Lakewood Garry Oak Conservancy
They're disappearing.
Have you noticed any Garry oaks being cut down? Tell us about it! We're collecting data.
Rare Garry oaks (also known as Oregon white oaks, Quercus garryana) are under constant threat in Lakewood, Washington.
Take action — these pages are intended to make it easy.
The oaks thank you.
Oakbrook Outreach
Hey Oakbrook!
You may have seen Sean and Dave out today and/or received one of our brochures. We're glad you made it here!
Please consider signing and sharing our petition:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/city-of-lakewood-protect-our-oaks
It's also helpful if the city can hear from you. You can send your comments to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and City Council Members to the City Clerk, Briana Schumacher, who will forward them: <[email protected]>
Finally, if you'd like to join our campaign for a more sustainable Lakewood, contact us at [email protected].
We need help with doorknocking like this and other ways to put pressure on the …
Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 10:02:18 PM
Please post: respond to Lakewood's tree propaganda video
Dear Oak Advocates!
The city made a propaganda film about what a great job they are doing preserving trees in Lakewood. At one point Bugher says that the construction of an apartment complex (Echelon) "allowed us to preserve THOUSANDS of oak trees that might have otherwise been lost" (!!!)
Here is the link to the Facebook post with the film - please comment below it:
https://fb.watch/7hzRN8Hjbg/
Also, please comment on SubTimes where the city posted the story as well:
https://thesubtimes.com/2021/08/08/city-of-lakewood-means-business-regarding-tree-preservation/
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 12:19:07 PM
Oakwood school / 85th Street S / oak tragedy
Please contact us about the former OAKWOOD school on 85th Street South here.
There are 80+ Garry oaks on the former Oakwood Elementary School property, which people now use as a park for strolling, and taking children and dogs for walks. Every single tree is slated to be destroyed for another warehouse. The largest oak we measured there had a 46" diameter at breast height (DBH). (A 250 year old oak can be 27" DBH.)
A just 6" Garry oak qualifies as a "significant tree" in Lakewood — but this does not save it from destruction. As I was …
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 9:50:24 PM
Due Friday, 30 July: public comments about another Woodbrook warehouse
Application LU-21-00080 for grocery warehouse in Woodbrook neighborhood
Applicant: James Guerrero, architect on Lakewood's Planning Commission
Deadline for public comments: this Friday, 30 July, 5 p.m. — be sure to get a receipt and send in well before 5 p.m.
LETTER TEMPLATE BELOW: please cut and paste, and modify as you wish. Use as much or as little as you want.
If case of any problems or questions, contact us here.
The architect who sits on Lakewood's Planning Commission has submitted an application involving oak destruction to make yet another warehouse (this time a war…
Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 11:55:43 PM
news from the City: Alfaretta update
This morning someone from the planning department called me to tell me that indeed, the oak cutting at Alfaretta was indeed illegal, that code enforcement will be sent out today and that the owner will be fined. I do not know yet how much, nor whether the tree-cutting company will also be fined.
She also told me something to the effect that the owner would be instructed not to do anything else to the property until her application is decided on, and appeal process over, if that happens.
Monday, July 19, 2021 at 1:20:02 PM
Alfaretta oak mutilated
After intervention from a neighborhood oak advocate, tree cutters stopped cutting down a very large Garry oak on the Alfaretta property whose owner is applying to split the property into three to build two more houses there. This Garry oak tree was a perimeter tree, which the Lakewood Municipal Code states "shall be preserved". In addition, it is a Garry oak, whose destruction on properties of this size requires a permit. Unfortunately, the tree sustained horrific damage. The tree cutters took photos before they packed up and left, to show that they had left it standing — in case anyone…
Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 10:37:17 PM
Western State Hospital public comments
Comments were submitted by 5pm 7 July opposing possible destruction of Garry oaks during the Western State Hospital expansion:
https://wshmasterplan.org/
The project says that for the most part they are going to use the area that was already developed, but they did mention somewhere (for some particular part I think) that "some Oregon white oak might be affected".
I think for lay people it would suffice to say that all Oregon white oaks / Garry oaks must be protected. There are a total of 32.6 acres of Garry oaks there.
There is also riparian habitat on the property, bu…
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 3:40:47 PM
Qwest / 111th Street SW oaks public comment due Monday, 5 July!
Don't forget to submit your public comment to oppose the likely destruction of eleven (or possibly even more) Garry oaks on the Qwest property on 111th Street SW in Lakewood, whose owner has applied to split it into two. See details and sample letter here.
Monday, July 5, 2021 at 12:02:56 AM
NYT:
"What Technology Could Reduce Heat Deaths? Trees."
Another great article in the New York Times on 2 July about the critical environmental importance of trees in cities during heatwaves like the one we had in the past week.
Sunday, July 4, 2021 at 8:31:17 AM
New York Times: Canopy cover and environmental inequality
Don't miss this New York Times opinion piece published 30 June 2021 — the subject is especially relevant to our current situation in Lakewood. The text is excellent and has very powerful images:
Friday, July 2, 2021 at 11:57:37 AM