Page 3 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2020

PG&E and Redwoods
resistant, they keep temperatures cooler which also helps prevent fires. The amazing root system prevents erosion & landslides while holding up our river bank and our mountain. They clean our air and our water. To cut them down invites erosion and new growth of fire-prone trees, brush and weeds. Redwoods are essential for the stability of the land these cabins are built upon.
Since mid-May of this year, my husband, Bob and I, recommended to our Board of Directors and neighbors to refuse PG&E’s access. As individuals, Bob and I Initially resisted vehemently, then met
with and ultimately negotiated
with PG&E, its representative and subcontractors regarding PG&E’s intent to cut down125 mature redwoods and the accompanying extreme trimming PG&E planned for this 75-acres of mixed forest in which 200 cabins are nestled. The Board President brilliantly took a firm stance that nothing would be approved without a definitive “plan” being in place.
During two August walk-throughs with PG&E and subcontractor representatives, along with our
Board President and the Manager of our community, Bob basically saved 98 of the 125 at-risk redwoods by convincing PG&E to move the location of power poles & wires instead of removing redwoods with the essential support of the subcontractor in charge of replacing the poles and wires. The 12-foot radius PG&E normally uses was reduced to a 4-foot radius around these redwoods wherever possible. [See Public Resources Code 4293]. On behalf of our community, a written agreement was insisted upon. In mid-September, PG&E’s frustrated representative threatened to shut
On a busy Memorial weekend,
tree trimming was being performed on a major road through a section
of cabins. Bob questioned their authority to do so, tracked down
the foreman of this crew only to learn that this subcontractor had
not provided legal notice that this was to occur and no permission had been granted. Once this was clarified, the work crew immediately stopped work and left, never to return. We shared our concerns with the cabin owners and management whenever possible. The take-away was to remain vigilant and that notice and permission mattered.
off all power to our community indefinitely if we didn’t capitulate. This rattled just about everyone
here who learned of it. Yet, our easement & legal research led us to the conclusion that PG&E is legally mandated to provide power in a reasonable manner. Others in our region have unwittingly capitulated to these threats. However, we couldn’t simply refuse PG&E entirely since our community needed new power poles & wires as we’re reportedly located in one of the worst sections of Sonoma County for power line failure.
Our next truly productive act was to obtain PG&E’s 1931 easement agreement from the County Recorder’s Office with the much appreciated assistance of the office staff.. It clearly states PG&E cannot trim without “permission of the manager” and removal of trees wasn’t even mentioned! PG&E’s representative tried to minimize the importance of the easement but make no mistake—it is a contract. Bob
A big surprise followed: The substantial reduction in redwood tree removal and trimming reportedly saved PG&E a significant sum of money. I’ve been told by subcontractor representatives
and I researched and did outreach. We were committed to saving these mature redwoods. Why? Not only are the redwood trees quite fire
LETTERS con’t on page 4
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