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 …

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 …

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.

“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.

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:

“Since When Have Trees Existed Only for Rich Americans?”