Gaieus & Didier;
Using your suggestions I have been able to overcome the issue of spraying in the valleys of GE snapshots. The process is as follows:

Get GE snapshot
toggle terrain
save-as "snapshotname"
unlock terrain
explode terrain
edit>copy terrain
file>new sketchup project
edit>paste-in-place
insert component
spray component
delete terrain
import saved snapshot
place model back to GE

thanks again for your help.
STAN

Gaieus; I think you are right. The GE snapshot seems to be limiting the z placement of trees even if I toggle terrain on. I'll break the GE snapshots up to smaller sections to see if I can get around the problem for now. If there is a way to adjust the axis of the snapshot to make this work better let me know.

Thanks
STAN

I have not added anything to the su file but the image/terrain from GE and the bilboard style tree that I'm trying to multiply. When you import the tree it will fall on the surface on the hilltops or in the valley, but when you try to spray the tree (even with the point style) the tree doesn't want to drop to the ground in the valleys. Is the Z placement limited to the zero elevation(I see negative and positive elevation limits in the spray dialog box)?

Thanks for trying to help.

STAN

I am trying to use the component spray tool to place trees on terrain from google earth. The trees intersect the ground fine on the hills but in the valley they are hovering above the surface. What am I doing wrong??

Thank you guys