The Shasta Lake Planning Commission approved a disappointingly weak and inadequate Tree Conservation Ordinance at its September 3 meeting. Now the ordinance will go the Shasta Lake City Council for approval, rejection or revision.
While the ordinance does require mitigation for removal of oak trees, it is greatly inadequate. It will require the planting of three trees of any species for each oak tree removed, whether the trunk has a diameter of 10-inches or 40-inches. This would allow the planting of any trees, for example, three crape myrtles, or a small mitigation fee.
Shasta Lake hired Jim Hamilton, a private consultant, to rewrite the ordinance. Hamilton was previously head of the City of Redding Development Resource Department and oversaw the rewrite of the current Redding Tree Management Ordinance. Many of the Shasta Lake Planning Commissioners are new and relied on Hamilton for advice on their questions about the ordinance. One of those questions was the low fine for cutting down a
tree without a permit. He implied that this was all the City could charge, although other cities charge more; for example, the City of Chico has a $5000 fine.
The only persons opposing the new ordinance were Shasta Lake activist Pat Lind, SEA Tree Committee member Rico Montenegro, and Sea President David Ledger. SEA will put out a notice before this reaches the City Council so that SEA supporters can attend. If you would like to see a stronger Shasta Lake Tree Conservation Ordinance, especially if you live or work in Shasta Lake, we urge you to attend the meeting and comment or send your
written comments to: publiccomments@cityofshastalake.org