Forum Post
Three of the six or seven stumps remaining where trees existed a week ago on the South side of College Ave. across from ETRL have the following characteristics:
– 112 tree rings, 5.25 foot diameter trunk, 165 feet from Spokane Street
– 100 rings, 2.82 foot diameter trunk, 184 feet from Spokane Street,
– 38 rings, 2.79 foot diameter trunk, 182 feet from Spokane Street.
I am no arborist but I know what clearcutting looks like. The second one was a deciduous tree, and I am of the understanding that tree rings indicate age. Anyhow the diameters of all three are large numbers. These were majestic trees.
The policy information I was able to find online is “WSU 32-93-43 Tree Removal Policy” of 21 January 2016. That document indicates existence of a “Campus Tree Committee” that I am unable to find online. More importantly, Section 1.D of that document, titled “Campus Announcements” states “…the project manager or administrative manager will place a notice on WSU Today, WSU Announcements, and MyFacilities work order system (myfacilities.wsu.edu), at least five days prior to removal.” I searched WSU Today (that came up online as WSU Events), WSU Announcements (in WSU Insider), and the Event Notifications system on myfacilities.wsu.edu, and found no notifications about this recent clearcutting, or any other recent tree removal.
If an announcement had been forthcoming perhaps a useful discussion would have ensued. If a discussion occurred it certainly wasn’t announced.
Response
The Faculty Senate Executive Officers have been notified of this forum post and will respond back once more information becomes available.
Comments
We reached out and received a response from Louise Sweeney, Project Manager Lead for the Engineering Hall project. If the author is willing to discuss their concerns directly she has provided both an office and cell number. Her office number is 509-335-4437.
Thank you for the opportunity; however I do not believe that switching to a private conversation fulfills the function of this Forum, that in my opinion is for sharing concerns and their resolutions openly. My overall concern is explicit in the second question in the title of the post, and details regarding relevant policy occur in the second paragraph. Thanks again.
In preparation for the new nodal utility plant being constructed just south of the ETRL on College Avenue, I requested a site visit with the Campus Tree Committee to review the trees that would potentially be impacted by the construction and to determine which, if any, trees could be saved. The committee agreed that some of the trees marked for removal were in decline and unfortunately others were in the way of major utility lines required for the project. The committee understood the need for removal and gave their approval.
Unfortunately I was not aware of the policy in regard to posting an announcement prior to removal of the trees and will ensure that we do so on future projects. That was an oversight and not intended to deceive or avoid public scrutiny. The project will pay for tree replacement according to the policy and all other conditions of the policy have been met on this project.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Louise Sweeney lasweeney@wsu.edu or 335-4437.