Ash tree removal by Green Mountain Power

Hello Windham Selectboard

Here is some info that can be shared with the folks in Windham.

The Public Utility Commission has authorized Green Mountain Power to proactively remove both infested and not-yet infested ash trees in the areas that the State Agency of Natural Resources has identified as “Confirmed Infested” with Emerald Ash Borer. As shown in red in the diagram below, the town of Windham is included in a confirmed infested zone established in 2018.

Trees that are included in the program are within the power line right-of-ways and outside of the right-of-way if it has the capacity to strike the line. This only includes trees on the powerline side of the road, not on the opposite of the road. In segments that cross the road, this includes trees on both sides of the road that are considered as a threat to the lines.

The trees are identified, marked, and recorded into a data collection application. Each landowner is contacted and asked for permission to cut the trees. Once permission is granted the crews are cleared to cut the trees.

Our crews cut the trees from the top down from either a bucket truck or by climbing. In some off-road cases, the trees can be felled from the stump using directional felling techniques.

For on-road locations, the branches are chipped and the chips are hauled away. For off-road locations, the branches are cut so they are making ground contact and left on site. In all cases, the wood belongs to the landowner and is left at the stump, generally with a butt log that is 8′ to 15′ long and smaller pieces from the upper stem wood. We have been successful in working with town road crews, firewood donation programs, and neighbors to find a home for any wood that a landowner does not want. The crews all follow strict protocols to avoid any damage to soil and water resources, threatened or endangered species, structures, and surrounding vegetation.

The Vermont Urban & Community Forestry program has some great resources for towns.

The VT Agency of Natural Resources has general information about EAB.

The second and third images show the GMP pole locations within the town where at least one ash tree is located. Many of these locations have multiple ash trees. The colors represent the status of the trees.

Pink indicates identified but not yet received permission to cut.

Green indicates permissioned for cutting.

Red indicates that the landowner has refused cutting.

Black indicates all trees cut.

Yellow indicates cutting in process.

Blue indicates on-hold.

The attached file includes data for each of the on-road locations in Windham (off-road are not included) which includes the pole location (lat,lon), status, and number of trees by size class.

in total, I have identified 521 trees along the roads in Windham. This does not include trees along Rt 11, which I have yet to survey.

I expect that our crews will be working in town through July with the exception of the off-road trees and a few problem trees. Our current contract with GMP runs through October. We expect that GMP with pursue expansion with the PUC beyond October.

Please feel free to reach out any time with questions or concerns.

GMP-EAB-Removals-in-Windham-04_27_2021 Download

VT ANR CONFIRMED INFESTED AREA