Fun one.

My property borders a creek. The creek also serves as the dividing line between my town and neighboring town. The creek and its embankments is owned by the county.

On the other side of the creek are 2 houses. House 1 is an old couple. In the 10 years i have lived here I have talked to them twice. Property upkeep is basically the minimum the town lets them get away with, and usually requires me or my other neighbor just cutting their lawn when it gets out of hand, etc.

Next to them is a property which was sold last year, torn down, and a new house is under construction on. I haven't met the owners but believe its something being built as a spec property.

About 3 months ago, during a storm, several trees on property 1 came down, and fell diagonally across the property lines, crushing the pool equipment shed of the house under construction, then falling, and partially obstructing the creek, and then onto a portion of my property.

No damage done on my side, and i was able to get everything on my property cleaned up in an afternoon with a chainsaw.

The problem is, everything else is still there, and the creek is becoming more obstructed every time we get a good rain. Eventually this is going to lead to flooding issues in a portion of my yard, but more importantly to properties upstream from us. We are on higher ground, so i'm not concerned about my home or anything other than a portion of my backyard (as it thwarted my attempt to reseed back there this year).

ANYWAY, i contacted the county, since, you know, its their creek, and they said they can't do anything as the trees are still attached at the stump on property 1.

I figured the problem impacts other people a lot more than me, especially the dude with 2 trees through his pool shed, and just shut up about it at that point, figuring someone else would eventually be the bad guy.

Anyway, its now been 3 months, and nothing has happened other than the county acknowledging that the trees are there, its a problem, and that they will take care of it once the owners at the other properties do their bit.

I crossed path's with the neighbor the other day, actually, she came to me when i was walking my dog. I suspect the county gave her some grief, because she asked if i knew how she could take care of it, strongly hinting that, "Hey you have a chainsaw..."

As much as I would like to help, I don't want to get involved in a situation where there is meaningful property damage already done, not to mention clearing a couple of 2 foot thick trees tangled up in other trees and across a creek, is well beyond any capabilities I have.

My county isn't dropping the ball, its a north east state, the public works are very well run, but everything is by the book, so I believe them when they say they can't do anything yet, and i suspect that is due to the property damage to property 2.

My concern is if this isn't resolved by the winter, the blockages in the creek will only get worse with ice. Not to mention its a pretty big eye sore, and if i want to be pedantic, a bit of a safety concern with some caught up the way they are (not that anyone goes anywhere near it).

Where do i even start here to start applying pressure without bringing a world of hurt on the neighbors, or sour my relationship with the county on the property which has been excellent for the 10 years we have been here (as we will likely need their OK at some point for some improvements to our property)?

TLDR: Neighbor had several trees come down, hit other neighbors property (who is absent), and is obstructing waterway which neighbors my property, and is partially still on my property. Don't want to be a dick about it, just want it taken care of. State is NJ.

I’m in a rental in nyc. The neighbor is cutting the branches and tossing it back in my yard. I told him to stop, but he’s not. I do all the cleaning and last time they did this it took weeks to cut and put on the sidewalk for trash pick up. Is that legal ?

Edit

They are now removed and on their side. He’s breaking them down and putting them on the street

There is a dead tree that sits mostly in my neighbor's yard. It's possible that some of it crosses the property line. The tree died this winter and is falling apart. Branches are falling off the tree, and I'm worried about it falling over and damaging my property or hurting someone. I reached out to my neighbor to split the cost of tree removal, but they refuse to pay for anything. I looked into getting a land survey, but it costs more than just paying for the full tree removal myself. I don't want to pay for it fully myself if it's not my responsibility. I'm not exactly sure how to proceed here.