Highland Park trees may have to make way for water treatment work

Trees line Highland Park Reservoir No. 2 on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Photo by Quinn Glabicki)& Credit:& Quinn Glabicki / PublicSource The state says a Pittsburgh water treatment plan might mean Highland Park Reservoir trees must be cut down. City officials warn it could be “catastrophic.” “PublicSource is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region. Sign up for our free newsletters.” by Laura Turbay and Quinn Glabicki, PublicSource July 22, 2024 A state agency’s proposal to remove well over an acre of woodlands along the Highland Park Reservoir No. 2 has drawn opposition from area residents and Pittsburgh’s mayor.& The proposal from the state Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] arose from the agency’s assessment that the trees and woody vegetation alongside the century-old dam pose a public safety hazard, citing risks of seepage and potential structural problems to the dam. In a May letter, the DEP proposed the extraction of trees to fall in line with its regulations.& This comes as the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority [PWSA], which owns the reservoir property, sets in motion a five-year plan to replace a clearwell water treatment facility across from the reservoir. A temporary clearwell is planned to be located at...