COLUMBIA, S.C. — If you've ever driven by or under an unusually trimmed tree and wondered "how did that happen?," then you may be interested in attending a free public forum hosted by the City of Columbia and Dominion Energy.
The city's Forestry and Beautification Division and Dominion Energy will hold a free public forum 6-7 p.m. January 11 at the Eau Claire Print Facility located at 3907 Ensor Ave., in north Columbia. Topics to be discussed include:
- the purpose and guidelines for utility pruning
- ANSI standards
- grand trees
- Columbia's aging tree canopy
Contractors hired by Dominion Energy work closely with the city's Certified Arborists from the Forestry and Beautification Division when selecting and trimming trees around utility lines. The power company reports an 89% improvement of services in areas where vegetation-related outages occurred after trimming is completed, compared a year ago. Trimming guidelines include removing vegetation within 8-12 feet below and beside the power lines and up to 20 feet above the power lines.
The list of neighborhoods where Dominion contractors will be trimming the week of January 8 includes:
- Byrneswood Community Council
- Hyatt Park Neighborhood
- Ridgewood/Monticello
- Ryan Street Action Committee
- Seminary Ridge HOA
- Yorkshire Neighborhood Assoc.
- Hampton Ridge Neighborhood Assoc.
- Meadowfield Neighborhood Assoc.
- South Meadowfield N. Assoc.
- Cross Hill N.A.
- Hampton-Wildcat Neighborhood
Learn more at the city's Forestry website or at Dominion's Tree, Trimming & Power Lines explainer page.
