SRP to remove 56 trees growing too close to power lines in Chandler, Apache Junction

PHOENIX — The Salt River Project (SRP) is teaming up with the cities of Chandler and Apache Junction to remove 56 trees growing into power lines.

Officials are also planting 246 new trees in public areas to make up for the lost shade.

Matthew Goodnight, SRP’s manager of vegetation management and maintenance, said removing the trees is essential for public safety.

“Tall, fast-growing trees located within 10 feet of overhead power lines can create electrical safety hazards that can cause power outages and potentially fires,” Goodnight told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.

Thus, it can be dangerous when trees grow too quickly and their leaves and branches start tangling around power lines. Some of the quickly growing trees include eucalyptus trees, willow acacia trees and mesquite trees.

SRP, Chandler, Apache Junction removing trees growing into power lines

The removal and replanting efforts are made through SRP’s Right Tree, Right Place program, which started in 2018.

The program’s purpose is to reduce safety hazards and power reliability issues that arise when trees grow too close to Valley powerlines. It’s been behind the removal of over 1,200 trees as well as the planting of 4,000 new trees.

Tree removal has already started in Apache Junction, but removals will start in Chandler on Friday.

“All the tree removals for Apache Junction have already been completed,” Goodnight said. “For Chandler, the total trees we’ll be removing for this project is 29 trees.”

The rest of the 56 tree removals will take place over the next few weeks. Trees will be planted in public areas such as city parks, Goodnight said.

Tree replanting efforts taking place ahead of metro Phoenix monsoon season

Much of these efforts are planned to take place ahead of monsoon season to minimize damage to energy grids.

“That monsoon season is when we typically have a lot of power outages just due from the storms, uprooting trees, the high winds that we experienced can snap electric poles and take down power lines,” Goodnight said. “We like to target these projects with municipalities prior to storm season to just help reduce those reliability issues.”

SRP urges people who see trees in their communities growing too close to overhead power lines to call 602-236-8888.

Residents planning to dig underground should also call Arizona 811 to see if there are underground power lines in their digging spot.

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