Horseshoe Bay may declare war on cedar trees
HORSESHOE BAY — City Council is considering a proposal to cut down as many cedar trees as possible because they rob water from other plants and pose a fire hazard.
The ongoing drought has only made the situation worse, the council heard Oct. 18.
Councilman Jeff Robinson recommended the city remove the cedar trees — also known as Ashe junipers or mountain cedars — on both public and private land to curb fire threats and limit how much water the trees use.
"I’m going to make a motion next month that we eradicate every cedar tree possible," Robinson said. "A mature cedar tree uses 33 gallons of water a day. A live oak uses 19 gallons of water a day. And there’s some people in the Spicewood area who described cedar trees as ‘gasoline on a stick.’"
In September, more than 6,500 acres in Spicewood burned due to a wildfire, with 67 homes heavily damaged or destroyed. Much of the area included swathes of Ashe juniper that went up like matchsticks.
Mayor Bob Lambert agreed the Ashe junipers — especially in less-developed portions of the city — present a fire hazard.
"What I will propose in November is recommend to (Horseshoe Bay property owners) that they allow us to remove the cedar trees on their property and dispose of them," Robinson said. "I think it’s something we need to look at seriously."
He has been researching Ashe junipers and their impact on other vegetation.
"In Horseshoe Bay West especially we have a lot of dead or dying oak trees with lots of cedar bushes surrounding them," the councilman said.
The thirsty, fast-growing Ashe junipers make it hard for live oak trees to compete for limited water resources, officials said.
Keeping vegetation healthy has become a concern for officials since Texas remains in the grip of the worst single-year drought since 1895.
Ron Mitchell, vice chairman of the board for the Horseshoe Bay Resort, said most of the Ashe junipers were removed when the community was developed in the 1970s.
"But they’ve grown back," he said.
Robinson said there are businesses and individuals who will pay for Ashe juniper wood. They use it for everything from fence posts to biomass-energy production.
Ashe junipers also are responsible for allergy attacks during winter and spring, health-care experts say.
However, conservationists argue that Ashe junipers provide year-round shade and prevent erosion.