Huge swaths of trees that lined Rutland, St. Stephen's Church and other roads were gone after the work last month.

"We were getting calls and e-mails about the trees being cut," said South Riverkeeper Diana Muller. "There was concern that the cutting, particularly on steep slopes in some areas would contribute to runoff into nearby streams and the South River."

But apparently that fear didn't materialize. Water monitoring, some even done while it was raining, revealed none of the sites were causing runoff into the nearby waterways.

Using a testing device that measures turbidity, or cloudiness of the water due to runoff, Muller said she found negligible levels.

"There does not seem to be any correlation between the cutting and turbidity," she said.

It looks like the key is that BGE left tree roots and underbrush in place, leaving soil pretty much intact. The utility company's contractors also ground up much of what was cut on the spot and left the chips in place, further aiding soil conservation.

Some ground was left in pretty rough shape by the equipment used in the clearing operation, but after being contacted by Muller and the South River Federation, BGE was quick to return and lay down straw and seed in those areas.

"We manage the right-of-way based on national standards based on best practices," said Bill Rees, forestry management director for the power company.

The company is required to keep the area under its transmission lines clear of trees that might interrupt service. In 2007 trees along the line in Harford County knocked out power, affecting thousands of customers. Since then the company has been more aggressive about removing any tree that could grow tall enough to interfere with wires.

"Everything we cut, all the root material is left undisturbed," said Daniel Neal, transmission right-of-way forester for BGE. "We try as much as possible to disturb as little as possible. What is disturbed we cover with seed and straw. All brush and logs from the operation are mulched in place or left lying."

Indeed there were areas, especially where the power line passes over Route 450 north of Rutland Road, where brush that had been cut was sitting in piles along the edge of a wetland area, providing another buffer for stormwater to filter through before running into the waterway.

South River Federation Executive Director Erik Michelsen noted another positive element in the right of way clearing practice.

"Cutting the forest area creates a open scrub land for other wildlife and forest-dwelling birds," he said. "It creates a habitat corridor under the power lines necessary for some species."

Neal agreed, noting the swath cut from the woods creates a transitional zone for wildlife.

"By having the brush and shrub area changing over to forested areas, it enables more wildlife species to thrive in the future," Neal said.

But Michelsen maintained that the best thing would be to have the trees remain in place.

"Ideally we'd like to see the forest and trees remain intact," he said. "But considering the regulatory considerations, BGE seems to have handled it pretty well."

Copyright © 2009 Capital Gazette Communications, Inc. , Annapolis, Md.