Tree warden warns beech disease, urges treatment and replacement plan

Brian McMahon, the town’s newly introduced tree warden, told the Community and Economic Development Committee that beech-leaf disease — caused by a nematode — is fatal and widespread in Bridgewater’s beech trees and that “it’s too late to do it for this season, but I could do it next season if I can get the money for it.” McMahon said the material for an injection labeled for the disease costs under $500 per tree and that he intends to perform treatments in-house if the committee or local organizations can fund the materials. He described the treatment as experimental and warned the committee that many beeches may still die within five to six years even with intervention.

McMahon also outlined longer-term priorities: immediate removal of hazardous trees, a mixed-species replacement strategy that favors lindens (basswood) and other native species to preserve historic character, and hiring a landscape architect to design the commons and street-tree plan. He said the town lacks capacity for some work and will need contractor support for dangerous removals: “It’s way too dangerous,” he said of heavy removals, and urged the town to budget for removals and planned plantings. Committee members agreed to seek grant opportunities and to invite the building-inspection and public-works leads to coordinate on pruning, planting locations, and funding.