TumwaterTuesday, November 3
Tumwater weighs an emergency declaration to save its 400-year-old Garry oak
The Daily Olympia team
If you pass 7525 Old Highway 99 in Tumwater, you know the Davis-Meeker Garry oak. Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff was set to declare an emergency at the Nov. 2 council meeting, which would let the city shift about $100,000 toward the work.
The oak is old, battered and costly to keep
- 400 years
- approximate age of the Davis-Meeker Garry oak
- 30%
- of its canopy lost in recent windstorms
- $100,000
- about, for work to keep it standing ahead of winter
Source: The Olympian
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams told the council on Oct. 27 that root work resumes in early November. Pruning needs a new state permit, and the goal is to start Nov. 17 or sooner. The council set aside $50,000 in July 2026 and was asked for $50,000 more.
- Root zone management: $74,000
- Pruning: $14,000
- Pruning permit: state Department of Archeological and Historical Preservation
- Historic commission's only steady funding: $10,000 a year
“In my opinion, I do not see a scenario whereby this tree — at some point in time within the next five, six years — does not come down.”
Council member Meghan Sullivan said the work will bring risk down to a level she's comfortable with. Monday's outcome wasn't in the reports available this morning.
The oak's fate moved fast this fall
- Sept. 25A windstorm breaks two branches off the oak.
- Oct. 15Historical Preservation Commission unanimously approves retaining the tree.
- Oct. 27Council gets a briefing on the tree's status.
- Nov. 2Council meeting set to take up the added $50,000 request.
- Nov. 17Goal for pruning to start, if the state permit is approved.
Sources: The Jolt News, The Olympian
Sources: The Jolt News, The Olympian