Old Growth Trees To Be Cut Down at Doheny Beach
Vol. 2, Issue 48, November 27, 2009
OLD GROWTH TREES TO BE CUT DOWN AT DOHENY STATE PARK
THE LATEST: Seventeen trees at Doheny State Park have been marked for destruction while a total of 54 trees have been identified as needing some sort of work.
The decision to remove the old growth trees has been met with speculation and rumors are making the rounds—alleging that the removal of the trees is part of an effort to make landscape care at the park easier, to sell the wood for a profit and that the removal is being kept secret to avoid controversy.
All but two of the marked trees are Eucalyptus that have dropped limbs during the past summer according to Doheny State Beach Park Superintendant Rich Haydon. “None of the rumors are true. Once this type of tree starts to drop limbs, other limbs are susceptible and it is State Parks Department policy to fell them in the interest of public safety,” said Haydon. “According to State Parks Forester Steve Bakken this is a natural part of the lifespan of these type of trees.”
This is not the first time the State Parks have removed this species for safety reasons. A Eucalyptus tree dropped a limb late last summer which landed on the benches near the Visitors Center. That incident and others (within the parks system) which have resulted in injuries have prompted a more comprehensive approach to tree inspection.
As an ongoing process, all trees within the State Parks system (where possible) are inspected each fall, with special attention given to trees that are susceptible to summer branch drop such as the Eucalyptus at Doheny.
WHAT’S NEXT: Since this naturally occurring process has nothing to do with tree disease or insect infestation, the wood will not go to waste. It will be offered—with first right of refusal—to the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association as a cooperating association of Cal State Parks. The trees will be cleared and/or pruned sometime between now and the first of the year.
FIND OUT MORE: www.parks.ca.gov
—Andrea Swayne
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Debra, I agree with you, city has ridiculous rules regarding tree heights that should be repealed. We should encourage tall native trees whereever possible, they clean air, offer shade and provide habitat for birds etc. Most importantly intact tree canopy makes the city nicer more habitable place to live and even improves property vaues as a whole.
If tree is obviously sick, then it's OK to cut it, but most sick trees were a poor specimen choice, usually non native, we should plant native coastal OAKs, they live 100s of year, no more silly african palms and Australian eucalyptus.
If people want to see water, go to the beach or climb a hill, trees provide value for all, not just view for some.
I wish they would remove the trees in along Selva in front of Strand Beach. THOSE are the trees with branches that keep falling.
This is a murder of the nature, please stop that!!!
So what is going to be planted in place of the trees?
Cutting down mature trees where birds make their nest is against the law and requires California Coastal Commission approval..
Absolutely ridiculous, but then again, what can you expect from an unintelligible city council and a city with a former mayor that decided the whole town should be cape cod style. Oh, and that atrocity of a bridge? Brilliant. So go ahead and "getto" Dana Point up, it's real cute, isn't it?
Come on now folks! Do we need to destroy those beautiful trees because, "...it is State Parks Department policy to fell them in the interest of public safety"?
There MUST be some way of simply pruning the trees (i.e. ALL of the trees).
If you follow this kind of thinking to its logical conclusion, why not cut down and destroy ALL trees because they ALL "drop branches" that "may" harm someone.
Once again, litigation trumps common sense in America!
I really hope this is the reason why you are removing the trees. I live in Dana Point near PCH/Selva and we had to remove "All" of our beautiful tress because it blocked others' view. Months later the new Strands development planted new trees that are going to eventually block the view once again. Now I look at dirty roofs, listen to loud PCH noise, and I cannot enjoy the view of lovely trees & birds anymore. Do you think that Laguna Beach would ever allow this??? Take a drive along PCH...
Truly,
Debra Brooks