MONTAGUE — Eversource is removing roughly 500 “hazard trees” in town as part of a routine maintenance project, according to company spokesperson Priscilla Ress.
The company performs “selective tree removals on an electrical circuit in Montague to ensure the safety and reliability of the electrical system” in four- to five-year cycles, Ress wrote in an email. The trees slated for removal threaten “to interfere with power lines and equipment that could cause power outages or risks to public safety,” Ress continued. This round of maintenance, which focuses primarily on the southern end of Montague, began in December and is expected to conclude by spring 2023.
Similar work was last done in Montague four years ago, Ress recalled. Revisiting the area to perform further maintenance is necessitated by decline in tree health caused by “insects, disease and a wide range of environmental factors,” she explained. Furthermore, winter storm conditions can turn weakened trees into more volatile liabilities.
“As we’re seeing with the recent pre-holiday storm impacting customers in states across the Northeast, trees are the leading cause of up to 90% of outages in our region, and regular maintenance to clear branches, trees and other vegetation that are dead, dying or weakened and can cause outages or are public safety concerns is necessary for reliability,” she wrote.
The trees within the project’s scope are located on both private and public property, according to Ress. Ress, as well as Assistant Town Administrator Walter Ramsey and Tree Warden Mark Stevens, confirmed that Eversource obtained permission from private property owners to remove trees on their land. Stevens also approved tree removal on public property. The work is being completed by Northern Tree Service.
Property owners or abutters can either keep the wood or request for it to be hauled away, according to Ress.
“This is worked out between the contractor and the tree owners as part of the permission process,” Ress continued. “If it is hauled away, the contractors usually give it to people who ask for it within a reasonable distance, often putting it in a convenient pick-up location.”
Town Administrator Steve Ellis said Town Hall has heard some citizen concerns regarding the removal of trees. In response, Ress stressed that Eversource is confident in its transparency and is acting in the best interest of residents.
“Close coordination with our communities is an integral part of our vegetation management programs as we work year-round to provide safe, reliable service to our customers in a sustainable manner,” she wrote.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.