Dana Point city officials are moving forward with a plan to combat the South American Palm Weevil, an invasive beetle species that poses a fatal threat to palm trees throughout Southern California. On Tuesday, the City Council approved an expanded treatment phase for hundreds of the city’s Canary Island Date Palms, but directed staff to implement the plan during the upcoming budget review and to gather community feedback on the importance of these trees to residents.
The South American Palm Weevil larvae burrow into the heart of palm trees, killing them from the inside. This internal infestation often makes the problem untraceable until the tree begins to show signs of collapse. Once a tree is infested, it cannot be treated, making prevention the only viable option. Prevention involves injecting insecticides into the tree trunks and applying a spray to the tree tops, creating a toxic barrier on the palm’s heart.
According to a Dana Point city staff report, the beetles have been detected locally at the Nature Interpretive Center and Sunset Park. The invasive species has been spreading from San Diego County since 2011, with University of California researchers estimating that 20,000 trees have already been killed by the insects. The weevils primarily target Canary Island Date Palms, of which Dana Point has 331. If these palms are exhausted, the insects can then move on to other species like Fan Palms and Queen Palms, with more than 500 of each present in Dana Point.
In July, Dana Point City Council members voted to initiate a treatment program for 98 palms and instructed staff to develop a phased approach for the remaining trees. Since that meeting, the city has prioritized palms based on criteria such as their heritage status, size and age, proximity to known infested trees, and whether a falling tree would pose a public safety hazard. The city also plans to monitor trees that are not part of immediate treatment phases using traps, which will cost $6,780 annually.
Phase one of the treatment plan, approved at the July 21 meeting, targets 98 Capistrano Beach heritage palms, with an estimated annual cost of $68,745. Phase two, approved by the council on Tuesday, aims to treat up to half of the city’s Canary Date Palms, approximately 166 trees, at an estimated annual cost of $116,994. Further phases were also outlined: Phase three would treat about 75%, or 248 trees (including those from phase one), for an estimated $173,087 annually, while Phase four would encompass all 331 Canary Island Date Palms in the city, costing an estimated $227,314 yearly.
It was noted at the July meeting that these cost estimates were not based on specific quotes and could potentially rise. Council members have also discussed the financial implications of not treating the trees, considering the costs of removal and replacement. Removing a dead tree would cost about $2,500, and replacing a larger tree could cost $30,000. Removing all 331 Canary Island Date Palms in the city could cost approximately $827,500 as a one-time expense. At the July 21 meeting, Council Member Jamey Federico observed the long-term budget challenge involved in protecting these trees versus accepting their loss. On Tuesday, Councilmember Mike Frost stated the city should determine the priority level of the palm trees before committing fully, adding, “I would just like to pump the brakes for a little bit.”
Ultimately, on Tuesday, council members voted to consider implementing phase two when the city’s budget review takes place. In the interim, city staff were directed to gather community feedback to ascertain the importance of the palm trees to residents.