Chopping block

Coulee Area Park and Recreation District Commissioner Bob Valen asks a tree cutting crew about their plans at North Dam Park Wednesday, where the crew, under contract to the Bonneville Power Administration, was set to cut all the trees in the lower, undeveloped area of the park. The park district managing the area wasn't notified and was including some of the trees in its master plan. Under a 2011 policy change, BPA now directs cutting of all growth higher than 10 feet in its powerline right-of-ways. Much was cut, but many trees still remain. - Scott Hunter photo