Edhat Staff
(Photo: Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade)
Source: County of Santa Barbara
The catastrophic 1/9 Debris Flow has left a layer of mud ranging from several inches to several feet deep in many locations of the Montecito community. Beyond the physical damage caused by the storm, native oaks, sycamores, and other trees in the Montecito area are being suffocated by layers of mud. Trees “breathe” through their root systems. When mud, soil or sediment is deposited over the existing root system, it reduces the oxygen supply to the tree.
In collaboration with CalFIRE, the Montecito Fire Protection District and local arborists, the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has developed an informational handout titled “Tree Health and Safety Following the 1/9 Debris Flow Event.” It provides information on the impacts to local trees and what residents and property owners can do to help, accompanied by a visual diagram of tree health and safety.
The handout and diagram are available at https://readysbc.org/health-
The local oak trees in the Montecito area are recognized for the historical value and importance they hold to the community. In addition, a dead or dying urban forest will increase the risk of wildfire spread across the Central Coast. Residents and property owners are asked to help save our trees and keep them healthy for many years to come.
Tree health and safety documents can be read at readysbc.org.
Aargh! If it’s not one thing, it’s ten. Dying trees from the mud will create more fire hazard.
Given the magnitude of the problem and that the owners involved have recently suffered huge losses, perhaps the County could provide these services free of charge. Keeping riparian forests healthy benefits the whole community.