Trinity County Resource Conservation District will provide free chipping for material removed during tree pruning and fuels reduction clearing around homes and along road frontage. This program offers an alternative to burning or hauling these trimmings. Remaining chips, which are not hauled away, make great mulch and ground cover to prevent erosion.

To assist us in providing this service, the following conditions must be met.
  • Please have at least 3 hours worth of chipping before requesting this service. Neighborhoods can qualify for the three-hour minimum if enough material is stacked at each home. Neighbors may want to work together to achieve this minimum.
     
  • Branches must be stacked with all cut ends facing in the same direction. Piles not stacked in this manner cannot be chipped.
     
  • Stacks may be no more than 4 feet high. Try to make them 4 feet wide and about 8 feet long. Ideally, stacks should be approximately 4x4x8.
     
Well Stacked Not Good Enough
Good Stacking Unacceptable

 

  • Stacks must be free of nails, wire, rocks, mud, poison oak, scotch broom, and berry vines.
     
  • Stacks must be placed in an accessible area and situated so chipping equipment can be placed next to the cut ends of the branches. This facilitates easy work for our crews and means more people can be served by the program.
     
  • Unpaved driveways over 16% are inaccessible to the truck and chipper.
     
  • Applicants must submit the following Chipper Request Forms to the TCRCD Project Manager.
     
NOTE:
It’s easy to determine when there is enough to schedule a chipping session. Use the following to estimate the amount of time needed to chip each properly stacked pile. For stacks of cedar, pine and fir, calculate 20 minutes per 4x4x8 pile. If a stack is primarily hardwoods like oak, manzanita or other shrubs, it will likely require 30 minutes per 4x4x8 pile. So typically, we require a minimum of six to nine stacks.
In order to establish defensible space around the structures on your property, use the following clearance rules as a guide.
  • Create a minimum 100-foot clearance of flammable brush around houses and structures.
     
  • Cut overhanging limbs away from the roof, and at least 10 feet from chimneys.
     
  • Trim limbs that are within 10 feet of ground or one-third of tree height.
     
  • For roadside and driveway, clear brush and trees from each side for a total width of about 20 to 24 feet. Trim overhanging branches up to a 14-foot minimum to provide clearance for emergency vehicles.

If you are unable to accomplish the work necessary to prepare for chipping, the TCRCD may be able to provide a crew of two to perform thinning, limbing, moving and stacking of materials for a fee-for-service.

Please Help Us Secure Future Funding for this Program by Indicating How Many Hours
You Spent Preparing for this Program on Your Chipping Request Form.
Thank You!!!

For Additional Information (530) 623-6004.

 

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