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Tree Removal in Coloma

Coloma and the whole valley around it are fair game. Call (530) 316-5144, and we'll scout out a pro who doesn't mind the drive down to the river.

The town where the Gold Rush started

Coloma's claim to fame is a shiny flake. James W. Marshall found it at Sutter's Mill, January 24, 1848, and the Gold Rush took off from there. Much of the old town now belongs to a state park named for him. You reach it on Highway 49, between Placerville and Auburn.

For a few early years the county was run from Coloma. Placerville took that job in 1857 and never gave it back.

Long before miners, the Nisenan people called this valley Cullumah. It means "beautiful," and it fits. Only 521 people were counted here in 2020.

Low and warm, on the river

Coloma sits at about 764 feet, way below Placerville. The town fills a valley along the river's South Fork. The river brings rafters every summer. It also brings a few tree issues you don't see up on the ridges.

Big trees along the bank with roots undercut by high water.
Trees leaning out over the river or a side creek.
Brush and blackberries thick along the water.
Stumps and dead wood hidden in thickets near the bank.

Working near the water

Slow down on this part. Trees by the river, or by a creek that only runs in winter, may need extra permission. That's straight from the county's Fire Safe Council, and they send people to the state's Fish and Wildlife folks.

The City of Placerville's fire guide gives good advice for creek areas anywhere. Avoid heavy equipment near the water. Don't scrape the ground down to bare soil. Keep the soil disturbance small, especially on steep banks.

So before a streamside tree comes down:

Find out if your spot counts as a stream or riparian area.
Call Fish and Wildlife if you're not sure.
Tell the pro about the creek when we set up the visit.
Plan how the wood gets out without dragging it across the bank.

Photo spot: a riverside lot in Coloma with oaks and a few pines along the bank, simple drawing

Fire clearing in a valley town

Being out in the county, Coloma answers to Chapter 8.09. Count on clearing a 100-foot zone, minimum, out from every structure.

Dry grass on the slope below a house deserves extra attention. Keep it cut, and keep brush thinned out under the trees.

The free chipper program reaches Coloma like the rest of the Western Slope, when funds allow. Limbs up to 7 inches thick are fine. Stack them along the road.

Costs for Coloma tree work

Our numbers come from national price guides. LawnStarter's average job is $630. For a tree between 60 and 100 feet tall, Fixr lists $900 to $1,200.

River lots can cost more. Tight access, soft ground and care around the water all slow a crew down. Ask the pro to spell that out on the quote.

What to have ready

Note if any tree is near the river or a creek.
Mark which trees could hit the house, a deck or the road.
Point out where a truck can and can't go.
Know your property line along the water.
Decide if the chips stay or go.

Coloma questions

Do I need permission to cut a tree by the river?

Maybe. The Fire Safe Council says work near a river or seasonal stream may need permission. Check with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife first.

Is Coloma under county rules?

Yes. It's a census-designated place in the county, not a city.

Can a pro get a truck down to a river lot?

Often, but not always. Tell us about the access, and the pro can plan for smaller gear.

Nearby

A mile west is tree removal in Lotus. Down the hill toward town: tree removal in Gold Hill. Up past Chili Bar you'll find tree removal in Garden Valley. Home page: tree removal in Placerville. Full roster: all our towns.