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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Army Corps orders thousands of trees chopped down
2009-06-10

That's the Army Corps of Engineers, and the trees are on or too near levies around the U.S. It is argued whether the trees undermine or strengthen earthen levies.
Posted by:Seafarious

#2  It is argued whether the trees undermine or strengthen earthen levees.

If the trees are located such that if they were to be uprooted they could tear away the protective cover of the levee and expose it to rapid erosion then they are a danger.
If the trees are located far enough from the levee then their roots help hold the soil together and they are a protection.
The Corps believes a good 'set-back' is 15'. Seems pretty reasonable to me, though probably unneccesarily much for smaller trees.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-06-10 20:54  

#1  This is exactly the right thing to do, critics don't understand that a wind blown, waterlogged tree with roots in the canal bank is very able to tear a great hole in the levy bank when blown over by high wind.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2009-06-10 12:11  

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