Group to Urge City Council Tonight to Preserve Tumwater Oak

For Immediate Release                                                                     May 28, 2024

Documents at Media Releases | Davis-Meeker Oak (davis-meeker-oak.org)

Hashtag: #tumwateroak

Group to Urge City Council Tonight to Preserve Tumwater Oak

A group of citizens will appear at a Tumwater City Council meeting tonight at 6 p.m., asking the council to override Mayor Debbie Sullivan’s administrative decision to cut down a 400-year-old Garry oak tree. The tree is located on the historic Cowlitz Trail, used for millennia by indigenous nations. Later the tree was a landmark on the trail when white settlers used it as a branch of the Oregon Trail. The oak is listed in the Tumwater Register of Historic Places and is a protected species under Washington state law.

“The issue is the council members' inaction to save this tree,” said Michelle Peterson of Tumwater and a member of Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak “My mayor shouldn't steamroll them. Last week, the Bellingham City Council enacted measures to protect landmark trees. This week, we should do the same.”

Peterson and the group’s attorney Ronda Larson Kramer will request that the council pass a motion to turn the meeting from a workshop to an emergency meeting and to adopt a measure identical to one recently passed in Bellingham that protects heritage trees. A council workshop does not allow voting and action on issues as does a regular or emergency meeting.

“The mayor is an administrator, not a legislator,” said Larson Kramer. “She has overreached in strong arming the council and ignoring the Historic Preservation Commission.”

There is currently a temporary court order restraining Mayor Sullivan and the city from cutting the tree, issued Friday by Judge Sharonda Amamilo of Thurston County Superior Court.It has since been discovered that a mating pair of kestrels is nesting in the tree and that the female is leucistic or white, an uncommon genetic variation.

“If there are nestlings or viable eggs in the tree, then cutting it down constitutes a ‘taking’ and is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” said Steve Ellis, a bird educator and writer.

The group is organizing supporters to appear at the city council’s scheduled workshop meeting on Tuesday May 28 at 6 p.m. at the Tumwater Fire Department Headquarters, EOC, 311 Israel Rd. SW, Tumwater, WA 98501 or by Zoom from the city’s website.

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Historic and Protected Tree to be Axed by Tumwater City Council Memorial Day Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 May 24, 2024

Historic and Protected Tree to be Axed by Tumwater City Council Memorial Day Weekend

Part of Washington’s history is about to be irrevocably destroyed the weekend of May 24th. The Davis Meeker Garry Oak in Tumwater, Wash. is 400 years old and is a significant landmark on a trail dating back thousands of years. The white oak is also a state-protected tree species and a historic listed tree. The City of Tumwater intends to cut it down very soon.

Yellow Ribbon Event on Saturday, May 25, 4pm

Save the Davis-Meeker Garry Oak (SDMGO) has organized arborists, historians, naturalists and citizens from around the region to prevent the city’s imminent action. Assuming the oak is still standing by then, they will hold a yellow-ribbon tying event at the tree on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 4pm, Capitol Blvd SE and Almar Lane SE.  It will be a friendly, non-violent show of presence and support for the Davis Meeker Oak. Attendees are encouraged to bring yellow ribbons, signs, sign-making supplies to share, simple snacks and musical instruments. 

"The report of the city's arborist condemning the tree contains a litany of mistakes. The arborist failed to use arboricultural best practices, ignored recommendations from more experienced parties, and created a report that is a generally poor reflection of the field of arboriculture," says arborist Beowulf Browers.

The tree’s historical name reflects its status as a landmark on the Cowlitz section of the Oregon Trail. The Cowlitz Trail was an east-west trail used for millennia by tribal nations. Later, the tree was a landmark used by non-indigenous settlers heading to what is now Washington.

“It stands as one of the most beautiful and majestic mature White Oaks in our area,” said Su Sikora of SDMGO. “This is not just any tree, but a tree with cultural importance, historic significance and community meaning, a beloved landmark known to many as the big beautiful tree by the airport.”

The Garry or white oak is a state-protected species, and the Davis Meeker tree was listed on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places in 1995.

On May 22, the Tumwater City Council met and failed to take any action to pass an ordinance to protect the tree, despite testimony from citizens and arborists. The council stated that it would instead respect the mayor's decision to cut the tree.

The citizen group said it is determined to stop the destruction of this magnificent tree and ensure its preservation for future generations and to make it safe for the oak stay where it is without threat to public safety. They are demanding that Tumwater City Council save and care for this irreplaceable piece of our heritage.

Judge Orders Stay of Axing of Historic Davis Meeker Garry Oak by City of Tumwater

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                              May 24, 2024

Judge Orders Stay of Axing of Historic Davis Meeker Garry Oak by City of Tumwater

OLYMPIA--On Friday Judge Sharonda Amamilo of Thurston County Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order preventing City of Tumwater from the destruction of a 400-year-old Garry oak that is a protected species and is listed in the Tumwater Register of Historic Places.

An attorney for the group Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak obtained the order to prevent a needless and improperly applied use of city power to destroy the historic tree.

“Tumwater’s mayor spearheaded the misuse of a city code designed to protect historic structures and essentially turned the code on its head to claim it allows the cutting down of this historic tree without a permit,” said attorney Ronda Larson Kramer. “The city has now filed a motion to vacate the judge’s protection, ignoring the wishes of the citizens and the earlier decision by their own Historic Preservation Commission to retain the tree.”

On Saturday, May 25 at 4:00 p.m. the public is invited to the tree for a celebration to pay tribute to this 400-year tree and to honor its place in history as an important route marker along the historic Cowlitz Trail. It is located near the intersection of Capitol Boulevard SE and Almar Lane SE in Tumwater. There will be music, information, food and a community rally to save this important living part of Northwest history. People are invited to bring their instruments and food to share.

The tree’s historical name reflects its status as a landmark on the Cowlitz section of the Oregon Trail. The Cowlitz Trail was a north-south trail used for millennia by tribal nations. Later, the tree was a landmark used by white settlers heading to what is now Washington. The Garry or white oak is a state-protected species, and the Davis Meeker tree was listed on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places in 1995. It is the only living thing on the register as the rest of the listings are area historic buildings.

“This tree is still a landmark today, reminding us of our many cultural roots and of those who have passed this way for thousands of years,” said Michelle Peterson, group spokesperson. “At 400 years old, it is a middle-aged tree and we intend to protect it for the generations who follow us.”

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