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Loudoun supervisors back staff to press Dominion on selective tree trimming along W&OD Trail
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to direct staff to tell Dominion Energy it supports continuation of selective trimming consistent with a 2005 memorandum of understanding after Dominion cleared about four miles of trees along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and paused further work.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted to direct county staff to draft communications to Dominion Energy backing continuation of the utility’s prior vegetation-management approach along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
The action came after Dominion acknowledged it had cut trees along a roughly four‑mile section of the trail and said it would pause further work to perform a “span‑by‑span” analysis of trees that present reliability concerns. Rob Richardson, Dominion Energy communications manager, told the board the company “noticed that the trees in that area had had grown up, and were causing some reliability concerns” and that “some of the trees are gonna have to be removed.”
Supervisor commentary at the March 18 meeting focused on two concerns: the extent of the initial clearing and whether Dominion will return to a more selective trimming approach negotiated previously with Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks). Several board members and public speakers emphasized the trail’s recreational and environmental value. A NOVA Parks representative told the board the agency “needs selective cutting like there has been for the last many decades” and urged a “robust replanting plan with a wide variety of native plants.”
Dominion said it has a “more than 4‑decades relationship with NOVA Parks” and would pause to take a “more thoughtful approach” and to continue working with NOVA Parks, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Richardson said crews were nearly finished with work on a four‑mile Fairfax section and that Dominion plans to “analyze span by span what trees are causing problems,” delineate the trail’s existing 100‑foot right‑of‑way and work with park officials on replanting plans.
Vice Chair Brice Turner made the motion to have staff notify Dominion of the board’s position and express support for alignment with the 02/2005 memorandum of understanding between Dominion and NOVA Parks; the motion was seconded and passed with a roll‑call style announcement on the floor (vote recorded as passing with seven board members in favor and two members off the dais at the time of the vote). The board directed staff to draft communications to Dominion.
What happens next: Dominion said it will pause after completing work in Fairfax and conduct more detailed span‑level evaluations on the remainder of the W&OD Trail. NOVA Parks and several supervisors urged that Dominion use a selective trimming process, avoid wholesale clear‑cutting where possible, and commit to replanting. The board’s direction formalizes those requests in a staff‑drafted communication to the utility.
