Amador County – Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort developers last month reported that there had been vandalism on their property in Sutter Creek, where someone had cut down about 45 blue oak trees, including 38 trees that were 8 inches in diameter or larger. Some of the trees were as large as 26 inches in diameter.

Gold Rush partner Bill Bunce reported the vandalism in March, during the first meeting of the Sutter Creek Gold Rush Implementation Committee. The Committee then received more information at its latest meeting, Monday.

The Committee and Bunce in March agreed to identify the trees that had been cut down. On Monday, an inventory of the trees, including a photograph of some of the 45 stumps, was given to Committee members, Mayor Tim Murphy and Councilwoman Sandy Anderson, and Planning Commissioners Robin Peters and Frank Cunha. The photos also showed a hand-held Global Positioning System showing the digital coordinates of each stump. A map also showed the location of the cut trees.

A “cut tree inventory” was conducted by Dan Amsden of Mintier Harnish, with the location of the vandalism described as “between the two residences, just past the second cattle gate,” and “within Sutter Creek city limits.” Amsden listed approximately 45 trees cut, with 38 of them larger than 8 inches in diameter. It also listed the tree diameter range of 8-26 inches.

Planning Commission Chairman Mike Kirkley asked if the case was dropped and if authorities had given up making an arrest. City Manager Sean Rabe said the case has not been dropped, and since the investigation was ongoing, the Sutter Creek Police Department could not comment.

Kirkley said that it is likely the offense would be approaching a felony, and would also increase the impact on tree loss, for which the developer had agreed to certain impacts.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.