The Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum is a world-class demonstration and teaching site for power companies, cities, counties, nurseries, landowners and managers, landscape contractors and designers, and consumers. The utility arboretum also showcases trees under 30 feet tall that would fit under 30-foot power lines. These trees exhibit planting the right tree near overhead utility lines. Eversource's Recommended 30 Trees Under 30' Tall.
3-Minute Video Of The Utility Arboretum With Bob Allen
In this video, we'll hear from Bob Allen and get a glimpse of the Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum. Bob oversees vegetation management at Eversource and is manager of vegetation coordination, strategy and innovation. Bob Allen, an alum of UMass, and world renowned tree expert Dr. Michael Dirr, are founders of the Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum.
3-Minute Video of NATS 6-27-2024 Training
In this 3-minute video we hear from Marcy Carpenter, co-owner of North American Training Solutions. Observe the trainees practicing on the simulators during their training.
Learn more about the Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum. Contact Bob Allen, Eversource, at robert.allen@eversource.com or use our Contact Form.
Bob Allen is the Manager Vegetation Coordination, Strategy, and Innovation for Eversource. Bob wrote this article for the Spring 2024 UAA (Utility Arborist Association Newsline). In it he gives us the history of how the four Eversource arboretums were conceived and developed. The Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum is one of the four. It opened in April 2017.
Where is the Eversource/UMass Utility Arboretum located? Who is it for?
The utility arboretum is located on the UMass Amherst campus in an area known as the UMass Agricultural Center. It is behind Furculo Hall and north of lot 44 (solar panels).
The utility arboretum is for the public to learn about trees. It is especially for demonstration and training for electric power lineworkers (installers and repairers), tree wardens, tree professionals and landscape designers.
What is the purpose of the utility arboretum?
"We've used it with tree companies as a safety and training site, because the wires are de-energized. So lineworkers can go to the arboretum and work close to the wires because they are de-energized.
If there's a mature tree that we're trying to keep that our tree warden wants to save and not trim as much, there are options on the top of the pole. You can see what we can do. As opposed to just a basic cross arm, we could put an alley arm on, which is just to one side or the other. We could shift it to space or cable which is a bundle of the wires." (Bob Allen)
The utility arboretum is also an outdoor classroom; a place to learn about trees. Teachers with their class often visit and use the informative on-site signage, referring to the 30 for 30 tree map, as part of their curriculum.
Eversource's Recommended 30 Trees Under 30 Feet Tall
In These Trees Toe The Line, Dr. Michael Dirr explains how they created the 30 trees under 30 feet tall resource.
"Research and evaluation of new trees and large shrubs under and adjacent to the wires would run concurrently. Professor Brian Kane and his students would collect data on growth rates, storm damage, ornamental features (for example, excess messy fruit), pests and diseases. Bob and I crafted a working list of some 55 species that fit a “30 under 30” umbrella — trees under 30 feet tall that would fit under 30-foot power lines. The initial list dated April 12, 2015 has undergone several revisions, especially as new cultivars were included. Amherst, Massachusetts, is Zone 5/6 and we selected most species for hardiness, but we went far afield and included Lagerstroemia (crapemyrtle) as an outlier."
Download The 30 Trees Under 30 Feet Tall Brochure
Contact Us
Use our contact form to reach us. Let us know if you are interested in a training or demonstration for your company. While the utility arboretum is open to the public, please contact us first if you plan to bring a group. Power companies and line workers may also opt to contact Bob Allen directly: Bob Allen, EVERSOURCE, robert.allen@eversource.com.
