Committee to Ask City to Replace Trees

Petaluma's tree committee wants to ask Caltrans to replace up to 900 redwood, oak and eucalyptus trees that will be removed as part of the Highway 101 widening project, according to Tuesday's article in the Press Democrat.

The trees slated for removal are between Old Redwood Highway and Petaluma Boulevard South and committee members want the agency to create a tree bank to replace the ones that will be cut down.

Petaluma is know for its efforts to protect trees and has been named a Tree City USA for 12 years by the Arbor Day Foundation. According to the article, Caltrans follows the county ordinance, which only replaces oak trees at a one-to-one ration. 

“Unfortunately, they don’t consider redwoods a tree that would be mitigated,” said Rod Scaccalosi, chair of the Tree Committee.

Over the past few weeks, many trees have already been removed on the north side of town, a taste of what's to come when the entire tree removal process is complete.

City council may ask Caltrans to plant other trees or contribute a fee that would be used to purchase new ones.

Read the full article.