Vienna Officials Seek Tree Replanting, End Of Trail Clear Cutting From Dominion Energy

VIENNA, VA — Like a few localities in Northern Virginia, the Town of Vienna is asking Dominion Energy to pause clear cutting of trees on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. However, town officials went a step further Monday by requesting a tree replanting plan within Vienna, where clear cutting has happened on the trail.

Several governing boards — Vienna Town Council, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Arlington County Board and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors — have adopted resolutions in response to widespread tree removals on the W&OD Trail. Dominion Energy has cleared trees along about four miles of the W&OD Trail in the Vienna and Dunn Loring areas for an electric line replacement project to address growing electricity needs. FFX Now reported that the extent of tree removal that began in November 2024 has shocked local residents and W&OD Trail owner NOVA Parks. Dominion Energy has transmission lines along 33 of the W&OD Trail's 45 miles.

At a Loudoun County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, Dominion Energy's Rob Richardson explained the justification for removing trees. Richardson said during the four-mile project between Vienna and Dunn Loring, Dominion Energy noticed that matured trees were causing electricity reliability concerns.

"During that time, we decided to look at the rest of the trail, about 36 miles or so," said Richardson at the Loudoun County meeting. "We've identified what we think are reliability concerns for the trees along the trail."

Vienna Town Council's adopted resolution, presented by Mayor Linda Colbert, calls for Dominion Energy to change its strategy of removing most trees in areas of the trail with transmission lines. Instead, the resolution seeks pruning of trees that could impact transmission lines, which Dominion Energy did under a previous memorandum of understanding with NOVA Parks. According to FFX Now's report, the utility provider backed away from a voluntary agreement with NOVA Parks from 2005 on vegetative clearing on the trail.

In addition, Vienna's resolution requests that Dominion Energy adopt a vegetation height limit that can provide a wider variety of native trees and shrubs. In areas where Dominion Energy determines trees must be cut down to keep the electric grid reliable, the resolution seeks replanting with native species to promote pollinators. The resolution requests a site plan for the project on the full scope of work, including limits on clearing and grading trees.

Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County's resolutions similarly adopted resolutions seeking a return to the selective pruning. However, Vienna's resolution also seeks a list of trees Dominion Energy intends to plant in the Town of Vienna as part of its replanting policy. The replanting list would be reviewed against the town's approved tree list. Colbert said trees have been cut down along Vienna's portion of the trail, including at the Town Green.

"We do care about the entire length of the W&OD Trail," said Colbert, who said she has been part of numerous meetings with NOVA Parks and Dominion Energy on the matter. "If they change their plan for other areas, that's great. But that's why we added some extra language here, because they've already cut down...of course, anybody who walks on the trail just sees stump, stump, stump, stump, stump, you know, etc. And so they need to come back and replant."

Other Town Council members expressed support for addressing the tree loss.

"I'm one of the many residents who was very concerned about what's happened in Vienna along the trail," said Councilmember Jessica Ramakis. "I'm a regular user of the trail. I'm glad we're taking these steps and that there's so many local leaders who are speaking out, and that members of the community are doing so as well. I really hope that this prompts some action in a positive direction, to have more trees coming where they have been clear cut, and that the practice ends after this activity."

"I think it is important to speak up to a corporation that is so massive, and we're asking for minimal coverage," added Councilmember Sandra Allen. "At this time, we should take the opportunity to envision this area differently, and for Dominion to start listening to us, maybe creating areas of green spaces that's designated for certain activities with for our town residents that have lost so much trees."

Councilmember Chuck Anderson said the localities have strength in numbers with their request, which he compared to organizations coming together to oppose the casino legislation in Tysons.

"It's important, not just for us in Vienna, but for all along the trail, for the people who live next to it, but also for the users of the trail," said Anderson. "What they're doing right now is, I think, extreme, and there's got to be a better middle ground that would allow more trees to be planted that don't really have a very serious threat on their power lines, but at the same time, maintain the wildlife and the quality of the trail and the quality of the properties surrounding."