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r <br /> uity <br /> ..„ <br /> Y <br /> mapletree <br /> ' has t® be <br /> .. .. <br /> _:} coat <br /> . . ®wn <br /> ■ Rotten: Tests show decay <br /> that may cause it to fall, but <br /> protesters aren't giving up yet. <br /> By SCOTT MABEN .3/aj�f/ GION TUESDAY,MARCH 23, 1999 <br /> The Register-Guard <br /> A large maple tree along a Willamette <br /> TRET <br /> River bike path is rotten to the core and HL. <br /> will be felled to prevent it from collapsing Continued from Page 1C <br /> under its own weight, Eugene officials de- <br /> cided Monday. way to reinforce a tree in such an for removal,prompting the protest. <br /> But police won't be called in to remove advanced stage of decay. Bikers and joggers say they're <br /> protesters who have Some have suggested running eager to see the path reopened soon, <br /> been taking turns ,, � braces through the trunks and se- Meisner said. <br /> climbing the 80-year-old r1At curing the top with support cables Johnson said that despite Sny- <br /> big-leaf maple to pie ,.�, 1,141 = but that only would force the three der's declaration of. an imminent <br /> vent its removal, City ;''' ^,,"'•n trunks to fall together rather than hazard, the city won't slate the tree <br /> Madnager Jim Johnson ' �.1 t Yr separately, Sny- �� <br /> der said. for removal until <br /> "The hope is that " ��` protesters have <br /> they he nd that at K t,}a . But True, al "The hope is that they left. <br /> t so known by the understand that at "We'll take it <br /> some point the tree has . µ: �� alias "Squirrel," <br /> to be taken down " Mark said her concern some point the tree has day by day," he <br /> Johnson said. "I have Snyder runs deeper than to be taken down. i said. Well figs <br /> no intention whatsoev the roots of a have no intention ure it out. <br /> er to bring police in to remove people from solitary maple. whatsoever to brin At the re <br /> trees." The tree in- 9 quest of the <br /> A half-dozen members of Red Cloud deed may be dy- police in to remove Eugene Tree <br /> Thunder, an environmental group opposing ing, she said, but people from trees." Foundation, <br /> logging in national forests, are camped in it's letting her whichi advocatesnative <br /> and beneath the tree near Owen Rose Gar- draw attention JIM JOHNSON planting native <br /> den Park, just downriver from Skinner to what she sees City manager species when <br /> Butte Park. as a larger issue: 1....m. poysibit , <br /> maple <br /> grow, te, the city <br /> Robin True, 28, said she and others are allowing the ur- aas will plant <br /> prepared to stay until the tree topples natu- ban forest toa big-leafd <br /> rally, if need be. die and decom- where the old tree stands and find <br /> "We're adamant about what we're doing pose City natuCouncil President Scott maplesrally. other park sites suitable for big-leaf <br /> here, so there would be a conflict" when Meisner, who lives a few blocks And at the suggestion of <br /> the city comes to fell the tree, True said. from the park, said he regrets los- Meisner and others, the city will <br /> "Hopefully, no one will get hurt." ing the big maple but supports the try to salvage portions of the tree <br /> Decay inside the tree is so extensive in city's decision to cut it down before for lumber. <br /> spots that a 3-foot-long steel probe used to it falls and maybe hurts or kills The wood could be turned into a <br /> gauge the integrity of the wood was thrust someone. sculpture or fashioned into tables <br /> into the heart of the maple with little resis- "Trees are like humans and and chairs for the city's new li <br /> tante, Eugene urban forester Mark Snyder most every other thing on this plan- brary, he and Johnson said. <br /> said Monday. et: They have lifespans,"he said. The city says it will find new <br /> He found significant rot at the base of Meisner said he has heard from ways to post notices of removal of <br /> the maple as well as advanced decay where many residents who are concerned trees deemed "emergency hazards," <br /> the tree splits into three trunks. about the hazard posed by the tree, meaning they could fall or lose <br /> Ao <br /> Additional tests Monday morning con which is leaning precariously over large limbs at any time. Snyder said <br /> ihio firmed his suspicion that the tree is too far a stretch of the riverside bike path. such notices eventually will be post- <br /> gone to save. The city closed the section of ed on the city's Web site, <br /> "It could fall at any moment," said Sny- path Wednesday and posted the tree www.eugene.com. <br /> der, a certified arborist with 20 years of <br /> experience. <br /> Snyder sat under the tree Monday after- <br /> noon to explain the city's decision to True <br /> and other protesters. He said he knows no - <br />