Crane tree removal in Crystal Bay, NV

Crystal Bay is tiny, about 215 housing units, and old by Tahoe standards. Census estimates suggest close to half of its homes were built before 1960, though with a community this small the figures are approximate.

At a glance

• About 215 housing units; roughly half built before 1960
• TRPA lakeshore rule: 6 inches between the house and the lake
• About 53 minutes from our yard without traffic
• Nevada side of the state line only

Why is the set-up spot the whole question?

A crane must sit level on firm ground with its outriggers out, and it must be close enough for the boom to reach the tree with a safe load. On a hillside community above the water, flat and firm are in short supply. A driveway may be steep, short or built on a deck. The road may be narrow.

So the first part of our process, choosing the set-up location by looking at elevation, overhead obstacles and how near the structures are, carries more weight here than almost anywhere else we work. Sometimes the answer is a spot on the uphill side. Sometimes it is no crane at all, and a climber takes the tree apart by hand.

What does the crane gain you if it can set up?

A great deal. Homes from before 1960 were set among trees that are now very large. Where one stands a few feet from a wall or directly above a roof, rigging it down means working over the house for hours. With the crane holding each section before it is cut, the piece goes up and away. Below a steep lot that matters twice, because anything that gets loose keeps going downhill.

Which permits apply in Crystal Bay?

The whole community is inside the Lake Tahoe Basin, so TRPA rules apply. A live tree over 14 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet needs a permit. On a lakeshore lot the limit drops to 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake, which catches most trees of any size on the water side. A dead tree that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District covers Crystal Bay for defensible space evaluations and tree permits. The agencies decide. Have the approval before you ask us for a date.

How exposed is Crystal Bay to wildfire?

The USDA Forest Service rates its risk to homes higher than 92.9% of US communities, with about 27% of buildings in the direct exposure class. That is lower than Incline Village next door, but still high, and dead trees near a house are the first thing to remove.

Where does the service area stop?

At the state line. Crystal Bay is the last Nevada community on the north shore, and we work on the Nevada side only. If your lot is in Nevada, we can help. Start with the Crystal Bay page for the local picture or call 775.232.8243.