Title: Characterizing the Risk that the Aging Forests of Westchester County, New York Pose to an Overhead Distribution System

Summary: Recent major storms events have caused severe damage to Westchester County’s energy delivery system and caused extensive interruptions to electric service. One possible explanation for this damage is that the system’s surrounding environment is changing. In many urban areas the aging population of large and potentially over-mature trees may contribute disproportionately to the damage experienced. To borrow a concept from popular sociology, is there a “baby boom” effect in Westchester County’s urban trees, similar to the post-war Baby Boom generation in the U.S.? Results from an investigation detailing the condition of the County’s urban forest and the risk to its distribution system will be presented.

John W. Goodfellow, Owner, Redmond, WA, United States

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