A tree that looks healthy can still fail. Decay, structural defects, and root problems are often invisible until it's too late. As a TRAQ qualified consulting arborist serving Sacramento, El Dorado County, California, and Placer County, I provide professional tree risk assessments using the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification framework. Whether you're a homeowner with a large tree near your home, a property manager with trees along pathways, or an insurance company requiring documentation, my assessments give you the information you need to make confident decisions. Independent consulting arborist, no removal crews, no conflicts of interest.
A tree risk assessment evaluates three things:
- The likelihood that a tree or part of a tree will fail
- The likelihood that failure would strike a target (person, structure, vehicle)
- The consequences of that failure
The result is a risk rating, Low, Moderate, High, or Extreme, along with written findings and recommended actions.
Who Needs a Tree Risk Assessment?
Tree risk assessments are appropriate for:
- Homeowners with large or aging trees near structures
- Property managers and HOAs with trees along pathways or amenities
- Insurance companies requiring documentation before issuing or renewing a policy
- Attorneys and adjusters involved in tree related property damage claims
- Government agencies managing public trees, parks, and rights of way
- Anyone who has been told a tree "needs to come down" and wants an independent professional opinion
What the Assessment Includes
Every tree risk assessment I perform includes a Level 2 detailed visual assessment, which is the standard of care for most residential and commercial trees. This involves:
- Ground level inspection of roots, trunk, scaffold limbs, and canopy
- Identification of structural defects including cracks, cavities, codominant stems, included bark, and decay
- Target assessment: who or what is in the zone of failure
- Site conditions: slope, soil, drainage, utilities, and exposure
- Species specific risk factors including known failure patterns
You receive a written report with photographs, risk ratings, and specific recommendations, whether that's pruning, cabling, monitoring, or removal.
Why Hire a TRAQ Certified Arborist?
TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) is the ISA's credentialing program for arborists who conduct formal tree risk assessments. Not every arborist is TRAQ qualified.
Hiring a TRAQ qualified arborist means you get:
- A standardized, defensible methodology
- Documentation that holds up with insurers, attorneys, and local agencies
- An objective third party opinion, not someone trying to sell you a removal
- An arborist who understands tree biology, not just chainsaw operation
Service Area
I provide tree risk assessments throughout El Dorado County including Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Georgetown, Pollock Pines, and surrounding foothill and mountain communities. I also serve portions of Amador, Sacramento, and Placer counties.
Schedule a Tree Risk Assessment
Ready to get a professional opinion on a tree you're concerned about? Call or text (530) 391-6100 or use the contact form below to schedule your assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tree risk assessment cost?
A tree risk assessment in El Dorado County typically starts around $299 for a single tree and increases with the number of trees and site complexity. You receive a written report with photographs, a risk rating, and recommendations you can use with insurers, attorneys, or your HOA. Call (530) 391-6100 for a fee estimate before scheduling.
What are the levels of tree risk assessment?
The ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification recognizes three levels: Level 1 limited visual, Level 2 basic, and Level 3 advanced. A Level 2 basic assessment is a full 360 degree ground inspection of the roots, trunk, and canopy, and it is the standard of care for most residential and commercial trees.
Will you tell me to remove the tree?
Not unless the evidence supports it. As an independent consulting arborist with no removal crews, I have no financial stake in the outcome. My report states the risk rating and the options, which may be pruning, cabling, monitoring, or removal, so you can decide based on the tree's actual condition rather than a sales pitch.
