Nelson Hydro plans to cut down about two dozen trees that line Josephine Street beside Trafalgar Middle School this summer, and will fund the school to plant replacement trees elsewhere on the school grounds.
"These trees are currently growing within the limit of approach to high-voltage power lines, posing a serious safety hazard," Nelson Hydro said in a newsletter. "Power lines can arc to a nearby branch even without direct contact, creating a risk to anyone near the area."
Nelson Hydro has donated $10,000 to School District 8 to replace the trees, with the understanding that any new trees will be planted at a safe distance from the power lines.
SD8 and Trafalgar Middle School have formed a committee and are working with City of Nelson arborists to develop a replanting plan for the fall of 2025.
The trees were planted on the initiative of the Trafalgar parent advisory committee in the early 2000s. The mix of species was designed by a forest ecologist to represent local forest ecosystems, according to Cathy Scott-May who was the chair of the PAC at the time.
"The trees along the upper field were planted to represent the ponderosa pine ecosystem, as it is found over by Castlegar," she said. "The trees on the inside of the lower field represent the Douglas fir zone."
Since then Nelson Hydro built a 60kV hydro electric transmission line along Josephine Street, Trafalgar principal Tim Mushumanski explained in a recent letter to parents.
"Now that the trees are mature, they pose a safety and fire hazard," Mushumanski wrote. "With higher voltage lines comes greater right-of-way requirements where nothing (building, apparatus, tree or foliage) can be within five metres of the lines."
He said that trimming the trees is not "a sustainable or aesthetic solution."
In an email, SD 8 told the Nelson Star, "Those trees ... will be replaced with native species that meet the City of Nelson’s and Nelson Hydro’s requirements to mitigate fire hazard, reduce safety risks and allow Nelson Hydro to maintain their infrastructure. Trees will be supplied locally."
Mushumanski's letter said Nelson Hydro is not required to replace the trees "but want to work with us as they understand the need for trees and shade on our property."
