Quarry Park 2026 Eucalyptus Tree Removal

The County of San Mateo (“County”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi ² and is home to approximately 750,000 residents. The County is made up of 20 incorporated cities. The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare, and natural resources of the community.

The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) serves nearly three million visitors every year. Visitors have many options when visiting the County’s unique park system. With 24 parks and recreation areas, over 16,000 acres of park land, and 190 miles of trail, the Department provides healthy outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and lasting memories.

Due to the diversity of the park system, visitors can enjoy an array of recreational opportunities, including walking; running; hiking; biking; picnicking; horseback riding; sailing; kite surfing; fishing; camping; gardening; tidepooling; volunteering; learning; sports courts; and playing on playgrounds.

The project goal is focused on removal of all standing trees (estimated 30) within this approximate 1-acre area to create a continuous 100-foot fuel break clear of trees along the western perimeter of Quarry Park, between the park and the El Granada neighborhood. This project completes the western perimeter fuel break first established in 2008 between the eucalyptus forest and the community of El Granada. The approximately 1-acre area was initially avoided due to concerns expressed by residents about slope stability; however, a 2025 geotechnical study verified that tree removal to create a firebreak will not have a substantial impact on overall slope stability. Addressing these fuels will produce a continuous fuel break of removed eucalyptus trees along the park–neighborhood interface.

This fuel break contributes to wildfire risk mitigation by slowing the spread and reducing the intensity of a wildfire, as well as reducing the likelihood of fire spreading into and igniting the canopy. The project will also facilitate fire suppression by improving access and defensible space for emergency crews, and by separating the community and structures from dense and hazardous vegetation. Complementary goals include invasive species management through the removal of invasive eucalyptus trees, which reduces competition and allows resources to be available for native plants and animals.

This location has been identified as a high-priority project for the San Mateo Parks Department in the updated Department’s Wildfire Fuel Management Program (September 2025), which assesses and prioritizes fuel reduction projects across 24 parks, recreational areas, and regional trails, comprising approximately 16,000 acres. Further, this project supports ongoing trail maintenance and access identified by District 4 ranger staff.