‘We’re watching them’: Dominion cutting down 21 Palmetto trees in Beaufort. Here’s why
Dominion Energy plans to remove 21 palmetto trees in Beaufort this week in a move that some residents are questioning but Dominion says is necessary for public safety because the trees could interfere with its electrical wires.
Palmetto trees, the state tree of South Carolina and one of the most popular palm tree varieties in the Lowcountry, can grow to 30 feet high. It’s known for its toughness and tropical look.
“Our Palmettos identifies who we are!” Abby Morris commented on the city of Beaufort’s Facebook post on the work, which sparked 38 comments. “So sad to lose our State trees.”
While Dominion understands the passion surrounding trees in the Lowcountry, Dominion spokesman Paul Fischer said, safety is the top priority, and trees taller than 15 feet are not suitable along distribution line rights-of-way. The 21 trees scheduled for removal, Fischer said, are deemed a fire hazardous because they’ve grown too close to overhead lines, presenting a threat to the public, Dominion crews and private property owners. Trees and tree limbs are the No. 1 reason for power outages, he added.
“Our goal is not to necessarily to remove trees,” Fischer said, “but to remove risk.”
The power company has informed the city of Beaufort that 10 palmetto trees on city property will be cut down, according to the city. Eight of those trees are located on Pigeon Point Road. The other two are located at Charles and Boundary streets and Boundary Street by the tennis courts.
Fischer told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet on Wednesday that an additional 11 trees also will be cut down on private property. Those 11 trees are located at various locations throughout the city, Fischer said.
The removal work is scheduled to begin this week, Fischer said, and should take a day or so. Work had not begun as of Wednesday afternoon, Fischer said.
City Manager Bill Prokop gave City Council members a “heads up” on Tuesday that the tree removal was coming.
“We’re watching them as much as we can,” Prokop said.
Dominion Energy trims trees in the Beaufort on a five-year rotation. Last year, residents complained that the pruning was too severe. That, in turn, prompted meetings between the city and Dominion officials. The city also hired an arborist to work with Dominion to ensure trees were pruned correctly.
Town of Bluffton residents also objected to Dominion’s removal of 29 palmetto trees last year.
For its part, Dominion says that trimming may appear drastic at first, but it results in healthier trees long-term since fewer cuts are used. Affected areas callous quickly, the energy company says, reducing decay and allowing for future trimming that may be less noticeable.
Regarding the upcoming tree removal, residents are wondering why the trees could not be transplanted, or if the power lines could be buried.
“How many years have those trees been there?” Cyndy Reynolds-Curnes commented. “Now they are a problem?”
The 21 targeted trees were identified as hazardous during an inspection following the completion of the five-year trimming cycle, Fischer said.
Transplanting trees may not be practical or possible because the power would need to be turned off to the affected lines, Fischer said. In addition, there is no guarantee those trees would survive in a new location, he said.
Municipalities can recommend Dominion bury electrical lines but Fischer says it is considered “non-standard” service, although it’s willing to consider underground lines as long as the engineering is technically feasible, reliability is not compromised and there is a way to cover the additional cost.
Burying lines comes with risks, too, he said. It may put lines at increased risk of water intrusion and flooding, and repairs take longer because the lines are underground. Burying lines also is more expensive, he said.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 2:37 PM.
