I was heartened to read an article in the Recorder on June 10 that discussed how the people in Amherst were questioning Eversource’s plan to cut down trees in a corridor from Northfield down to Amherst. I live on Old Vernon Road in Northfield, the place where the cutting began and have seen firsthand how devastating this has been. I applaud those who are questioning this action and wish that I had known to do the same before it began.
First of all I want to state that I have the highest regard for those who are doing the work. When they were on our road all the workers were courteous and helpful. When asked by some residents to set aside the wood that would be appropriate to burn as fuel, they did so, leaving it in accessible piles. My argument is with Eversource and the wisdom, or lack thereof, of their plan.
As I understand it the tree cutters were given instructions to remove tree and limbs within a specified distance from the power lines. The health of the trees was not taken into consideration. As a result some perfectly healthy trees were cut down, while standing dead trees just beyond the specified distance, some of which are leaning towards the power lines, were left alone. When these trees fall, there will be nothing to serve as a buffer between them and the power lines. Also as a result of Eversource’s directive, some trees were completely limbed, but the trunks left standing. These trunks will soon die and likely fall in the direction of the power lines that were supposedly made safer by the cutting.
Now as I walk and drive down our road I see the evidence of hundreds of trees that were removed. This has changed the whole nature of our road. Many trees that provided shade for the casual walkers, hikers, and bird watchers are now gone. Gone too are all the other benefits the trees provide. Eversource would have been wise to have devised a more thoughtful, less intrusive method to protect their power lines.
Elizabeth Lareau Whitcomb
Northfield