PG&E Inspecting Sonoma County For Dead Trees

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — PG&E is flying low over Healdsburg and other parts of Sonoma County this week to inspect for dead trees, officials with the utility company said in an advisory. Aerial patrols are being conducted Tuesday and Wednesday by contracted helicopter crews as PG&E continues its effort to identify trees that could pose a wildfire or other public safety risk, according to the advisory.

“Five years of drought and bark beetle infestation in California have caused millions of trees to die or become structurally compromised," said Dave Canny, senior manager of PG&E’s Sonoma and North Bay Divisions."We’ve made significant progress to help reduce wildfire risk by removing dead and dying trees and we’re not slowing down. We are continuing this critical safety work in 2018."

Flights on Tuesday will occur along Highways 101, 1 and 128 over the towns of Cazadero, Timber Cove, Geyserville and Healdsburg. Foresters will also fly helicopters over the community of Plantation, Salt Point State Park and Fort Ross State Park.

Flights on Wednesday will occur along Highway 101 over the towns of Geyserville and Healdsburg and the communities of Asti and Los Lomos.

"Depending on clear weather conditions, foresters will fly in and out of the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.," said Deanna Contreras, a regional spokeswoman for PG&E.

"Patrolling by air allows the company to cover many miles quickly and efficiently, and reduces impacts on the ground," Contreras said. "Residents are advised that the helicopter will fly low – about 200 to 300 feet – along distribution power lines, and higher in areas where livestock are present."

According to Contreras PG&E inspects and monitors every overhead electric transmission and distribution line every year, with some locations patrolled multiple times.

"In 2017, PG&E conducted secondary patrols on 65-percent of power lines, and in 2018, expects to patrol about 65 percent of lines a second time," Contreras said.

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