[Vision2020] Fw: Avista & Trees

Fri Jun 29 17:25:34 PDT 2007

Dear Visionaries All,

I think Roger Blanchard's response to me was instructive! We're lucky to
have him on city staff.

My reommendation is call Avista and ask exactly when your property might be
getting the visit from the trimmers and BE THERE for the occasion. I know
this is tough but it's important. The tree people try to do the best they
can but I think it is important to be there to let them know your concerns.
I am especially concerned about reports like Roger Hayes' comment on 8th
Street. Those are horror stories and do not meet the goals of either the
City & homeowner or the power company!

On the larger question of protecting trees, I take issue with Dan
Carscallen's comments:
"While I'd just as soon leave the trees, I'd not like to see Moscow end
up in an emergency situation during a severe weather event that might
cause trees to fall on power lines creating outages.

Those trees are real nice 'til they cut you out of power for a few days.
Then they are the debbil."

The tradeoff is not as he suggests. Proper trimming can preserve tree and
reduce the likelyhood of power outages. The problem comes when tree pruning
goes crazy and results in misshapen, out-of-balance trees that are far more
susceptible to disease and wind damage, just as Bev Bafus noted. What Roger
Blanchard is trying to do for the City and what you can do for your own
property is work with the Avista tree pruners to assure that the minimum of
disturbance is visited on your street trees.

We need to encourage Avista and their evolving, progressive approach to tree
preservation AND to efficient service. We can work together to avoid the
horrow stories and to achieve both goals: beautiful tree canopies on Moscow
streets and safe power distribution.

All the best,

Linda Pall
Moscow City Council

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger Blanchard" <rblanchard at ci.moscow.id.us>
To: "Linda Pall" <lpall at moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 8:17 AM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Avista & Trees

> Linda,
>
> Avista contracts with Asplundh Tree Experts to do line clearing in their
> franchise areas.  They have been using the cards rather than
> door-to-door contacts for the past several years to reduce costs.
>
> We work closely with Asplundh to ensure that all of their crews are
> certified by the City and that their City license is current.  This is
> the first time in six years that they have been here to clear their
> distribution lines.  Last year they were in town to clear their
> transmission lines.
>
> The method that utility arborists use now is an industry-accepted
> technique called "directional pruning".  They no longer "top" trees,
> leaving stubs that are subject to decay, except in the case of
> evergreens with a central leader, which are cut back to a whorl of
> branches at an appropriate height.  Their cuts are not always
> technically perfect and the resulting tree forms are certainly not
> aesthetically pleasing, but given the volume of work that they must do
> and the line clearance standards that they must follow, they do a good
> job.  I have already had half a dozen calls to look at some of their
> work and have found little wrong.  The new methods they are using are
> better for the trees and also give them the five or six years of
> clearance needed until the next pruning cycle.
>
> There is not much that can be done with large-growing trees planted
> under the wires besides regular pruning and using growth regulators as
> conditions warrant.  Our planting permit system gives us the opportunity
> to review planting sites and species prior to new trees being planted
> under wires to ensure minimal future tree/energized wire conflicts.
> Educating the public about proper planting and tree care techniques is
> an ongoing challenge in our efforts to promote the health and beauty of
> our urban forest.
>
> I hope this information helps.  Please let me know if you have any other
> concerns or questions.
>
> Roger
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Linda Pall [mailto:lpall at moscow.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 4:35 PM
> To: Roger Blanchard
> Subject: Fw: [Vision2020] Avista & Trees
>
> Do we have any "ins" with Avista on this? Can we do some work with these
> people to make sure we don't end up like some towns have? i.e., really
> awful
> tree whacking?
>
> Also, on another topic, thanks for your great work today. I think we
> will
> have a good solid presentation that is defensible and responsive!
>
> All the best,
> Linda
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at roadrunner.com>
> To: "'Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 3:02 PM
> Subject: [Vision2020] Avista & Trees
>
>
> > Visionaries:
> >
> > We received a postcard from Avista in today's mail -- I don't know if
> this
> > is what they've always done (I don't recall getting a postcard like
> this
> > before) or if this is a change.  In any case, I thought I'd put the
> text
> > here for discussion, comments, suggestions, etc.
> >
> >
> > "Avista Utilities Line Clearance
> > Tree Trimming Notice
> >
> > Line clearance tree maintenance is scheduled for your area during the
> next
> > few months.
> >
> > TREE TRIMMING - In yards, ornamental trees will be trimmed 10 feet
> from
> the
> > wires.  Branches and tree tops will be chipped.  Wood over 4 inches in
> > diameter will be left.
> >
> > Herbicide application will be made to small "volunteer" trees that are
> > growing wild along roadsides, alleys, behind garages and unmaintained
> areas.
> >
> > TREE REMOVALS - Along roadsides, county and state right-of-way, and
> > unmaintained areas, all tall growing trees that are within 10-15 feet
> either
> > side of the wire will be cut down.  Stumps of deciduous trees will be
> > treated to prevent resprouting.  Branches and treetops will be
> chipped.
> > Wood over 4 inches in diameter will be left.  In areas inaccessible to
> our
> > equipment, the branches and tops will be lopped and scattered along
> the
> > right-of-way corridor in pieces smaller than 3 feet long.
> >
> > In rural areas, any leaning or visibly dead, diseased or dying trees
> that
> > could pose a threat to the wires will be felled and left on site.
> Sorry,
> no
> > clean-up will take place for dead trees.
> >
> > Please contact the Forestry Department message line as 1-800-727-9170,
> > extension 8514 if you have any questions, would like to discuss the
> work,
> or
> > would like a load of wood chips."
> >
> >
> >
> > Saundra Lund
> > Moscow, ID
> >
> > The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to
> do
> > nothing.
> > - Edmund Burke
> >
> >
> >
> > =======================================================
> >  List services made available by First Step Internet,
> >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >                http://www.fsr.net
> >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
> >
> >
> > __________ NOD32 2094 (20070304) Information __________
> >
> > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> > http://www.eset.com
> >
> >
>
>
>
> __________ NOD32 2094 (20070304) Information __________
>
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.eset.com
>
>