I'm Christopher Hodge, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and TRAQ qualified tree risk assessor based in Placerville. I grew up in El Dorado County, hiking its oak woodlands and mixed conifer forests, and I've built my practice around the trees that define this place. Sierra Tree and Fungi is an independent consulting practice: no removal crews, no equipment to keep busy, and no financial reason to recommend work your trees don't need. My only product is an honest, written assessment you can act on.
Communities I Serve in El Dorado County
I provide consulting arborist services across the county and the Highway 50 corridor, including:
- Placerville
- El Dorado Hills
- Cameron Park
- Shingle Springs
- Diamond Springs
- Pollock Pines
- Georgetown
- South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding foothill communities
Arborist Services in El Dorado County
- Permit ready arborist reports for grading and building applications
- Oak Resource Management Plans for projects affecting native oaks
- TRAQ tree risk assessments for homeowners, HOAs, and insurers
- Fungal and wood decay identification, including field and microscope work
- Tree preservation plans for construction and major remodels
Built Around El Dorado County's Oak Woodlands
El Dorado County's foothills are shaped by Blue Oak, Valley Oak, Interior and Canyon Live Oak, and Black Oak, and the county protects them through its Oak Resources Conservation Ordinance. If your project sits at or below 4,000 feet and could affect native oaks five inches in diameter or larger, you will likely need an Oak Resource Management Plan signed by a certified arborist before the county will issue a permit. I prepare these reports to the county's standards and know what reviewers look for, so your permit is not delayed by a report that misses the mark.
Living in the foothills also means living with fire. I assess trees with defensible space and post fire recovery in mind, helping you understand which trees are sound, which are hazards, and which can be kept with the right care.
Why an Independent Arborist
Most tree companies make money when trees come down. I don't. Because I have no removal crews, every recommendation I make is based solely on what is right for your trees and your property. When you need a defensible, documented assessment for a permit, an insurance claim, a sale, or simply your own peace of mind, an independent opinion is the place to start.
Schedule an Assessment
Call or text (530) 391-6100 or use the contact page to schedule. Every assessment includes a written report you can use for permits, insurance, legal proceedings, or contractor negotiations.
El Dorado County Arborist FAQ
Do I need an arborist report to remove an oak in El Dorado County?
Often, yes. El Dorado County's Oak Resources Conservation Ordinance regulates native oaks five inches in diameter or larger, generally on parcels at or below 4,000 feet elevation. Projects that remove or encroach on protected oaks usually need an Oak Resource Management Plan prepared by a certified arborist before the county will issue a grading or building permit.
What is an Oak Resource Management Plan?
An Oak Resource Management Plan, or ORMP, is a written report that inventories the native oaks on a project site, measures the impacts to them, and sets out how those impacts will be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. El Dorado County requires it for qualifying projects so reviewers can confirm oak impacts are accounted for before a permit is approved.
Which oaks are native to El Dorado County?
El Dorado County's foothills are dominated by blue oak, valley oak, interior live oak, canyon live oak, and California black oak. Blue oak and valley oak in particular are slow growing and hard to replace once lost, which is why the county's oak ordinance protects native oaks at five inches in diameter and larger.