Fight between man and Imperial Irrigation District over trees

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:””;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:107%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

These are Lee Johnson’s beloved mesquite, eucalyptus and acacia at trees at his Niland home. He said he planted them when they were just babies, and he’s ready to fight Imperial Irrigation District to stop them from cutting his trees down.

“They threatened to come back with the Sheriff’s department. And I’m ready for a fight,” Johnson said.

He told us on Thursday that an IID official had come to his home during the week and told him his trees were a fire hazard and they had to be cut.

“I feel this having the IID come and cut my trees is an infringement on my property rights. If they had an easement where they want to cut, then I would have to allow them to cut the trees. But where they want to cut they don’t have an easement and they blatantly forced their way in last time. And that upsets me,” Johnson said.

These trees mean a lot to him.

“The trees, I bought in one-gallon pots. And I planted them individually. And fifteen years later, this is the result. They are part of my life,” Johnson said.

They hold dear memories for him.

“I mostly remember my grandkids coming out here. And they live in the city and they say, let’s go to grandpa’s house, and they want to plant a tree, and they want to climb a tree,” Johnson said.

The IID told us cutting or trimming of some trees is important to prevent a power outage or a fire.

IID official Marion Champion said, “Trees or vegetation in or around our power lines are a very serious issue for IID. They can lead to fire or even electrocution. A few years ago, there was a large outage on the east coast, where a tree branch actually came in contact with a power line. Almost a million customers were without power.”

Johnson said he’ll be waiting to stop anyone from touching his trees.

“I’m going to try my best to stop them,” Johnson said.