Advocating for trees around Watertown
Construction Damage Kills Trees
Without adequate municipal supervision, and despite explicit tree-protective contract language, shade trees routinely suffer serious damage in road and sidewalk reconstruction work - especially their root systems.
Please also email Trees for Watertown to let us know about the issue.
Utility Work
Utility pruning can seriously damage trees. Above is an example of the aggressive utility pruning protocol that heavily damaged Watertown's street trees in 2009-2010.
If you see utility pruning that concerns you, please report it right away using Watertown’s 311 system.
Please also email Trees for Watertown to let us know about the issue.
New Development
Developers in Watertown are required to hold a community meeting before submitting a special permit application to the Planning Board. This meeting allows the community to provide input on the proposed project.
Trees for Watertown attends these meetings to advocate for provisions that protect and increase the overall tree canopy, by providing for the long-term health of trees on the property and protecting trees on neighboring properties from construction damage.
If you would like to represent TFW at these meetings, please get in touch. It’s valuable to have as much community involved as possible.
Tree Hearings
Public shade trees are protected by Massachusetts State Law (MGL Chapter 87). No public shade tree may be pruned or removed without written approval by the Tree Warden, with the exception of trees which must be sacrificed for the widening of a state highway.
A request for removal of a public shade tree requires a Public Shade Tree Hearing. A tree removal objection in writing denies the removal, unless overruled by the City Manager. Only trees determined by the Tree Warden to be an imminent hazard are exempt from the Tree Hearing requirement.
To speak for or against removal of a tree listed on a Tree Hearing notice, write a letter or email to the Tree Warden. Make sure it identifies the specific tree and arrives before the Tree Hearing. If you can, come to the Tree Hearing yourself to voice your opinion in person.
Watertown’s Tree Stewardship Program
Watertown’s Urban Forestry Division is responsible for thousands of street trees in Watertown and is planting new ones every year. Newly planted trees are cared for by a contractor for 1 year after the initial planting. After that, you can help the trees on your street or just in front of your home by agreeing to watch and maintain a tree or trees. This is especially important during times of drought when the stress on our street trees is huge.
Advocating for trees to your government
You can advocate for better tree planning, planting, maintenance and protection in Watertown. Don't be shy! Contact your City Councilors and elected state and federal officials to voice your concerns (and to thank them when they too advocate for trees!) Get in touch in person, by phone or by email. They represent you and want to hear from you. Here are some links to contact information for your representatives.
Watertown City Council
Meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month (except summer). Not sure who your councilor is? You can look your district up on this map.
As a Watertown citizen, your voice counts! Residents can use Public Forum time to present a two-minute address on any topic, including topics not on the night's Council agenda. Be sure you sign up to speak at the beginning of the meeting. You will reach a wider audience since the meetings are recorded and broadcast live over Watertown City Cable.
Watertown Planning Board
Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7pm, City Hall and on Zoom
Zoning Board of Appeals
Meets last Wednesday of each month, 7pm, City Hall and on Zoom. Both hold additional special meetings as required
Shade trees are a vital part of urban infrastructure! To protect Watertown's environmental health and minimize the "heat island effect" of increased hardscape, we monitor development plans submitted for approval to Watertown's Planning Board and ZBA to include green infrastructural components and minimize the development's negative environmental impact.
Watertown Conservation Commission
Meets first Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm, on Zoom.
The Conservation Commission has stewardship of Watertown's parks, and has legal responsibility for protecting the Charles River from urban pollution, much of which is carried into the river by storm drains.
Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee
Meets third Monday of each month, 7:00 pm, on Zoom
The Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee has a broad range of research and advisory responsibilities related to energy conservation and emissions reduction. WE3C's Tree Ordinance Working Group researched and wrote Watertown's first draft Tree Protection Ordinance.
The unique value and vulnerability of municipal shade trees has been formally recognized in MA State Law since 1899. Every MA city and town must have a Tree Warden, who is responsible for the planting, protection and management of public shade trees within a municipality. A MA Tree Warden must be a Certified Arborist. Click here to learn more about our Urban Forestry Division.
Click here to learn about state or federal legislation impacting trees locally and nationally.
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