GREENFIELD — As Green River water levels drop during a particularly dry, hot summer, Mayor Ginny Desorgher is asking residents to conserve water. Tree Committee Co-President Margo Jones, at the same time, is leading a volunteer initiative to ensure the city’s young trees get the water they need to survive.
“Many of these trees are at peak stress. They’re at a point where, if they don’t get some water, the young trees, they’ll die,” Jones said in an interview Friday. “There’s been a considerable investment on the part of the town and the state in these saplings that were planted, so it would be penny-wise, pound-foolish not to provide some water to them.”
Last week, Desorgher’s office released a statement asking all residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water usage. While the state has not issued a drought condition or recommendation, the Department of Public Works has stopped drawing water from the Green River due to low levels and is taking steps to manage the city’s water resources.
“We are asking the community to work with us to conserve this vital resource,” Desorgher said in a statement. “Every small action makes a big difference. By being mindful of our water usage now, we can help protect our water supply for the weeks and months to come.”
Desorgher asked that residents only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are completely full, postpone non-essential uses of water such as car washing, minimize toilet flushing and take shorter showers. Desorgher’s advisory also notes that, if residents do need to water their lawns or gardens, they should do so only during the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
With the city’s tree population at risk, Jones said she has been in contact with the DPW to try to ensure that the department’s water truck can be used to water saplings and trees.
“If you live near or pass by a young tree that looks thirsty, please water the tree,” Jones said in a statement. “Some of the trees have green zippered water bags, which will hold about 20 gallons of water [that] slowly drips out of the bottom to irrigate the tree. They need refilling at least once a week and we can’t get around to all of our recently planted saplings.”
Mary Chicoine, past president of the Greenfield Tree Committee, added that while the committee has been trying to provide water for all the young trees, there are limited volunteers and equipment. Trees in the first few years after being planted need regular, plentiful water to survive, whereas older trees have a more extensive root system that holds moisture for longer. Some of the areas in which large-scale tree plantings have occurred include Woodleigh Avenue, Conway Street, James Street, Pierce Street, Davis Street and the John Zon Community Center on Pleasant Street.
“We planted hundreds of trees in the last couple of years, and many of those trees’ leaves are curling, turning yellow and in some cases falling off,” Jones observed.
Similarly, in Northfield, 50 new shade and ornamental trees were planted along Northfield’s Main Street in honor of the town’s 350th anniversary last year. Northfield Tree Team member Judy Wagner said these trees are being watered weekly by junior firefighters.
Greenfield Water Facilities Superintendent Mark Holley said in a statement that the city has adequate water resources to respond to fires and other emergencies.
“Rest assured all our facilities are fully capable of supplying water for firefighting and related emergencies,” Holley said. “The town’s water quality is, as always, within the standards imposed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency.”
For more water conservation tips, visit mass.gov/info-details/drought-tips-tools-resources#tips-for-saving-water.
