Sacramento, known for its green tree-filled urban landscape, faces unique challenges in intense weather, like the recent atmospheric river that swept through Northern California last Sunday. The convergence of high winds with large trees poses significant risks to people and urban infrastructure.
In the aftermath of the recent atmospheric river storm, widespread power outages affected some 200,000 Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers. The storm, characterized by heavy rain in the Sacramento Valley, snow at higher elevations and winds reaching up to 65 mph, dealt a significant blow to the region's power infrastructure. Power restoration was complicated by dangerous conditions for utility crews caused by the high winds, falling trees and unsafe road conditions.
According to Sacramento Municipal Utility District spokesperson Gamaliel Ortiz, vegetation-related issues were the primary reason for the recent outages.
“Tree debris from tree branches that fly into infrastructure power lines and other equipment will cause various types of outages,” Ortiz said.
While urban tree canopy coverage offers many benefits, larger vegetation can become dangerous during high wind events.
According to the National Weather Service, whole trees are in motion beginning at 32 mph wind speeds. Considerable structural damage and uprooting of small trees can occur at speeds starting at 55 mph. Widespread damage is likely with a wind force between 64 and 75 mph, at which point large trees are prone to topple.
The recent storm killed at least two people in the Sacramento area as a result of falling trees. A man died at Mercy San Juan Medical Center after a tree fell on him at his residence. A second person was found dead in her backyard under a fallen tree, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
If trees aren’t maintained properly or planted incorrectly, with respect to nearby structures, or if they aren’t the right tree for a particular environment, they can become hazardous, according to Sacramento State University Urban Geography lecturer Patrick Oberle.
“The species of the tree matters,” Oberle said. “Naturally, redwoods don't grow on the valley floor. So if you see a redwood in Sacramento, someone planted it.”
Oberle said redwoods grow in clusters for efficiency. But, if they grow alone and not in proximity to other redwoods, they are more at risk of being uprooted in strong winds.
Two homes were damaged on 5th Street near T Street in downtown Sacramento when a large walnut tree collapsed on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2024. No one was injured, according to neighbor Martha Cervantes.Chris Nichols/CapRadio
In newer housing developments, power lines are undergrounded instead of mounted on utility poles. But, Oberle said that moving lines underground in other locations can be challenging, as digging in people’s yards might be required.
According to Todd Smith, Sacramento County’s Planning Director, communities need to be more aware of the future implications of planting certain species of trees.
“[With climate change] We're seeing more severe weather. Part of what we need to do as a region is figure out how to adapt … and how to deal with our natural infrastructure,” he said. “I think the issue is one kind of an emergency management perspective.”
He added, when choosing large tree species, adequate planting space must be considered. Smith said this includes adequate space for both above-ground growth and below-ground root expansion.
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