tree | FFXnow - Part 2

Reston becomes next focus of W&OD Trail tree maintenance work

Published January 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

Power lines over the W&OD Trail at the Sunset Hills Road crossing in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With the new year underway, Dominion Energy is gearing up for another round of tree maintenance along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, shifting its focus to the Reston area.

The power company has flagged 19 “hazard” trees near its electrical lines for removal in a 2.7-mile stretch of the trail between its Hunter Mill Road substation in Wolf Trap and the Reston substation on Sunset Hills Road, Dominion Electric Transmission Forestry Manager Amanda Keyes told NOVA Parks Executive Director Justin Wilson in a Dec. 16 letter.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes updates to tree species recommended for developers

By Nolan Stout

Published December 10, 2025 at 8:30AM

Trees planted near a residential neighborhood in Idylwood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Christmas trees start popping up throughout the region, Fairfax County is wrapping up a multiyear effort to revise regulations around trees used by developers.

At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ environmental committee on Nov. 25, county officials provided an update on proposed changes to the tree planting recommendations in its public facilities manual.

News

Fairfax City considers hiring more forestry staff under draft plan

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published December 8, 2025 at 11:45AM

The sun sets over Stafford Drive Park in Fairfax City on Dec. 7, 2025 (photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax City could establish a new urban forestry division in the next one to five years to promote tree preservation.

A draft of the city’s new Urban Forest Master Plan, which will be presented to the planning commission today (Dec. 8), envisions two new technicians, an urban forester, and part-time administrative support dedicated to helping implement stronger conservation practices and expand its tree canopy. There would also be a shared GIS technician/analyst.

News

Friends of Reston revives tree fund to support community plantings

By Jamie Rogers

Published December 1, 2025 at 9:15AM

Friends of Reston President Kathleen Driscoll (middle) with Cameron and Lincoln Dunn (left), Bundeseh-German Liaison Office Col. Bernd Albers (right) and Volkswagen Group of America Senior Director Mark Ramsey (back), who were honored as exceptional supporters at a Nov. 3 tree planting ceremony (photo by Kathleen Driscoll)

Local nonprofit Friends of Reston has brought new life to its Friends of Trees Tree Fund program, doubling down on its efforts to help preserve Reston’s lush tree canopy by encouraging the community to plant more trees.

The program has existed since at least 2012 but experienced a slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Kathleen Driscoll, president of Friends of Reston, which supports Reston Association through private fundraising and charitable, educational and scientific activities.

News

Fairfax County urban forester among victims of deadly Herndon house fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 20, 2025 at 8:30AM

Fairfax County urban forester Toni Woods speaks to Fairfax Tree Stewards graduates at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in June 2024 (photo by Jeanne Kadet)

An urban forester and arborist who worked for Fairfax County was among the two people who died earlier this month in a house fire in the Herndon area.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay identified Toni Woods and her husband as the victims of the Nov. 6 fire when the board convened on Tuesday (Nov. 18) for its only November meeting.

News

GW Parkway lanes closed temporarily for tree maintenance

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 10, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated November 10, 2025 at 3:11PM

The GW Parkway's southbound lanes in the Fort Hunt area are temporarily closed for tree maintenance (courtesy National Park Service)

Though the federal government is still closed, that won’t stop the National Park Service from tackling tree maintenance along the southern portion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

The agency resumed work to evaluate and trim trees along the roadway south of Alexandria last week, requiring lane closures starting today (Monday) through Friday, Nov. 21.

News

Dominion Energy plans ‘selective’ tree removals on W&OD Trail with NOVA Parks’ support

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 14, 2025 at 8:30AM

People walking on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail east of Hunter Mill Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Dominion Energy is planning to take down more trees near its power lines along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail — this time, with the consent of NOVA Parks.

Starting next Monday (Oct. 20), the power company will begin “selective” pruning and removals of trees and other vegetation on a 2.6-mile section of the trail between its Clark substation in Vienna and the Hunter substation in Wolf Trap, just outside Reston.

News

Work to address ‘hazardous’ trees along southern GW Parkway begins

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2025 at 8:30AM

GW Parkway is closed at Belle View Blvd in Belle Haven for tree removals (staff photo by James Cullum)

Drivers may notice an abundance of tree trimming along the George Washington Memorial Parkway over the next couple of months.

The National Park Service announced yesterday (Monday) that crews will spend the next eight weeks maintaining and evaluating trees along the southern section of the parkway between Mount Vernon and the Belle Haven area just south of Alexandria.

News

Herndon’s tree canopy is growing but still falls short of neighbors, staff say

By Vernon Miles

Published September 11, 2025 at 11:45AM

A large tree looms over Elden Street in Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Herndon’s tree canopy coverage isn’t bad for a town of its size, but it notably lags behind some of its neighbors, town staff say.

At a work session on Tuesday (Sept. 9), arborist Nick Maletta told the Herndon Town Council that the town currently has 26% canopy coverage, which falls within a standard range but at the lower end of that spectrum.

News

Rally opposing tree clearings on W&OD Trail planned in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 5, 2025 at 3:45PM

Trees line one side of the W&OD Trail along Dominion Road in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The chainsaws have gone quiet, but the fight to preserve trees along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail isn’t over yet.

A number of elected officials, nonprofits and community organizations plan to renew pressure on Dominion Energy over its approach to tree clearings with a rally tomorrow (Saturday) in Vienna.