Some questions seem typical, but the answers reveal far more interesting layers.
Take this Street Smarts Q-and-A that came in over the summer.
Rick Lescher, of Snohomish, wrote: “Was wondering why a bunch of trees along the Snohomish-Lowell River Road (on the north side of the road toward the river) were cut down 10 feet above ground level about a half mile before the road ends at Airport Road in Snohomish?”
James Parker, interim operations manager for road maintenance at Snohomish County Public Works, responded: “As this area is within the flight path to the Harvey Field Airport in Snohomish, the Snohomish County Road Maintenance Division has received requests from the airport and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the years to cut specific trees along the Lowell Snohomish River Road. There are also power lines along the same flight path; therefore we have been cutting the trees to align with the height of the power lines.
“Recently we received another request from the FAA to cut the trees to the ground or remove them entirely. We responded to the FAA to let them know that the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife will not allow us to cut the trees to the ground along the river. Trees along the bank provide protection from erosion of the riverbank.
“To enable the airport to remain in compliance with FAA guidelines, we agreed to cut the trees to a height of 10 feet. This allows the trees to remain alive without risk to incoming aircraft.”
The work was finished in early August.
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