Ash tree removal provides firewood and supports two local causes

October 27, 2021 | By Steve Lotspeich

Ash trees that were doing poorly along roadsides were cut down, trimmed, and now are stacked and ready to be split for firewood with proceeds to benefit Waterbury Rotary and the Good Neighbor Fund. Courtesy photo.

In the winter of 2020-21, the Town of Waterbury obtained a $6,500 grant from the State of Vermont, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry Program related to emerald ash borer.

The emerald ash borer is a very destructive insect that has devastated the ash tree populations in many states and has been identified in several nearby cities and towns in Vermont including Montpelier, Barre, and Richmond. So far it has not been detected in Waterbury, but it is probably just a matter of time before it is detected here and our ash trees start dying. 

It is possible and effective to have an arborist inject important ash trees with insecticide to keep the tree healthy. But not every tree can be saved and those in poor condition can be removed and used for firewood and replaced with other species the ash borer will ignore.  

Lotspeich (far left) and members of the town Tree Committee at Hope Cemetery where new trees have been planted. Left to right: Jane Brown (front), John Ringer, Mike Loschiavo and Stuart Whitney. Courtesy photo.

The state grant was matched by $6,500 in town funds for a total project cost of $13,000.  The project has two components: First is the removal and re-use of roadside ash trees from town road rights-of-way that are dead and in poor condition as identified in the inventory that was part of the 2020 Town of Waterbury, Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan. 

The second component was tree planting in Hope Cemetery adjacent to Winooski Street in Waterbury village. The town contracted with Evergreen Gardens of Vermont to plant 15 shade, evergreen, and flowering trees at Hope Cemetery this past summer. 

For those trees marked to be removed, the town hired Potter’s Tree Health Care to remove approximately 15 ash trees, chip the  tops, and stockpile the usable wood.  All the trees that were removed were inspected for the presence of emerald ash borer and none was found.  The trees were cut down along Gregg Hill Road, Maggie’s Way and Shaw Mansion Road.

The grant required a utilization plan for the wood from the roadside ash trees that were removed.  A program was developed with two of our local volunteer organizations, the Waterbury Rotary Club and the Good Neighbor Fund, to split the logs into firewood and sell it locally as a fundraiser for these organizations.  

The wood will soon be split and loaded for delivery to those interested in making a purchase. The prices are $275 per cord and $150 for a half cord, delivered this fall.  Those interested in purchasing firewood for a tax-deductible donation, please call 802-244-1012 or email slotspeich@waterburyvt.com. The firewood will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.   

Steve Lotspeich is Waterbury’s Planning and Zoning Director and Zoning Administrator.