Tumwater’s city staff is considering the removal of the Davis Meeker Oak, a 400-year-old Oregon White Oak tree (Quercus garryana) that stands just east of Olympia Regional Airport along Old Highway 99.
Both Tumwater City Council and the Tree Board had separate meetings about the 125-foot tree on Monday, March 11, to discuss why it needs to be removed and the requirements for its removal.
In its assessment report, the city’s consulting urban forester, Sound Urban Forestry, recommended the removal of the tree as it poses a high risk to nearby structures. Should the tree fail, potential targets include a nearby hangar, a parking area, powerlines, and the cars on the highway.
In June last year, an 18-inch diameter branch fell from the tree from a height of 50 feet. The consultant’s analysis also mentioned that a 12-inch diameter branch had fallen from the tree before the most recent incident. Visible signs of rot were present in both points where the branches fell.
Despite the recent branch failures, the analysis acknowledged that the tree exhibits signs of good health.
The consultant’s recommendation was made in October last year after it conducted a level three risk assessment of the tree, following an aerial assessment by Waxwing Tree Specialists that found that decay extended upwards to one of the tree’s co-dominant stems.
Another consultant, Tree Solutions Inc., also conducted a sonic tomography test to visualize the tree's interior.
The city’s insurer, Washington Cities Insurance Authority, also recommended the removal of the tree after reviewing Sound Urban Forestry’s analysis.
As the tree is listed in the city’s historical register, it will first have to be removed from the register before its removal is approved. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission is scheduled to tackle the issue on March 21 and will consider recommending to the city council to delist the tree. The city council has the final say on whether to authorize the delisting of the tree.
Other options were also considered before Sound Urban Forestry recommended removal. In its assessment report, the consulting firm stated that installing a structural support system combined with pruning was considered, but the decay's extent made the option ineffective.
Tree Solutions also recommended retrenchment pruning to reduce the canopy’s height and spread by 15 feet, thereby decreasing the chances of tree failure.
Sound Urban Forestry’s assessment stated that the tree will still pose a high risk even with retrenchment pruning. At the same time, the city will need to develop specifications for the tree’s pruning and a long-term management plan.
A city staff report this week stated that the city would incur additional expenses as the tree needs to be pruned every five years on top of costs to reassess the tree’s risk of failure through new sonic tomography studies.
During the Tree Board meeting, sustainability Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood said that city staff received close to 60 emails opposing the tree removal.
Four people also spoke during the public comments section of the meeting, one of which was Beowulf Brower, a certified arborist working for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, who suggested cabling and bracing the tree.
“At the State Capitol, there's a maple with much worse decay than this tree. It is extraordinarily well braced and cabled and cannot possibly fail in any impactful way,” Brower said, adding later on, “The State Capitol tree is braced not to itself but to a guidepost. Does this cost money? Absolutely, but the removal of a tree of that magnitude will also be not inexpensive.”
"I think also it might not be a terrible idea to do an appraisal of the tree so that you might better complete a benefit-cost analysis of removal versus retention. This tree provides ecosystem services that are quantifiable in a monetary sense,” Brower added.
The Davis Meeker Oak was included in the city’s historical register in 1995. According to the city website, part of its name was derived from environmentalist Jack Davis, who led a community effort to save the tree in 1984, resulting in the rerouting of Old Highway 99’s right-of-way.
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AugieH
No JOLT staff member took the photo at the top of the story. It's cut and paste out of Google Maps at street level from a May 2023 image. Check it out yourself and notice the cars in the same position.
Tuesday, March 12 Report this
BevBassett
This tree ought to rightly have rights to live where it has lived for 400 years. Its us arrogant humans with our chain saws who would kill this tree because it might possibly cause harm to humans someday in the future. This tree should be nurtured and protected, supported and pruned, as needed to keep it living in its best possible state of health until it dies a 'natural' death--to the extent that would be possible under the circumstances of human overpopulation pressure. It reflects badly on any authorities who would presume they have a right to fell or harm this tree in any way to any greater extent than we have already harmed this magnificent living organism by paving over its roots and insulting it in other ways with fuel exhaust fumes and other hydrocarbon toxins we contaminate its environment with. For it to be as strong and vigorous as it is, is a miracle to be celebrated!
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
SecondOtter
It's NOT A WEED, Tumwater City Council. It's a venerable oak tree.
(oh, what am I saying. Tumwater allows scotch broom and tansy ragwort to flourish, but heavens, can't have a TREE in the way, can we?)
This was to me, just a case of not if, but when. Tumwater's City Council does NOT like trees. They get in the way, you know? THey're just so messy. So of course they demonize the tree and oh, let's not forget the basis for all this: Mr. Insurance Man.
Brace it, cut out the infected parts but DO NOT CUT IT DOWN.
Saying it's going to cost money to keep pruning is mere gaslighting. How much money has Tumwater spent putting in dozens of roundabouts? The roundabout at Trosper and Capitol has been ongoing for a year, if not more, businesses on the sides of the construction are going out of business, and if you thought congestion was bad before the construction started, wait until the first collision at the roundabout when a semi tries to negotiate it.
IN the meantime they cut down all the trees there to make way for...construction equipment. Tearing down the Meeker Oak is just more of the same.
Oh, and by the way, you're not supposed to cut down oaks. Too many have been lost, this lovely old one has the genetics to withstand all the pollution, the noise, the compression of the soil. Iwould think it's more valuable than anyone on the City Council can understand.
LEAVE It BE.
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
Dtcooper
We have lost so much of our natural vegetation, trees and how the landscape has changed. How many buildings built that now sit empty (Israel rd.) With the builds come large concrete/paved parking lots that destroy our ground water tables and those majestic trees are unable to thrive. We see more & more reports of trees falling across roads hitting houses & cars and use the "it's a danger tree " to justify cutting instead realizing the effect development has on trees ability to thrive. Now considering removal (easy
fix) of a 400yr old tree ? Shame on you city of Tumwater Save this Tree!
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
EntitlementRightsLLC
The tree is in a public right of way, but the land and tree are owned by the Port of Olympia. Why is the Port not responsible for all this?
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
KatAshe
To those who believe removing a tree that is dying after living out its lifespan please get over it. All living things have a lifespan and then die. That’s how life works. Even redwoods,thousands of years old will eventually die of natural causes.
Oregon White Oaks MAY live to 500 years. The fact this one made it to 400+ means it is doing what commands.
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
JW
Geez Bev, when are you going to set up your shrine at this tree to worship?
I hope that post was satire, but this is Olympia after all.
Wednesday, March 13 Report this
TheGreatAnon
Take the tree down. It has been a hazard for decades.
Thursday, March 14 Report this
JulesJames
Investigating the scene of the tree via Google Maps street view makes this an easy call. The tens of thousands of dollars necessary to keep this isolated tree alive for a few more years is better spent in a park or for open space. Its not Manet's naked picnic tree or the Buttonwood of Wall Street. It has not inspired a garden or pastoral grove to grow around it these past 400 years. Thurston County has many other far more significant trees worthy of extreme life support. Fell it, buck it, give away the wood for ladles and bowls.
Thursday, March 14 Report this
DStusser
RESPONSE TO AUGIEH - The photo at the top of the story is of an image provided by the City of Tumwater and was taken from an online presentation. We have clarified this in the caption.
Friday, March 15 Report this