Heh, ATC is said by some to be "good guys" in terms of comparison to other electricity transmission companies. I believe this has to do with their PR budget. I don't know what state this is in although I see your in Chicago land, but do know that under Governor Walker, here in Wisconsin, companies like ATC are going nuts with new lines running all over the place....and that it is standard procedure to completely eliminate forest along the way.

Finally, while I surely do empathize with you and with this issue, I'm not at all sure what it is that I'm supposed to be able to do. I have no particular sway with this or any other such company. I just happen to know a lot about the subject. What am I missing?

Hi Tom! Thanks for responding. This is in Lake Geneva, WI. I just wondered if you - or anyone - had any input on ways to push back, regarding clear cutting in what sounds like an area that depends on the old growth. I didn't figure there was anything you could do personally :). Just looking for suggestions.

Thank you!

Hey Tom, If TN leans any further, we'll end up in the Atlantic Ocean. Right now, the land of my ancestors is looking pretty good. I couldn't move north, WAAAAY to cold for me in the land of the maple leaf LOL.

an easement. is an easement.. and its been an easement for as long as the property has been surveyed ...

to suggest that no one knew.. and had no expectation of the easement holders ability to use said easement .. is ridiculous ...

it really is irrelevant as to the noble intentions of the property owner ... it was on his deed when he bought the place ...

ken

Ken did you read the info at the link? They understand the legality of the easement. They are trying to work with the company.

What's more, you'd have to live in this state-Wisconsin-top see how fully and thoroughly all aspects of government, regulation, and so on have been co-opted in the service of big business. This might not have been an easement. We're having power line and gas (and crude oil from tar sands) right-of-ways shoved down our throats here. ATC has an advertising budget which is used to make them look like "good guys". Think about that for a minute....why would such an obscure entity need to be on the TV screens of Joe Blow? I know...I know! Because they're coming to a woods, field, or marsh near you soon with more and more infrastructure, much of it to serve customers in other states. Now to be fair, they actually do hire ecologists and so on to reestablish some kind of vegetation after the woods is knocked down. But it sure won't be what it was. Think meadow swapped for forest.....for hundreds and hundreds of miles. This isn't a small matter.

wisconsintom,

I am a right wing conservative. I've physically hand planted more trees than 50% of the people in the world. So please don't trash the right. Trash the politicians both left and right. They are in in it for both power and money.

I've noticed years ago that there is a left wing slant to this forum, but I stick with it because there is some very good information passed in this forum. The information that you share is one of the main reasons I stay on this forum. Others included.

I've opened my mouth a few times out of anger on this forum, but that is my downfall. I regret it right after I hit send.

So fellow forum readers and moderators, please lets keep politics out of the tree forum and just talk about trees.

Thanks

treenutt

unless they own the land, they can't cut more than their right-of-way or easment. if you don't own the land, stay out of others business.

@ treenutt: I'm sorry but your cohort is one of rabid, anti-environmental madness in this day and age. You personally may reflect a time when one could be both "conservative" and interested in conservation. Oddly, given the obvious similarity of those two words, it has become the norm for your brand to be utterly unconcerned with natural resources conservation and any related field. I will stick to my guns on this one indefinitely-it is so beyond obvious. Who knows-maybe you'll have to submit a complaint about me. That would be-in one sense-doing me a favor, as I spend way too much time on these boards trying to help folks out. What's more, there is not one untrue word in anything I've written. Truth should still count for something......right?

As to there being a "left-wing slant" here, if that is so, it is surely only due to my presence. I've not noticed one single bit of it, beyond myself. If anything, the constant references to "tree huggers" and "eco-freaks" and related slang belies the more usual righty mind traps.

Caldwell:

Our electric utility here claims 40' ROW. They routinely take more, and if they can get away with it, they do. Ever hear of The TVA? Go to their website and see what they have to say about their ROW.

Tom:

You're a man after my own heart! (please don't leave)

I would think the land owner had some sort of say-so about their easment. if it is a 40' ROW I am sure there could be some sort of negotiation on this. bribing the tree cutters with donuts might not work like it did for me ;) . if they do not completely remove some of the trees I know that (in North Carolina) they can't remove more than 30% of a tree's crown or it is considered harvesting. Also in North Carolina they can't butcher dogwoods (mine is taking over the power lines) and I recommend it to people with low hanging power lines in their yard, but it is only for NC.

this covers it briefly:

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/pdf/ByArticle/Chapter_14/Article_22.pdf

Kentrees...right back at you. I won't be leaving under my own power, but it would not surprise me if I was encouraged to do so at some point. In the meantime, I will continue doing as I've always done....calling em as I sees em!

Caldwell

No such legislation in TN. Utility takes almost one acre of my land for power line. No negotiation, I've tried. Bribing doesn't work, a minder from the utility follows the cutters, no cut, no pay. If utility isn't happy, cutters have to fix it on their dime. As for TVA it's scorched earth, they're worse than the IRS. Luckily no TVA transmission lines near me.

not to get off topic but, why are all of the crepe myrtles in TN always cut back to the trunks? I have never seen one that looked like a tree.

Well...all the crapes in TN aren't , mine aren't. I've seen plenty in NC, and everywhere else I've been where crapes are grown that have been "murdered" (Google "crape murder"). As to why, who knows? Maybe it's because it's the way their daddy did it, and his daddy etc. Maybe they think it improves blooming, shape, resistance to tornadoes, whatever. Maybe they think it has the same benefits as mulch volcanoes and tree topping LOL.

Monkey see-monkey do. Much like all the truly horrible shrub pruning that goes on everywhere, it's old George across the street "did his this way"....that kind of thing.