California is still in the midst of a years-long drought, prompting communities to cut back on water use which is starting to affect trees in urban areas as well.

A 75-foot-tall 75-year-old pine tree recently fell on a group of kids at a museum in Southern California, leaving two confined at the hospital with serious injuries. While the cause of the fall has not been ruled to be drought-related, it has highlighted the fact that trees in the state are very much affected by the lack of water supply.

Los Angeles alone has some 327,000 trees spread out across 25 square miles of parks. Already, 12 million trees have succumbed to the drought within the last year, said the U.S. Forest Service, and more will follow as cities cut back their water use by 25 percent more.

"You don't want to be cutting back the water to the trees. The trees can't adjust," said Ruben Green, an arborist from Evergreen Arborist Consultants.

Green and other arborists in the state have noticed a growing number of sick trees. They explained that as trees receive less water, they become more prone to diseases caused by pests. Bark beetles have always pestered trees but Green has said that he's seen a different pest drilling tunnels in dozens and dozens of trees.

Arborists are also worried about the future. If an El Nino was strong enough, it would bring a wet winter to California. Storms should be welcome given the drought the state is experiencing but the problem is that distressed trees will only collapse once heavy rains hit. Not to mention that if a tree goes too long without water, it will eventually lose its ability to absorb liquid at all.

Los Angeles has a team in charge or removing possibly hazardous trees in parks and they have so far gotten rid of 550 trees. In an average year, the crew will take care of the removal of just about 300 trees.

Laura Baurenfeind with the city parks department said that the trees are starting to fail because of the drought so a number are being removed to protect public safety.

Watering times for turf areas within city parks have been reduced to three from at least five before to meet drought regulations. Nonprofits are also pitching in by installing makeshift basins that bring water to trees.

Photo: John S. Quarterman | Flickr

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