PROJECT UPDATE
Dead or dying trees pose a significant threat to TUD water infrastructure by falling onto or around TUD facilities including water tanks, buildings and TUD’s 71 miles of ditch system which delivers water to most of the population in Tuolumne County. Falling trees could significantly damage water tanks, water treatment plant buildings and completely block open ditches causing severe erosional damage or uprooting of ditch berms causing ditch failure, system damage and water outages.
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) was approved to receive partial reimbursement of funds from the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) to help combat the tree mortality issue facing the District. TUD received notification from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) that its CDAA application was approved to fund 75% of total eligible costs related to the hazard tree removal efforts.
On November 17, 2015, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Adopted a Resolution Declaring a Local State of Emergency in Tuolumne County due to pervasive tree mortality and requested the State of California to assist in the coordination of resources to assist in the removal of dead and dying trees due to drought and bark beetle infestation. The County received approval of its CDAA application from Cal OES in November.
Hazardous Tree Removal Project Update
- Number of trees felled: 1670
- Number of projects completed: 3
Projects: Current and Completed (as of November 1, 2017)
- Tank sites and other infrastructure (560- Completed)
- Section 4 ditch (240 – Completed)
- Soulsbyville ditch (870 – Completed)
Future Projects
- Eureka ditch – Estimated start date: December 2017, weather permitting
- Columbia ditch – Estimated start date: Spring 2018
- Phoenix ditch – Estimated start date: Spring 2018