| February 19, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Marty Douglass
EWEB SCHEDULES WHITEAKER TREE TRIMMING Eugene Water & Electric Board will be trimming trees that interfere with utility power lines in the Whiteaker neighborhood from February 23 to March 20. EWEB conducts tree trimming for public safety and power reliability purpose. The utility trims trees throughout its service territory on a rotating three or four year schedule. The last time trees were trimmed in the Whiteaker neighborhood was 1994. In recent years EWEB has been working with the City of Eugene to coordinate tree trimming practices and to jointly learn about environmentally-sensitive tree pruning methods which place emphasis on maintaining the health of the tree, even though some of the cutting may seem less aesthetically pleasing. In its move toward more environmentally-sensitive trimming, EWEB employs more selective cutting methods rather than using the "round over" approach employed in the past. Round over trimming requires more individual cuttings, which sometimes affects the health of the tree and encourages the growth of suckers. It also requires more frequent pruning, which can cause further damage to the tree. Oftentimes the new method will involve a V-shaped cut that provides safe passage for the overhead power lines. The Whiteaker neighborhood tree trimming will occur in an area bounded by West 13th on the south, Chambers Street on the West, Jefferson street on the east, and the Willamette River to the north. -30-
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