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The City of Tumwater is ensuring the preservation of the Davis-Meeker Garry oak tree.
The Tumwater City Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday, April 15, to allocate up to $55,000 for activities aimed at mitigating the risks of preserving the historic tree on Old Highway 99.
City Administrator Lisa Parks told the council the resolution also directs city staff to return to the city council for any necessary budget amendments, as well as additional recommendations for long-term funding and maintenance recommendations.
Parks said the report by arborist firm Todd Prager & Associates, hired by the city to assess the tree’s risks, includes a list of recommendations to mitigate the risk of keeping the tree.
Preliminary cost estimates suggest that these activities would cost the city between $30,000 and $50,000.
About half of the expenses would go toward reduction pruning, which involves trimming the tree’s crown to reduce the risk of failure on parts that pose a higher risk.
The city also plans to install supplemental support systems. Parks said the arborist firm identified cabling a stem growing toward Old Highway 99 as the primary method for providing the support.
Other activities would include mulching, soil testing, and the planting of native plants to improve the condition of the surrounding areas of the tree.
The city administrator also mentioned, as the tree’s risk assessment is valid for a three-year time frame, monitoring activities are recommended every three to five years, as well as after storm events.
The city initially planned to remove the tree in May 2024, following a risk assessment that rated it as high risk.
However, after public pushback, the city hired Todd Prager & Associates in August 2024 for a second opinion. The firm’s report, released in February, concluded that the tree posed, at most, a moderate risk under certain conditions.
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JHermes
Here's to another 400 years.
Thursday, April 17 Report this
Boatyarddog
Hear,Hear Agreed!
Our Historic Areas Must Survive this Onslaught of Development if we are to "Teach Our Children Well".
Thursday, April 17 Report this
Scott_Tompkins
I scanned through the arborist's report, which was very detailed and thorough. Do we know how much the city paid for this study?
Thursday, April 17 Report this
SecondOtter
Considering how much money Sullivan spent to one, get a report that was highly biased, two, hired a couple of lawyers to file a restraining order in retaliation to the public's restraining order, then, three, tried to get the county to pay those legal bills, I think this 50K is a good start to preserving the oak.
Whatever good will Sullivan had at the beginning of her vendetta against a tree was wasted on her efforts.
Friday, April 18 Report this
S2345S23456
Yaayyyyy!!! Ensuring the preservation of this VERY SPECIAL Davis-Meeker Garry Oak is the right thing to do! While it may seem like a chunk of money to do so, it is REALLY WORTH IT. It improves the quality of our well-being to have such a wise elder tree with us. If we treat it with care, it might just tell us what it saw in the year 1650.
Friday, April 18 Report this
longtimeresident
Thank you, Tumwater City Council. Wiser heads prevailed................
Monday, April 21 Report this