Vandalized pine trees at South Lake Tahoe's Regan Beach removed, new trees being planted

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Nine Jeffrey Pine trees were vandalized two years ago at Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe, and despite efforts to save the trees they had to be cut down this week.

The 20-year-old trees were attacked by an unknown person(s) in November of 2019, each ending up with a wide swaths of chopping marks on their trunks and holes bored into the bases with poison added.

Arborist James Steed, who is with the South Lake Tahoe Parks Department, said the trees were removed and staff has planted Aspens in their place, for now. He said they should grow quickly and help create a beautiful, living screen. The City will continue to plant appropriately until they have achieved an aesthetic that is consistent with what was lost, Sneed said.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department investigated the incident but there was no evidence or information as to who was responsible.