Garden Club of New Haven
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Club History
    • 2013 Tree Project
    • Phelps Triangle Park
    • Community Awards
    • Conservation >
      • GCA National Affairs and Legislation and Conservation
    • Holiday Arrangements for Area Nursing Homes
    • Horticulture
    • Leeway
    • New Haven's Green and Its Elms >
      • Walking Tour and DVD of The New Haven Green: Heart of a City
      • Slide Show - GCNH & New Haven's Elms
  • Trees and Power
    • The Benefits and Care of Street Trees >
      • The Benefits of Trees
      • Selection of Trees
      • Use or Disposal of Removed Trees
      • Tree Ordinances and Commissions
    • Utility tree pruning and removal >
      • How to Protect Street/Roadside Trees >
        • Protect Trees On or Abutting Your Property
        • Protect Street/Roadside Trees In Your Community >
          • Diagram for Local Action
          • Brochures and Flyers
      • Connecticut Law on Utility Vegetation Management and Protection of Trees >
        • Damages and Penalties for Unauthorized Tree Pruning and Removal
        • How to Appeal to PURA
      • Standards for Utility Vegetation Management
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Utility Pruning and Removal
      • Historical Records >
        • GCNH Comments, Briefs and Statements
        • Background and Detail: Utility Pruning and Removal >
          • The Benefits of Street (Roadside) Trees
          • Background and News Coverage March 5 and 6 PURA Meetings
          • Slide show on Trees and Power
          • PAST INFORMATION, NOTICES AND NEWS
          • Utility Vegetation Management Plans
          • PHOTOS
          • Support for GCNH Vegetation Management Positons
          • INFORMATION ON PURA DOCKET NO.12-01-10, TREE TRIMMING
          • Legislative Actions
          • List of Documents
          • News Coverage
          • Petitions, Meetings on Utility Tree Removal and Pruning
    • Undergrounding of Wires -- A long term solution
    • Administrative, Legislative and PURA Proceedings >
      • Administrative Proceedings
      • Legislative Proceedings
      • PURA Proceedings >
        • CURRENT PURA PROCEEDINGS
        • FINAL PURA DECISIONS >
          • PURA Enforcement of 16-234 AND 23-65(f) C.G.S. >
            • PURA 18-12-25
            • PURA 14-07-18
            • PURA 12-01-10
          • PURA Reviews of EDC Performance
  • Flowers, Plants & Gardens
    • Garden History and Design
    • Partners for Plants
  • Members
    • Centennial
    • Index
    • News
    • President's Monthly Letter
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • General Meeting Minutes
    • 2021-2022 Directory
    • Complete calendar and listing of monthly program
    • Articles of Association and Bylaws >
      • Club Project Proposal Form
      • Membership Requirements
      • Dues
      • Board
      • Endowed Funds
      • Past Presidents
      • Strategic Plan
    • Committees A-L >
      • Archives
      • Awards
      • Civic
      • Communications
      • Conservation
      • Finance
      • Floral Design
      • Garden History & Design
      • Horticulture
      • Hospitality
    • Committees M-Z >
      • Membership
      • New Member Education
      • Nominating
      • Phelps Triangle
      • Photography
      • Scholarship
      • Trees and Power
      • Visiting Gardens >
        • Past Garden Visits
        • Members Gardens
      • Ways and Means
    • Photos Premiere-The New Haven Green: Heart of a City
    • Annual Meeting Photos >
      • 2012 Annual Meeting
      • 2013 Annual Meeting
      • 2015 Annual meeting
      • 2016 Annual Meeting
      • 2017 Annual Meeting
      • 2018 Annual Meeting
    • GCA News >
      • GCA contact info
      • GCA Founders Fund
      • The Redwoods and GCA
    • The Federated Garden Clubs of America
Updated 3/16/2015

Utility Vegetation Management Plans
(Pruning and Removal of Trees and Shrubs) 

2015 UI Vegetation Management Plan and Eversource (CL&P) Vegetation Management Plan
           To see the possible impact of utility pruning and removal in your neighborhood or community, look up at the top-most wires and measure out horizontally 8 feet from both sides.  This is the Utility Protection Zone ("UPZ") in which utility pruning and removal of trees and shrubs will take place.   Aggressive pruning to fixed clearance lines from wires and especially use of Enhanced Tree Trimming ("ETT"), which calls for removal within the UPZ of all tall or tall-growing trees or parts of trees from ground to sky, whether hazardous or non-hazardous, could negatively impact your property, neighborhood and community due to the loss of the aesthetic, environmental, health and economic benefits that such trees provide.    As noted below, tree wardens, the DOT and property owners can prevent unnecessary removals and unnecessary or improper pruning.   See Diagrams of ETT and Routine Line Maintenance.
Picture
View UI's presentation of its plans, including answers to questions by residents and public officials in Fairfield at Fairfield UI Meeting, May 27, 2014, Fair TV.
Possible Consequences of Enhanced Tree Trimming ("ETT")
The photos on the left illustrate what would happen to Edwards Street in New Haven if United Illuminating is allowed to utilize strict ETT standards for line clearing (as illustrated at bottom without the 3 foot high stumps that could remain), as its original vegetation management plan proposes.

Picture
Routine Line Maintenance Based on Fixed Distances from Wires

The illustration at left shows  pruning done by Connecticut Light & Power according to fixed line clearance standards.

Click Photos for additional illustrations of ETT and Maintenance pruning by CL&P.
Protecting Against Unnecessary
Utility Removal or Pruning

State statutes give tree wardens and DOT the power to refuse permits for pruning and removal that is not necessary for utility reliability and for pruning that doesn't protect the health and structural integrity of a tree.  If a tree warden or DOT does issue a permit, abutting property owners must receive notice from a utility prior to any cutting and have an opportunity to object or request a modification to the plans.  If the issues are not resolved at the local level, optional mediation and appeal to PURA are provided.
The PURA's Final Decision in its Tree Trimming Docket mandates that the utilities' vegetation management plans be changed to provide flexibility in vegetation management and consideration of the differences among urban, rural and suburban areas in determining what is necessary to ensure utility reliability.  The utilities were ordered to submit amendments to their vegetation management plans by June 11, 2014.    PURA did not rule on whether the amendments complied, but has opened two new dockets on the utilities' 2015 vegetation management plans. See Recent Information, Notices and News.  Unfortunately, the above outcomes are likely to occur  in the absence of denial of a tree warden permit or successful objection or request for modification by a property owner. 
For TECHNICAL ISSUES ABOUT THE WEBSITE only, contact gardenclubnh2@gmail.com .
Any discussion of law on this site is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice regarding particular facts and circumstances, please consult an attorney. 
Click here to install Adobe Reader for free, in order to read PDF files.
Updated March 26, 2022