When I served on the City of Napa Tree Advisory Commission (1994-1999) the City began the Registry of Significant Trees, a voluntary program whereby owners of trees on private property within the city limits can formally honor and protect special trees under Napa’s tree ordinance.

The second tree registered in the program was a grand old coast live oak with a trunk diameter of about 4 feet and a huge canopy spreading over Partrick Road near Borette Lane. It fell apart on July 3, leaving a huge gap where it stood and a gap in Napa’s short list of Registered Significant Trees.

The loss of the old tree began around mid-June when one limb failed, as I heard it from a reader. Then on July 3 the other main limbs “fell off, one-by-one.” Following up, I called the Napa Community Resources Department, since that department maintains the registry. Tree Division Supervisor Rob Hansen related sadness at the loss of the tree, to which he had been introduced long ago by his former supervisor, Bill Casassa.

All of this came to my attention not long after I noticed a big gap where another Registered Significant Tree used to be. That one (#26) was a huge California peppertree, growing in a back yard near the Napa City County Library on Division Street.

I learned from Napa’s Parks Superintendent, Dave Perazzo, that one of the main stems failed during a wind storm in January, revealing extensive internal decay, and leaving no good alternative but removal.

As they stand now the Napa Registry of Significant Trees includes only 26 trees:

• 10 valley oaks (Quercus lobata)

• 7 coast live oaks (Q. agrifolia)

• 2 giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

• 2 southern magnolias (M. grandiflora)

• 2 crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica)

• 1 coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), only 1

• 1 deodar cedar(Cedrus deodara)

• 1 olive tree (Olea europaea)

 The most recent nominee, a coast live oak was approved almost 3 years ago, September 21, 2005.

 Under the Napa Municipal Code (12.45.100 “Protected Native Trees), tree protection on private property is limited to a few native tree species of a minimum size, growing on commercially zoned property and 1-acre-plus residential property.  Otherwise, property owners are totally in control of tree management decisions on their own property.

In effect, the Napa Registry of Significant Trees enhances tree protection under City the ordinance by extending it to include special trees voluntarily nominated by property owners.  

When a nominee is approved the tree is recorded on the property deed. Its special status is thereby passed along to the next owner of the property. In addition, owners of Registered Significant Trees receive an engraved plaque, which is mounted near the base of the tree, announcing its status.

The program works like this:

Any property owner inside the City of Napa wanting to nominate a tree can call the City of Napa Community Resources Dept. (257-9529) or visit the office at 1100 West St. (in the house by the west side of the Cinedome theatre complex) to pick up a ‘Significant Tree Nomination Form’ and a brochure, which describes the program.

After the form is submitted, the Tree Division Supervisor or Parks Superintendent will check out the tree. If it looks promising, members of the Tree Advisory Commission (TAC) will schedule a visit to see the tree and then vote on it at their next meeting. If the TAC approves it, they pass it along to the City Council for consideration.

Trees are considered if they have at least one of the following characteristics:

 • Historic significance

 • Rare or unique horticultural specimen

 • High public visibility, extraordinary beauty

 • In an ecosystem especially valuable for natural habitat

 • A tree native to Napa Valley

 Consider this. Private property owners in the City of Napa have tens of thousands of trees. There must be a good number of potential nominees for the Registry. The already short list of Registered Significant Trees has just decreased by two. It has not had a new entry since 2005.

If you own a private residential property under one acre with a tree that is special to you in some way, that tree will be totally at the mercy of the next property owner. If you should sell the property or leave it to your heirs, there is a way to protect that special tree under local law. Call Community Resources, or stop in to pick up the brochure and nomination form.

Bill Pramuk is a registered consulting arborist. Visit his Web site www.billpramuk.com, e-mail questions to info@billpramuk.com, or call him at 226-2884