TREE & ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICT MITIGATION
CENTRL HUDSON LINE CLEARANCE JUNE 2017
The TAB has worked since it's members were appointed in 2015 to improve working relations with Central Hudson utility foresters in order to help protect the health of our numerous village trees growing under primary electrical lines and to better plan for future street trees that can peacefully co-exist with electrical lines.
In order to increase public education and understanding of this work, the village notified residents in June 2017 that Central Hudson’s Line Clearance Crews would be in the village and surrounding area clearing vegetation and trees and tree branches from interfering with their electric lines and facilities. Most of these shrubs and trees are located along roadways but some can be located upon private property.
According to Central Hudson, their contractors perform this work in adherence with industry standards within the limitations of existing easements. Information about their clearance practices can be found on their website at: https://www.cenhud.com/trees/howwetrim. Information about the laws guiding these practices can be found on the NY Public Service Commission website : http://www3.dps.ny.gov/W/PSCWeb.nsf/All/F23366F8E2F89E8C852576A8004F62EB?OpenDocument. The chart on the right (source: www.cenhud.com/trees/howwetrim) provides a visual summary of their work around primary lines.
WHAT THE VILLAGE IS DOING TO HELP PROTECT OUR PUBLIC TREES
Village officials and representatives of the Tree Advisory Board (TAB) met with Central Hudson utility foresters on June 7, 2017 to share information and to discuss concerns related to existing village-owned trees in advance of this work.
The Village of Cold Spring is committed to helping meet both of the important, and sometimes competing, goals of helping Central Hudson ensure safe and reliable electricity for residents and protecting the health of our community forest. The long term management plan for our village trees includes maintaining a good working relationship and open line of communication with utility foresters. It also includes ensuring new trees planted under primary lines are of a growth habit that will minimize interference with utility infrastructure and obviate the need for heavy and unsightly pruning as the tree ages. Wherever possible, larger shade trees are planted across the street from primary service lines to eventually create a desirable large shade canopy without primary line interference. We are working to intelligently plan a future treescape that looks healthy and functions well for our citizens in relative harmony with other important infrastructure (electrical and water utilities, sidewalks, etc). It is a process that requires patience and creative thinking on the part of all of us!
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LINE CLEARANCE WORK
Information is our best ally! Please take the time to understand clearance standards at the links above. The village has several areas under primary lines where larger street trees have long been growing and many of these are subject to line clearance work within the right-of-way. You will likely see this work being performed periodically on these trees. If you have any concerns about this clearance work on village street trees, please contact the village clerk at (845) 265-3611. If you have concerns about line clearance work on trees located on your private property please contact Central Hudson at (845) 452-2700 and they will connect you with the appropriate field supervisor in our area. If Central Hudson does not satisfactorily resolve a disputed matter, you may contact the New York State Public Service Commission’s Office of Consumer Services at 1-800-342-3377. Unfortunately the village cannot advise on line clearance concerns related to privately-owned trees.
Please look through the rest of the Tree Advisory Board’s pages on this site to learn more about tree management plans in the village.