News Release Archive

Reclamation to Replace Trees at the Grand Coulee Project

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Lynne Brougher, lbrougher@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: March 30, 2009

This spring, the Bureau of Reclamation will remove and replace several trees along Highway 155, at the lower Grand Coulee Visitor Center Park and Banks Lake (North Dam) Park due to disease, overgrowth and public safety concerns.

The 41 trees that will be removed will be replaced with 26 trees that will provide the esthetic beauty along the roadway that will require less maintenance, while also offering improved visibility for motorists.

"The newer healthy trees will not be safety hazards and they will require less time and expense for maintenance," said Lynne Brougher, Public Affairs Officer at Grand Coulee Dam. "Many of the large trees are leaning as a result of severe windstorms, and are likely to fall should more storms hit the area."

Reclamation is also concerned about trees blocking the line of site for drivers entering Highway 155 from the Coulee Dam Project. Specialists have diagnosed many of the trees as having a disease known as Anthracnose fungi which can leave them severely weakened, causing leaves and limbs to be lost prematurely.

Eighteen sycamore trees along Highway 155 will be removed and replaced with 8 pink dogwood trees. At Banks Lake Park 16 pine, honey locust, and little leaf linden trees will be replaced with red maple and white dogwood trees. Below the Grand Coulee Visitor Center three birch trees will be replaced with two white dogwoods.

Reclamation is optimistic that the residents and visitors will enjoy the beauty and summer shade provided by the new trees, while also realizing a maintenance cost savings and improved roadway safety.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.