Tree Cutting Criticism On W&OD Trail Prompts Response From Dominion Energy

VIENNA, VA — After local officials and residents have shared concerns about the clear cutting of trees along a section of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, Dominion Energy has responded with reasoning for the cutting and its approach for the future. However, the company indicated no plans to stop the work in the segment around Vienna and Dunn Loring.

As FFX Now first reported, the clear cutting of trees starting in November 2024 shocked local residents and W&OD Trail owner NOVA Parks. Dominion Energy had 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.

Joseph Woomer, senior vice president of electric transmission for Dominion Energy, said in a letter to Vienna and Fairfax County officials that the company hasn't done significant forestry work in 20 years. The company said tree growth now poses a risk of coming in contact with power lines by either falling during severe weather or being tall enough to reach them. Dominion Energy has transmission lines along 33 of the W&OD Trail's 45 miles.

"This would jeopardize the reliability of our customers' electric service and the integrity of the regional grid," the letter read. "It could also result in substantial penalties for failure to comply with federal requirements.

According to Woomer, Dominion Energy reviewed all of the trees on the four-mile trail section and determined they should be removed to meet federal requirements from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.

The tree removal had led several local governing boards — the Town of Vienna and county boards in Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County — to request a return to selective pruning and tree removals only when necessary.

As for future tree cutting along the W&OD Trail, Dominion Energy is temporarily pausing plans for other trail segments, but not on the four-mile section. The company said it received significant feedback as it shared intent to review trees along the remaining 29 miles of the trail where transmission lines are present. Woomer said Dominion Energy would temporarily stop any tree work, except on the four-mile section between Dunn Loring and Vienna where work is continuing.

"Once that work is complete, we will re-evaluate our forestry plans for the remainder of the Trail and will remain closely engaged with all stakeholders when our revised plans have been redeveloped," the letter said.

Resolutions adopted by several localities, as recommended by NOVA Parks, called for pruning of trees that could impact transmission lines. That's what Dominion Energy did under a previous 2005 memorandum of understanding with NOVA Parks that it has now backed away from.

The localities also asked Dominion Energy to 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. Vienna's resolution also requests a plan for replanting trees that affected the town's portion of the W&OD Trail, including around the Town Green.

"The Council and I are asking Dominion to work with the Town on replanting and replacing what they’ve already cut down here in Vienna as soon as possible," said Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert in a statement. "We look forward to their cooperation in helping us continue to protect our environment."

Dominion Energy's letter indicated it was working with NOVA Parks for a long-term plan of replanting pollinator habitats and low-height native vegetation as well as control of invasive species along the trail.

"Our goal is to develop a plan that supports the Trail's natural habitat and preserves low-growing native species, while also protecting the safe and reliable operation of the transmission lines," Woomer wrote. "We're confident we can achieve both goals."

Dominion Energy first purchased the right-of-way that is now the W&OD Trail in 1968 to develop transmission lines. That came in the year Washington & Old Dominion Railroad stopped running. NOVA Parks tried for years to buy the right-of-way, and that happened in 1977. However, Dominion Energy maintained a broader right-of-way for its transmission lines. The first W&OD Trail segment opened in 1974 in the City of Falls Church. Today, it runs about 45 miles between Shirlington in Arlington County and Purcellville in Loudoun County.