS with info on another program. Here is the link from the article. The May 21 meeting (10:00 am at the Community Center in Shaver Lake) will be full of more information.
• Edison will be opening a chipping, grinding machine that will take all the slash from downed trees and even logs, for a small tipping fee. It will be at the old gun club on Dinkey Creek Road, maybe open in a week.
• Another idea was to contract with a tree removal company and have them stay in Dogwood until all interested landowners were done having their trees downed. Of course each homeowner would pay individually.
• This Mountain Press article (PDF) covers some of the first meeting information.
• The burn days may be extended, especially with the rains this week. You can call the burn number (877) 429-2876 and find out the days.

May 3. Barb Hankins reports the following resources and links:

• FRAP Map viewers, Cal Fire, Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP)
• Ready for Wildfire, Cal Fire, info including bark beetles & dead trees
• Map of tree mortality in California, Tree Mortality Task Force
• Climate Change and Forestry in California, Air Resources Board, info & links

The Federal Government has decided not to declare our area a state of emergency, which would free up funds from the federal government for tree removal. The more residents that write describing our situation with the dead trees and the threat of fires and loss of homes as well as natural resources, the better chance of changing their minds. You can contact:

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors lists a resolution declaring a local emergency regarding tree mortality. There is a link on Supervisor Poochigian’s page. (You can also try this direct link (PDF).)