Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON — A contractor who illegally cut down dozens of trees in Big Cottonwood Canyon last summer has agreed to replace all of the destroyed trees and then some.
On Friday, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced a settlement had been reached between Silver Hill Development, Twin Peaks P.C. and its principal Scott Carlson, and the owners/operators of AA Tree.
In July of 2015, Silver Hill LLC sought to cut down a group of about 17 trees on Forest Service property for road widening so a sewer line could be added to develop four plots of land. Instead, the contractor removed 88 trees, including some on private property and some that had been marked specifically so they would not be cut.
Many of the trees cut down were planted in 1905 by the Forest Service to prevent erosion and mudslides in the area.
RELATED: Contractor mistakenly removes 100-year-old trees in Big Cottonwood Canyon
The smell of spruce still hangs the air near the area in where more than 100 trees were mistakenly cut down, many of which were on private property.Under the settlement announced Friday, the parties agreed to replace the 88 trees that were cut down and plant an additional 42 "for a total of 130 trees (valued at $750/tree) to be planted in the affected area — and to post an approximately $100,000 bond to ensure satisfactory completion of the project. They will also pay $20,000 to the county in civil damages, penalties, and investigative costs," District Attorney Sim Gill announced in a prepared statement.
The settlement total comes to roughly $117,500, Gill said. As part of the deal, all parties "deny intentionally cutting the trees."
"This settlement sends an important message to those who seek to profit off the development of land in Salt Lake County,” Gill said. “Our environment is one of our most precious resources. Those who needlessly and recklessly cause damage to that vital resource in violation of law will be held fully accountable for their actions.”
“There is no 100 percent satisfactory replacement of a 100-year-old tree. We are pleased, however, that the responsible parties here stepped up to replace trees and restore land that is an essential part of our watershed," added Rolen Yoshinaga, director of the county's Division of Planning and Development Services.
