By Amy Dove
Oak Bay News
Jul 07 2006

Trees on watch list for more than 25 years: arbourist

The controversial removal of nine cottonwood trees from the Bowker Creek area is delayed, pending a second opinion.

The trees were slated to be removed today (July 7).

A second arbourist will be brought in to determine if clear cutting the trees is the best course of action, said Anges Szilos, director of parks and recreation.
The process could take up to two weeks, she noted.

"There certainly is rot in the trees (but) we are going to get another opinion," she said.

It is a significant grove of trees and the municipality wants to put people's minds at rest that the proper action is being taken, she explained.

The trees have internal rot and root decay, said Sean Novak, an Oak Bay Parks arbourist.

They also have dead wood at the top as a result of past pruning techniques.

"The trees have passed the safe threshold and are borderline on the hazardous side," he explained, noting they have an increased risk of falling over.

The trees have been monitored for more than 25 years after an initial report put them on a watch list.

Visual monitoring has been done, as well as a scanning technique that analyzed the interior of the trees.

Ian Graeme, a director of Friends of Bowker Creek society, is pleased with the new development.

"It is a real opportunity to get the local residents, community groups and parks department thinking about the creek and the habitat values it provides," he said.

The society is hoping to meet with the parks department next week to discuss other options for the area, including what species should be brought in to replace the cottonwoods.

While cottonwoods are a native species, their life expectancy and height pose some problems.

The goal is to come up with a comprehensive plan that gets all parties on the same page with information. Bowker Creek resident Susan Rowntree isn't satisfied with the communication between community groups in the municipalities.

She first learned of the removal Tuesday night from a flyer placed under her door.

"Clear cutting these trees and not replanting doesn't cut it - literally. It doesn't go with the long-term management for Bowker Creek," the retired Environment Canada employee said.

Without proper community involvement and education the area will end up as little more then an open sewer, she said. The trees provide shade essential for the bird population, she added.

"If I am cooking (from the heat), the birds are cooking," she said. Oak Bay community groups are working separately and not consulting each other on the overall picture, Rowntree argued, adding that Bowker Creek is the only major stream the community has and should be protected.