U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expands Hazardous Tree Marking System, Clarifies Waiver Process

In response to community feedback and a comprehensive review of hazardous tree removal procedures, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has implemented updates to its tree marking system and clarified details regarding the newly available hazardous tree removal waiver.

To enhance transparency and improve processes, USACE has added two new color markings in addition to the existing blue dot, which signifies a tree that has been assessed and determined to be hazardous.

• Blue Dot – Trees marked with a blue dot at the base and a barcode have been determined to be hazardous and are scheduled for removal.
• Yellow Dot with Yellow Ribbon – Trees where a property owner has submitted a hazardous tree removal waiver will be marked with a yellow dot at the base and a yellow ribbon wrapped around the tree. The barcode will be removed, and this update will be cataloged in the contractor’s system to ensure the tree remains in place.
• Brown Dot – If a tree is reassessed and determined to be non-hazardous by a higher-level ISA-certified arborist, it will be marked with a brown dot over the existing blue dot. The barcode will be removed, and this update will be recorded in the contractor’s tracking system, confirming the tree will not be removed.

The Waiver of Hazardous Tree Removal form is linked here and also available at recovery.lacounty.gov. Owners are encouraged to express their intent to waive tree removal during the 72-hour and 24-hour notification calls.

In response to community concerns, USACE has amended its waiver submission process. Property owners may now submit the Waiver of Hazardous Tree Removal via email or to the contractor during the 360-degree walkthrough, which is the last step before debris removal operations begin. Completed forms must be emailed to Eatoncallcenter@ecc.net for Altadena properties or Palisadescallcenter@ecc.net for Palisades properties. USACE contractors are making every effort to accept supporting information in a variety of formats—including photos, emails, and other documentation—to meet property owners’ requests and properly record their decisions.

“We are committed to listening to the community and improving our processes,” said U.S. Army Col. Eric Swenson, commander of the USACE Los Angeles Wildfires Recovery Field Office. “Our goal is to provide a clear, fair, and transparent system that respects property owners’ choices while prioritizing safety. The new tree markings and flexibility in how information is received reflect our commitment to making this process as accessible and efficient as possible.”

To expedite the waiver process, property owners are encouraged to assess the trees on their property as early as possible. This will ensure they have the necessary information ready when contacted by the USACE contractor for their scheduled walkthrough.

Important Reminder: Do Not Self-Mark Trees Community members have been self-marking trees in an effort to preserve them. USACE urges members of the community not to paint trees. Some paints contain toxic substances that can harm trees and the surrounding environment. Property owners should follow the official waiver process to document their decision to retain a tree.

USACE is committed to transparency, continuous improvement, and supporting the recovery of wildfire-affected communities. By listening to community concerns and optimizing our processes, we are working to ensure that property owners have clear information and meaningful choices as they navigate the recovery process.

For more information and updates on the wildfire debris removal effort, please visit recovery.lacounty.gov.

For media queries, contact the Army Corps of Engineers’ Wildfires Recovery Field Office Public Affairs team at SoCalWildfires@usace.army.mil.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under a FEMA mission assignment, is leading debris removal operations to clear fire-related debris and support community recovery. Graphic courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers