Date: July 31, 2017
Contact: Catherine Bragaw, 301-491-6265
Potomac, Md. — Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park will be conducting hazardous tree pruning and removal at five locations in Montgomery County; these locations are Riley’s Lock, Marsden Tract, Violettes Lock, Great Falls, and Anglers. Work will begin August 2017 and is anticipated to run through the winter months. The affected areas will remain open with some partial closures.
Preventative hazard tree maintenance is typically performed annually for visitor safety. Hazardous tree removal is generally limited to areas where visitors are stationary for long periods of time, such as the campgrounds and picnic areas, or where structures may incur damage. Trees selected for pruning or removal are identified by certified arborists and have been deemed as high or severe risk to public safety due to their condition, location and amount of visitation in the area.
Hazard tree removal is also planned in Frederick, Washington, and Alleghany Counties at the following locations: Weverton – Lock 34, Cushwa Basin to Dam 5, Big Slackwater boat ramp, Potomac Fish and Game Club, Little Tonoloway Boat Ramp, and Mexico Farms. All work performed is within the boundaries of NPS property. Recent hazardous tree maintenance was completed along the Canal towpath and in several campgrounds and boat ramps in the western areas of the park. The park averages about two natural tree falls per week along the towpath and trails.
During this project, the park will remain open to the public, but the specific work areas will be closed as a safety precaution. All work is expected to be completed prior to the end of March 2018.
To help inform the public about the park’s decision making, the C&O Canal has released a resource brief titled, Developed Area Vegetation Management. It outlines treatment of trees and other vegetation within developed areas of the park. The resource brief can be found at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/canalhazardtree
