FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2024
Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak
Contact:
Michelle Peterson, 360 878-7689, michellepeterson.rn@gmail.com
Ronda Larson Kramer, 360 259-3076, ronda@larsonlawpllc.com
Court and background documents at https://www.davis-meeker-oak.org/ Media Resources
Petition: Save the Old Oak Tree
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1207869877018181/
Hashtags: #tumwateroak #savethetree
Error-Ridden City Tree Report Invalid to Assess Meeker Oak Risk
TUMWATER—The report relied upon to justify the eradication of the historic Davis Meeker Garry Oak is so deficient and full of errors it cannot be relied on to determine whether the tree is a risk.
A panel of independent licensed arborists with advanced tree-risk credentials reviewed the report. The document, by Tumwater City Arborist Kevin McFarlane, has been used by Mayor Debbie Sullivan as a justification to cut down the 400-year-old tree that is on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places. She maintains the tree is unhealthy but has no evidence to back up her claim.
Notably, the city arborist lacks an important certification in tree risk assessment. Specifically, he lacks an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ). This is a voluntary qualification program. When a professional earns the ISA TRAQ credential, they learn a standardized, systematic process for assessing tree risk. One can verify any arborist’s credentials here: Verify an ISA Credential (treesaregood.org).
According to the panel of independent experts, McFarland appears to have rushed through his assessment, as indicated by the report’s errors:
It overstates the height of the tree by 54%. The report states the tree is 125’ when it is verified to be 81.1’ high.
In citing land use or other changes to the tree’s location, the report states “none,” while the tree, at approximately 400 years old, predates all development.
The potential damage to the hangar is reported as severe. The hangar is not in the dripline of the tree. At most, the risk would be for some damage to the building’s exterior.
Photographic evidence shows a two-inch area of open decay, yet the report says that 50% of the tree’s circumference is an open void.
The arborist failed to use resistance drilling, a technique would have helped determine the density of the wood.
The extent of decay that is estimated and dramatically illustrated is based on only a one-hour climbing survey of the tree and on tapping the tree with a mallet.
The risk categorization, which is based on a series of formulaic steps, does not conclude with the correct level of risk/damage; it rates the risk higher.
Due to the risk the report assumes, Mr. McFarland recommended removal of the tree and dismissed the possibility of “retrenchment,” a vague term that encompasses numerous possible approaches to pruning or reshaping the tree to enhance its strength.
Another consultant cited in the report who performed tomography of the tree—testing by sound waves—recommended instead that the tree be retained and managed as a “veteran” tree with retrenchment and pruning. A third independent arborist reviewing the report states that a 10 to 15 percent reduction through pruning would reduce strain on the tree by 50 percent.
"The loss of habitat value from removing a tree of this magnitude can not be mitigated,” said certified arborist Beowulf Brower. “The risk assessment condemning it contains such a variety of errors that it should be redone by a neutral third party. While the methodology of the inspection was sound, the report is incongruent with those findings."
Jesse Brighten of Arbor Dreams and a certified arborist and tree-risk assessment specialist, said, “The errors contained within the report (McFarland’s) are so egregious the recommendation for removal should not be considered.”
“The economic, social, historical and tribal values outweigh any hasty recommendation for removal. Preservation efforts should be considered,” Brighten added.
Mayor Sullivan in April overrode the Historic Preservation Commission’s refusal to remove the tree from the Tumwater Historic Register, claiming that she had emergency authority to skip obtaining a required waiver for taking down the tree. She then got bids for the removal without opportunity for public review or comment and she went to court to remove a temporary restraining order obtained by Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak (SDMGO) citizens group.
The Davis Meeker Garry Oak is located on the old Cowlitz Trail, used for millennia by Indigenous people and later by setters on what became a northern branch of the Oregon Trail. The tree was a landmark for travelers.
Garry oaks are Washington’s only native species of oak, and Garry oak habitat is protected under state law. Also, oak is the national tree of the United States.
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