PG&E Enhanced Vegetation Management

What is it?

In response to wildfire risk throughout the state of California, PG&E has commenced a program of Enhanced Vegetation Management (EVM) in high fire risk zones. The California Public Utilities Commission has designated the Mill Creek as one of Extreme Wildfire Risk (Tier 3); as such, and it is being prioritized for this work.

As part of their EVM work, PG&E plans to:

Exceed state standards for minimum clearances around power lines, including pruning overhanging limbs and branches above power lines
Conduct additional inspections, beyond routine patrols, to cut down dead, diseased, dying or defective trees that could harm power lines or equipment
Evaluate the condition of trees that may need to be addressed if they are tall enough to strike the lines or equipment

This work is being done largely through contractors and sub-subcontractors, though PG&E EVM is said to be coordinating their efforts.

Please note that, separately, after the Walbridge Fire, there is also ongoing PG&E work aimed at removing Priority 1 (P1) and P2 trees. This is part of their standard Vegetation Management work and is not related to EVM. Both sets of contractors may be working on a property at the same time.

What are my rights as a landowner?

As an affected landowner you have the right to:

Advanced notification about when inspection or work crews will access your property
Request to reschedule due to poor site conditions (e.g., rain) or the owner not being on property at the time of inspection or work
Right to veto any and all trees to be removed or limbed outside of the mandated 12ft radius around a power line
Clean up of treated area and consequent debris:
- - All debris under 4" chipped and spread on site (landowner has discretion on where chips are spread)
  - All debris over 4" left on site (lop and scatter) unless landowner files a Request for Wood Management form at the time of inspections
Avoidance of damage to sensitive habitat (e.g., riparian zone) or property (e.g., roads, culverts, ditches)

What is Mill Creek COPE doing?

We know that this work has individually impacted many Mill Creek residents. Additionally, PG&E's equipment and personnel have caused issues for Mill Creek roads and riparian habitats, which has impacts on the Mill Creek area more broadly.

As this work is expected to continue into at least 2023, MC COPE is working to consolidate issues raised by individual landowners to refer to PG&E and contribute to improving their practices and minimizing impacts. While we cannot help individual landowners pursue damage claims, we can help advocate for your rights and try to safeguard our common areas (e.g., creeks, roads, ditches).

If you have experienced issues with this program, please fill out this form to include your concerns in these discussions.

Who do I contact at PG&E?

For more information about this work, we are encouraged to email PG&E at wildfiresafety@pge.com or call 1-877-295-4949. A dedicated customer outreach specialist is expected to respond within one business day.

PG&E began conducting inspections for the start of Mill Creek Road in March 2022. The map on the right shows areas to be worked on. The blue lines are the areas PG&E previously inspected, while the green lines were scheduled for inspection in the second half of 2022.

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