Sacramento Faces 2-Year Tree Care Backlog Amid Expansion Plans

UPDATE: Sacramento, known as the “City of Trees,” is grappling with a staggering backlog in tree maintenance requests, with wait times extending up to two years for non-emergency issues. As the city plans to expand its urban forest, the demand for tree care is only expected to increase.

Residents in East Sacramento, including Brett Davison, have voiced growing concerns over the upkeep of city trees, which have begun to encroach on homes and pose safety risks. “I just think of it as a safety issue,” Davison stated, highlighting the urgent need for action as insurance companies take note of the hazardous situations.

Amid California’s ongoing insurance crisis, many homeowners are being pressured to trim overgrown branches. “Their insurance company flew a drone over their house,” Davison reported, underscoring the serious implications of the city’s maintenance delays. Requests for tree care have surged, yet the city is struggling to keep pace.

City officials confirmed that non-emergency requests are facing a backlog of more than one year. “At that point, they were booked out for two and a half years for any sort of maintenance or thinning of trees in Sacramento,” Davison recounted, expressing disbelief at the wait times.

According to Gabby Miller, a Sacramento Media & Communications Specialist, the backlog is primarily due to staffing shortages and the damage caused by severe storms in 2023. “Severe storms caused unprecedented damage to trees throughout Sacramento,” Miller explained in a prepared statement.

The city maintains over 100,000 trees across its 100 square miles, with over 500 service requests related to tree issues received monthly. Emergency requests are prioritized and addressed within one hour, while non-emergency calls receive an initial response within 48 hours.

Despite the challenges, Sacramento has begun to address the backlog by hiring more staff in the Urban Forestry Division and increasing resources for tree care contracts. “These steps have already accelerated pruning efforts,” Miller noted. However, residents are still frustrated by the delays.

Councilmember Pluckebaum acknowledged the issues, stating that he receives weekly calls about fallen limbs causing damage. “That was a really big storm. It was significant and expensive,” he said, referring to the 2023 storms that necessitated the mobilization of 1,400 arborists to clear the city.

Looking ahead, Sacramento’s city council unanimously voted to double the tree canopy by 2045, focusing on areas currently lacking tree cover. This ambitious plan, while popular, raises questions about funding. “Voting to increase the tree canopy is like voting for puppy dogs or apple pie,” Pluckebaum remarked, but stressed that the financial implications are significant.

The implementation of the newly adopted Sacramento Urban Forest Plan could require an additional $12-13 million annually. “I’m all about more trees. Bring it on. I love the trees, but you better have enough maintenance crews to handle what you’ve got going on first,” Davison warned, reflecting the sentiment of many residents who are wary of the city’s capacity to manage an expanding tree population.

As Sacramento confronts its tree maintenance crisis, residents are left wondering how the city will balance ambitious growth plans with the pressing need for maintenance. With calls for a potential tax measure looming, the future of Sacramento’s urban forest remains uncertain.

For residents seeking to report tree concerns, they are encouraged to use the 311 Customer Service Center by dialing 311 or emailing [email protected]. As the city navigates these challenges, the focus will remain on restoring service levels to meet public expectations.