Yosemite investigates reports of faulty tree pruning by PG&E contractors

Officials from Yosemite National Park are looking into reports from Wawona residents that tree trimmers contracted by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. have damaged the area during their work.

Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman said private residents from the inholding, as well as park employees in the area, were concerned about the pruning operation during the past few weeks. Although there is no documented damage yet, several trees fell into the Washburn Ditch, a historical site on park land. The ditch is filled with water from the Merced River, so it’s hard to tell if there was any damage.

PG&E is contracted to remove thousands of trees killed by drought or insects, as well as prune trees near power lines throughout the park, Gediman said. The operations started last fall.

Gediman said the contract dictates that all work must be done under the oversight of the National Park Service, and Yosemite officials have been working with PG&E and its contractors to “make sure they’re doing what they’re contracted to do properly.”

PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles released this statement in an email: “We are talking to park officials to understand and address any concerns they may have about work performed by our contractor.”

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Yosemite investigates reports of faulty tree pruning by PG&E contractors."