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01-03-2007, 11:45 AM
Advice on rescue pouring in for wind-wounded Ore. tree
By LORI TOBIAS
Newhouse News Service
PORTLAND — Could epoxy save the nation's tallest Sitka spruce? How about cement? Perhaps restuffing the rotted cavity with new wood?
Those are some suggestions proffered since news spread that the treasured "Klootchy Creek Giant" could be making its last stand.
Two weeks ago, windstorms rocked loose a scar of rotted wood from a decades-old lightning strike, creating a hole at least 18 inches wide and 20 feet long.
The 204-foot tree is so weak it could fall at any time, said Steve Meshke, parks director for Clatsop County, where the tree continues to draw the curious to Klootchy Creek Park, southeast of Seaside.
At least part of the tree must come down, Meshke said, though he and arborists haven't decided the details. In the meantime, the county has fenced off the area, and the ideas to save the tree are streaming in.
"I think epoxy might be a simple way to fix that tree," said Gordon Trone, a Portland contractor. "Epoxy is used in construction to repair dry rot in beams, as long as the dead wood is scraped out first. I'd be happy to lend my expertise if needed."
But Meshke fears there is way too much rot and decay in the tree to make filling it with epoxy or fresh wood a feasible solution. "I just don't think it would work," he said.
Likewise, cement isn't a good idea, Oregon state forester Paul Ries said.
While that was once an accepted method for sealing damaged trees, scientists figured out about 30 years ago that it causes more problems than it solves, Ries said.
Jonathan Day, of Portland, would like to see the tree, aka the Seaside Spruce, live on, even if only in a descendant. Its estimated age: 750 years
Famous trees that have died in other countries were replaced by a cutting from the original tree, he said. Or, perhaps this is an opportunity for the county to make a little extra cash. "I imagine people would be more than interested in buying a living piece of folklore — and probably more than a few botanists would love to discover if the fantastic size was something peculiar to the tree," Day said.
Meshke received one e-mail from an anonymous writer who suggested, "We should leave the tree the way it is and leave nature [to] do its thing." The note continued: "It's a heritage tree and an icon and it would be a crying shame if we cut it down just because we are afraid the top is going to fall on someone."
Then there are those who want the glory of taking down a giant. "One guy yesterday even brought his photo album in with the pictures of the big trees he's cut down," Meshke said. He is waiting for recommendations from Ries and consulting arborist Terrence Flanagan.
"If we cut it, we are going to cut as high as we can," Meshke said. The scar that contains the hole starts 40 to 50 feet from the ground and spirals around the tree to about 80 feet from the ground.
"We even talked about dynamiting the top off, just to get it to the safe zone so there is still something to look at. We are not planning to cut it to ground level."
Meanwhile, Meshke expects to stay busy shooing off visitors who can't seem to stay on the right side of the fence erected to protect them from falling limbs — or worse.
"I actually chased two guys over the fence," Meshke said. "They said, 'We just wanted to see it.' " Even in howling wind and pouring rain, "It's a constant flow of visitors all day long," he said. "People just want to get close to it."
source http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003506964_sitka03m.html
By LORI TOBIAS
Newhouse News Service
PORTLAND — Could epoxy save the nation's tallest Sitka spruce? How about cement? Perhaps restuffing the rotted cavity with new wood?
Those are some suggestions proffered since news spread that the treasured "Klootchy Creek Giant" could be making its last stand.
Two weeks ago, windstorms rocked loose a scar of rotted wood from a decades-old lightning strike, creating a hole at least 18 inches wide and 20 feet long.
The 204-foot tree is so weak it could fall at any time, said Steve Meshke, parks director for Clatsop County, where the tree continues to draw the curious to Klootchy Creek Park, southeast of Seaside.
At least part of the tree must come down, Meshke said, though he and arborists haven't decided the details. In the meantime, the county has fenced off the area, and the ideas to save the tree are streaming in.
"I think epoxy might be a simple way to fix that tree," said Gordon Trone, a Portland contractor. "Epoxy is used in construction to repair dry rot in beams, as long as the dead wood is scraped out first. I'd be happy to lend my expertise if needed."
But Meshke fears there is way too much rot and decay in the tree to make filling it with epoxy or fresh wood a feasible solution. "I just don't think it would work," he said.
Likewise, cement isn't a good idea, Oregon state forester Paul Ries said.
While that was once an accepted method for sealing damaged trees, scientists figured out about 30 years ago that it causes more problems than it solves, Ries said.
Jonathan Day, of Portland, would like to see the tree, aka the Seaside Spruce, live on, even if only in a descendant. Its estimated age: 750 years
Famous trees that have died in other countries were replaced by a cutting from the original tree, he said. Or, perhaps this is an opportunity for the county to make a little extra cash. "I imagine people would be more than interested in buying a living piece of folklore — and probably more than a few botanists would love to discover if the fantastic size was something peculiar to the tree," Day said.
Meshke received one e-mail from an anonymous writer who suggested, "We should leave the tree the way it is and leave nature [to] do its thing." The note continued: "It's a heritage tree and an icon and it would be a crying shame if we cut it down just because we are afraid the top is going to fall on someone."
Then there are those who want the glory of taking down a giant. "One guy yesterday even brought his photo album in with the pictures of the big trees he's cut down," Meshke said. He is waiting for recommendations from Ries and consulting arborist Terrence Flanagan.
"If we cut it, we are going to cut as high as we can," Meshke said. The scar that contains the hole starts 40 to 50 feet from the ground and spirals around the tree to about 80 feet from the ground.
"We even talked about dynamiting the top off, just to get it to the safe zone so there is still something to look at. We are not planning to cut it to ground level."
Meanwhile, Meshke expects to stay busy shooing off visitors who can't seem to stay on the right side of the fence erected to protect them from falling limbs — or worse.
"I actually chased two guys over the fence," Meshke said. "They said, 'We just wanted to see it.' " Even in howling wind and pouring rain, "It's a constant flow of visitors all day long," he said. "People just want to get close to it."
source http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003506964_sitka03m.html