A professional forester surveys a fuels reduction treatment area near French Meadows Reservoir as part of the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project. Photo courtesy of PCWA

AUBURN, CA (MPG) — Trees may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about reliable water service, but managing hazardous trees and vegetation is an important part of protecting the water system.

Today, the Placer County Water Agency Board of Directors approved a five-year professional services agreement with Mason, Bruce & Girard Inc. for on-call forestry and environmental services. The firm’s professional foresters will identify hazardous trees and vegetation around PCWA canals, water treatment plants, powerhouses, roads and other facilities, while supporting forest health and fuels reduction work.

For PCWA, that work is both proactive and practical. Trees and vegetation grow alongside many of the Agency’s approximately 170 miles of canals and other facilities. During storms, high winds, saturated soils, or the weight of heavy snow can cause trees and limbs to fall, potentially damaging infrastructure, blocking the flow of water in the canals or creating hazardous conditions for crews working to keep water moving.

“We’ve seen firsthand during past storms what can happen when trees come down around our canals and other facilities,” said PCWA Board Chairman Joshua Alpine. “Identifying hazards before they become emergencies helps us protect our infrastructure, keep our crews safe, be good neighbors and reduce the risk of interruptions to water service.”

A downed tree and debris obstruct a PCWA canal following storms in 2023. Hazard trees can damage canals, obstruct the flow of water and create unsafe conditions for crews responding to keep the water system operating. Photo courtesy of PCWA

PCWA’s extensive 170-mile canal system carries untreated water to thousands of customers and supplies water that ultimately reaches treatment plants for delivery as drinking water to communities across Placer County. A fallen tree can therefore be more than a maintenance issue—it can threaten the infrastructure relied upon to move water through the system.

The agreement also supports PCWA’s broader work to care for the forests and watersheds that are the source of much of Placer County’s water. Mason, Bruce & Girard has worked with PCWA for more than a decade, including on the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project. Its work has included forest health and fuels reduction, hazard tree identification, vegetation management, restoration following the Mosquito Fire, and environmental analysis and planning for the Long Canyon Watershed Protection Project.