Keep jobs local by using mechanical means to clear right of ways

Are you enjoying the springtime burst of flowering plant color along our county roadsides? Remember it well, as many of Arrowhead Cooperative’s power lines run along county roads. Herbicides will be used on targeted sections of 560 miles of those right-of-ways over the next five years, eliminating much of that color.

Herbicides don’t distinguish between native and invasive flowering plants…both will fall victim to these chemicals. Woody plants will also be brushed out, with a follow-up herbicide treatment to prevent their re-growth. Serviceberry, Chokecherry, Mountain Ash, Hazelnut will be among those not coming back after herbicide treatment.

There is some conjecture about what direct effect herbicide has on bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. There is little doubt though, that many plants which provide an extensive and readily available source of nectar and pollen will no longer be available to sustain them…or to help in raising their next generation. Plants they pollinate will no longer provide seeds and berries to birds and other wildlife that rely on them, particularly during fall migration. I thought we were attempting to promote pollinator habitat, not destroy it! The subsequent damage to soils, ground water and human health from herbicide use will not be apparent for years to come.

Arrowhead now seems intent on making golf course style fairways out of their right-of-ways. Brushing on a ten-year cycle has worked in the past and removal of problematic mature trees outside of right-of-ways will always need to be done manually. The Cook County Highway Department is able to mow BOTH sides of its’ roadways EVERY year!

Rather than contracting a tree service from Grand Rapids to clear Arrowhead’s power line right-of-ways, wouldn’t it be prudent to subsidize an in-county service to do that work? Paying for maintenance service plus travel time, lodging and meals to a non-local contractor can’t be cost-effective. Perhaps we could create a few good paying local jobs to do that work, keeping those funds in our local economy? How about assistance from the EDA and Chamber of Commerce? And…let’s keep those agro-chemicals out of our environment!

“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself ” – Rachel Carson

Bob LaMettry,
Grand Marais