I am writing to formally report a serious violation of county land use and tree preservation ordinances at Lake Arrowhead Village, where 17 mature and some protected trees — including century-old native conifers — were removed without the legally required permits.

According to public reports, the developers (JLL, Jay Kerner, and US Realty Partners Inc.) began demolition and grading activities prior to submitting a tree removal permit, which violates both the spirit and letter of San Bernardino County’s tree preservation laws.

These were not insignificant landscape trees — they were ecologically vital, old-growth trees that:

Area offered habitat for federally protected American Bald Eagle, and other nesting birds and native species
Defined the historic character of Lake Arrowhead’s shoreline
Took over 80–100 years to grow and cannot be quickly replaced
Provided erosion control and slope stability near the lake
Sequestered carbon

Moreover, the contractor (Youngren) and the development team are professionals who undoubtedly know that protected trees in San Bernardino County require pre-approval. Given the size, species, and prominence of these trees, it is highly unlikely such permits would have been granted — which may explain why they were removed without them.

This destruction also has a deep visual and cultural impact. Lake Arrowhead Village is a well-known forest and lake escape — a destination cherished by locals, second homeowners, and tourists alike. The sudden and irreversible change to this iconic lakeshore scenery undermines the very identity and economy of the area.

Formal Requests:
I respectfully request:

• A full investigation into the developer and contractor’s actions
• A requirement for immediate replanting of 20’+ mature native trees — not saplings — to begin repairing what has been lost
• A pause or stop-work order on any further development until environmental compliance is restored and replacement trees are installed into the new project.  
  
  

Specifically, I urge the County to require the sourcing and planting of boxed native pines — such as Jeffrey Pines or Ponderosa Pines, which are native to Lake Arrowhead’s ecosystem and capable of being transplanted at heights of 20–24 feet. These species are appropriate in scale, visual impact, and ecological compatibility. Replanting must include:

A minimum replacement size of 20+ feet in height
A species mix prioritizing Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, and supporting canopy trees such as Incense Cedar or White FirA bonded, multi-year irrigation and maintenance plan to ensure survival
2-for-1 ratio Tree-for-tree replacement for each illegal removal, since 20’-24’ trees are significantly smaller trees than those demolished. 
These trees are available from specialty California growers, and the logistics (including crane access, boxed root systems, and staking) are well within the scope of a developer-led remediation. This type of immediate action, implemented alongside maximum penalties, is essential to show that Lake Arrowhead’s native forest will not be treated as collateral damage for fast-paced development.

Wildlife & Watershed Harm:
In addition to the climate impact, the removal of these mature trees has likely caused serious harm to local wildlife and watershed health. Old-growth trees such as Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines provide critical nesting and roosting habitat for native birds, including woodpeckers, owls, and migratory songbirds.

Most notably, Lake Arrowhead is home to nesting pairs of the American Bald Eagle — a federally protected species that relies on tall, mature conifers near water for nesting and hunting. Removing these trees near the lakefront may have disrupted nesting activity, displaced protected species, and altered the landscape that wildlife rely on for cover and survival.

From a water quality standpoint, tree removal along the lakefront peninsula likely disrupted natural stormwater filtration. Without root systems to stabilize soil and slow runoff, there’s now a much greater risk of sediment, debris, and pollutants entering Lake Arrowhead during rain events. This can lead to algal blooms, aquatic habitat loss, and long-term degradation of lake clarity — all of which directly impact recreational use and ecosystem health.

These impacts are not abstract. They are measurable harms to a protected mountain watershed and a biologically rich region that should have triggered environmental review before any cutting occurred. That review never happened.

 
Ecological & Climate Impact:
In addition to the ecological and scenic loss, the carbon impact of this destruction is substantial. Mature native pines of this size and age store an estimated 2–3 tons of carbon each, meaning the loss of 17 trees represents the sudden release of approximately 43 to 55 tons of stored CO₂ — the equivalent of burning over 5,000 gallons of gasoline or the annual carbon footprint.

These trees also actively removed carbon from the atmosphere each year; their absence represents the loss of an estimated 1,200 to 1,700 pounds of CO₂ sequestration annually. Replanting small saplings does not solve this — it will take decades for young trees to recapture even a fraction of the climate benefit these old-growth trees provided. This makes immediate replacement with large, boxed, native trees not only symbolic but scientifically necessary.

Closing:
As stewards of this region’s environmental legacy, your role as a County agency is critical in ensuring accountability and meaningful remedy. The developers’ actions not only violated the law, but also disrespected a community that values its natural surroundings deeply. This petition is not anti-developement, the new project should have been designed around these old growth trees. 

These old-growth trees cannot speak for themselves or defend against negligent development — that responsibility falls to you. It is now up to the County to right this wrong and demonstrate that environmental protections are more than words on paper.

By enforcing the penalties and requiring replanting of mature native trees, you will help set a precedent that this kind of disregard for environmental safeguards will not be tolerated in San Bernardino County. This is a defining opportunity to show that Lake Arrowhead’s forested charm is not for reckless destruction — it is to be protected, restored, and honored for generations to come.