Yesterday I saw a tree cutting operation beginning along the Stevensville bike path and then read an article about how NorthWestern Energy is whacking all those trees for the benefit of their power lines. First I heard of it. Whatever happened to public comment on environmental destruction projects?
Sorry, but it irritates me when people go out and cut trees for no good reason. Why should those trees, which have characterized the entrance to the town for many years, have to come down in the interest of a power line? What ever happened to beautifying the town by burying the lines so we don’t have to look at the eyesore? And what if the trend of the future toward solar and wind energy eliminates the lines? Too late for the trees.
I guess it’s a done deal now but I just have to say a word about people’s lack of consideration for the environment and trees in particular. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against cutting trees and I’m certainly not a tree hugger. I make my living cutting trees and have probably cut more trees in my life than 98% of the population but the trees I’ve cut have been in the best interests of the ones remaining.
Joan Prather says the project is good because the trees are not in good health. Sorry, but that is just wrong. Those were all young trees in good health.
If you’re going to whack trees for whatever reason, don’t justify it by demonizing the trees. A lot of people have it in for trees because they think they are dangerous, especially willows and cottonwoods that are a more brittle wood. But a bit of judicious pruning strengthens them and can avoid issues with the power lines as well. Cutting the trees should have been a last ditch effort to remove a safety hazard.
So what about the rest of Stevensville’s trees? What about the arboretum status of the town? Bet you didn’t even know about that. Granted, the willow along the bike path erroneously signed as a peachleaf willow will no longer mislead people as to what that species looks like (maybe the sign will now make its way to the real one in town) but did you know that the city of Stevensville is home to six champion trees on the Montana Register of Big Trees? And one of them is a national champion? Darned if it isn’t a willow, now what?
Trees, believe it or not, are a great source of stress removal and psychological healing. If you don’t believe me, just check out the article in last month’s National Geographic.
I’m glad to see these trees will be replaced by others, although it will be many years, if ever, before they will be capable of delivering the same amount of satisfaction that these did before yesterday.
I really wish people would get over their vendetta against trees.
Mark Lewing
Stevensville