'' S PERRY SAID THE original stand of <br /> D ON B I S H 0 F F densely packed, second -growth trees <br /> • formed a sort of critical mass, providing <br /> - mutual support in everything from a root <br /> • �/�r • • =';matrix" that fed and watered them to <br /> 7 / it o / w l tai 1 � rotection against winds that whip over the <br /> (((JJJ J , dgetop from the south. <br /> In addition, Cuddeback had the survivors <br /> • • imbed" up most of their height, so that only <br /> on r d e l a n Q a1m -tree-like crown remained. That, too, hurt <br /> K.� th Sperry. said: `'You had root stresses, wind <br /> 2 //41 77 stress, an edge -tree effect, Y ou had a lot of <br /> HE SNAGGLE -TOOTH GAP in the ,everything contributing." T ridgeline tree canopy of Eugene's • The city urban forester who passed <br /> southwest hills has gotten a little worse. dgment on Cuddeback's cutting has moved on <br /> You can see it from all over west Eugene — it's difficult to assess the city's responsibility <br /> up in the hills just west of Chambers Street. ere. But the gap should never have happened. <br /> There's a pretty solid stand of trees along the Cuddeback, as you might guess, disagrees <br /> top of the ridge — and then, suddenly, it looks ''th everything you've read up till now. <br /> like a massive cannonball wiped out a swath. i., "It's kind of silly to say that if you cut 25, <br /> Eugene's South Hills Study and Tree the rest wouldn't fall or if you cut 75, they <br /> Ordinance were supposed to protect against would fall. The truth is, in any forest every <br /> such desecration. Apparently there are still a - yam, a few trees are going to fall. " <br /> few gaps in the coverage Three trees fell in the area before any <br /> And last week, the ridgeline's physical gap logging was done and only two since, he said. <br /> got a little wider. Twenty-five Douglas firs — 'Heavy winds and rain, he contends, created <br /> some 150 feet tall and more than 3 feet across more tree- danger problems than his logging. <br /> at the base — were felled from ridgetop lots in Cuddeback has battled with the city and <br /> Braewood Hills First Addition, along Lasater some citizens for years over his company's tree - <br /> Boulevard, where it curls up from McLean cutting and development. He admits to creating <br /> Boulevard. Nine more await cutting. the snaggletooth gap. <br /> Hazards, the trees 1 "It bothers me, too, and I don't think that <br /> were judged to be. mould have been nearly as noticeable if I'd <br /> Sickly and likely to do been able to go ahead with my original <br /> • what one of their inoposaL" That was to cut big trees and leave <br /> fellow firs did last aess dangerous small- and medium-sized ones. <br /> ' Dec. 29. It fell on or' "The city has always had a real feeling that - <br /> • t Horst and Irene ithe larger and more mature a tree is, the more <br /> Siebert's garage and gtaluable it seems to be I think the opposite." <br /> '• - i house at 2256 Lasater, t The current city urban forester, Scott <br /> d missing Irene by 6 feet Iamondon, sounds more on Sperry's side. <br /> i and doing 525,000 We are looking at requiring larger areas of <br /> , damage. <br /> untouched fir groves to be left intact, therefore <br /> i Thapaniciced keeping them more stable," Plamondon said. At <br /> 7-1 "' some other property the same time, builders may be allowed to cut <br /> • <br /> . <br /> owners, who called in ore single trees that might fall on houses. <br /> arborists, who said that the 34 should go — Fighting over south hills tree - cutting — <br /> before they, too, fell. So the city urban forester searching for a balance between the <br /> granted cutting permits forest and people who want a great view from <br /> e" But a Couple who live on Lasater —and within it --- has been going on at least 30 years. <br /> reluctantly had two of their trees cut — blame Having absolutely no expertise, I feel <br /> tilt, e city and subdivider Randy Cuddeback. It comfortable weighing in on the trees' side. <br /> 0tappened, they contend, when Cuddeback The time will come — may have passed — <br /> created the snaggletooth gap three years ago. to say enough building in the south hills, at least <br /> zl, :' "They allowed him to take out more trees on the ridgeline. The terrain and other factors <br /> than they should have," said Alice Corzan. She there make It harder and expensive for the city <br /> and her builder husband, Robert, live at 2284 to provide everything from fire protection to <br /> Lasater, just down the hill from where a large street sweeping. <br /> number' of trees — apparently 100 to 200 — And the view of the forested area from the <br /> were logged to make room for 17 lots. rest of the city is — along with our twin peaks <br /> Says their arborist, Nathaniel Sperry: and river frontage — one of the relatively few <br /> "I believe that mistakes were made, but I things about this town that's really beautiful. <br /> don't know who made 'em. You have a ridgetop Let's don't screw it up in the interest of more <br /> where a clear -cut occurred." fancy houses that most of us can't afford. <br /> Not a total clear -cut, but enough, Sperry <br /> ys, that it left the few remaining trees To h ear a message Don Bishoff, or to <br /> lvulnerable to all sorts of problems. As a result, leave a message for him, call GuardLine, 485 - <br /> ,When he looked last week, "many of the trees 2000 and enter category 3828. <br /> 7vere dying, many were stressed." W. \1111111111•111111111111111111111111 . <br />