New Dominion Energy Plan to Spare Over 200 Trees on Sullivan’s Island
Sullivan’s Island, a locale known for its extensive flora, recently received a glimmer of hope for its natural fauna, as Dominion Energy shared its revised proposal reducing the number of Palmetto Trees that would be cut down by more than half. The company’s initial proposal necessitated the removal of 523 trees, but this number has now been scaled down to only 254 trees.
Around the island, numerous trees had been labeled with spray paint to indicate their fate. Trees with a red spot were targeted for removal, while those with a white spot were to be spared. The change in the execution plan comes after a concerted effort from town administrators, local residents, and even 8-year-old resident Keegan Novak. Their dedicated campaign to save the trees was backed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
A Symbol of Pride for South Carolinians
The State Secretary of Transportation, Justin P. Powell, exclaimed his appreciation for the Palmetto Tree, holding it as a South Carolinian symbol of pride and a firm reflection of their community heritage. He lauded the work of SCDOT employees who balanced the safety aspects with the necessity of preserving as many of these historical trees as possible.
An elated Novak, responsible for placing hundreds of “Don’t cut ’em down” signs on the marked trees, expressed his feelings about Dominion’s new plan, mentioning that it was more than he had ever hoped for. As per the revised plan, the trees marked with red will be removed portion by portion starting next month ensuring safety and reliability regarding the trees growing too close to the overhead power lines. Remarkably, nine ancient palmetto trees will be relocated to surround Fort Moultrie.
Future Precautions and Property Owners’ Considerations
This development has also initiated a call to action for property owners to keep utility lines in mind when planning tree plantations in the future. Rebecca Fanning, Director of Resilience and Natural Resource Management for Sullivan’s Island Town, stressed the significance of smart planting that reduces conflicts with utility lines. The town and Dominion Energy have jointly encouraged property owners to consider this aspect for future plantings.
Marking the event’s timing as extraordinarily apt for “Carolina Day,” Mayor Patrick O’Neil applauded this decision, linking the island’s historic significance to the Palmetto trees. He explained that the island, being the site of the 1776 Battle Sullivan’s Island, played a crucial role in the defense against British fleet attacks. The defenders fought from behind a fort made of palmetto logs, a testament to the tree’s symbolic relevance to both the island and the state.
In the wake of this development, the process of tree removal will commence next month. The Mayor stated that the removal work, from now onwards, will be carried out during the off-season to reduce potential disruptions to the island’s ecosystem.
