Pilot program removes more than 800 eucalyptus trees in North County.

From summer 2024 through most of 2025, 816 full-grown eucalyptus trees and countless smaller trees were removed in North Monterey County.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors heard a report March 24 about the conclusion of the pilot program, which was funded by $1 million secured by Sen. John Laird and spearheaded by District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church.

Eucalyptus trees are prevalent in North County, having been brought here in the 1850s to provide timber. While that plan failed, the eucalyptus groves have continued to grow and expand their footprint.

Eucalyptus trees are notoriously fragile and combustible, and have been known to drop limbs onto passing vehicles. 

Marilyn Vierra, Church’s chief of staff, told the supervisors that a total of 91 applications were approved for 88 different properties.

Under the program, the homeowner paid half of the cost of the removal, with the county picking up the rest. Most agreed to quotes between $10,000 to $25,000, with each tree costing roughly $2,000 each, according to Vierra.

Trees eligible for removal had to be within 100 feet of a home or other structure, or near an access road or power line.

Prunedale made up the majority of applications at 39, with Aromas and Royal Oaks in second and third, respectively.

Two people spoke at the meeting against the program, saying the benefits of eucalyptus trees were not mentioned.

Church said the program was not just about mitigating fire risk, but also other public safety issues, citing an instance in 2022 when a eucalyptus tree fell onto a vehicle driving through Highway 101 in Aromas, killing two people.

“This was an extremely popular program,” he said.

Church noted he would like to see the program go countywide should it return. Its future is unknown, as the county will look for funding sources.