Borrego Springs is a small town in San Diego County, California. Recently, residents have been upset about a new ordinance that requires the trimming of palm trees. Here are some key points about the situation:

What is the ordinance about?

• The ordinance requires the removal of all dead and dying vegetation and debris within 100 feet of a structure.
• The focus on trimming palm trees has caused the most controversy.

Why are people upset?

• Palm trees provide shelter for many rare species of wildlife, such as bees, birds, bats, and roadrunners.
• During extreme heat, the skirts of dead palm fronds create a cool and damp shelter for many species trying to escape the heated ground temperature.
• Many residents of Borrego Springs moved there to enjoy the natural desert environment, and believe that the town is an extension of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

What are some potential compromises?

• The option of an appeal by a property owner relative to the palm trimming, to have review by a team of county biologists to confirm a tree’s value to local conservation.
• Shortening the 100-foot designation to 30-feet or less for skirted palms.
• Asking the Board of Supervisors to review the Ordinance as it related to Borrego Springs, and specifically palms, taking into account evidence from biologists, park rangers, and others regarding the benefit and conservative value of the trees’ skirts, as well as the apparent lack of sparks spreading to other vegetation.

What is the response from officials?

• CalFire Battalion Chief Alex Elward, who presented the ordinance at a public meeting, reiterated that the county is obliged to follow state laws and added supplemental measures specific to the county in the county’s ordinance.
• Elward emphasized that he was only the messenger on behalf of the county and was not the decision maker.
• Elward suggested that people should not get their hopes up for a change to the ordinance without it coming from the top level of decision makers – the Board of Supervisors.

Learn more about One Tree Too Many: Borrego Objects Ordinance